The Da Nang Museum of Cham Sculpture houses.[Photo by Lin Qi/China Daily]

Da Nang Museum of Cham Sculpture

Da Nang was named "xian gang", or port of small, high hills by ancient Chinese traders. It is said that the Chinese merchant ships couldn't see the port when they reached the sea area; it wasn't until they sailed closer and found Da Nang surrounded by small hills.

Da Nang is well known for My Khe Beach, a 7-kilometer stretch of smooth, white sands that attracts both Vietnamese and foreign tourists. It was cloudy and gloomy when we visited, dampening some of the beach's charm.

During our short stay I was most impressed by the Museum of Cham Sculpture, which opened in 1919. The small structure designed by the French features yellow exterior walls. It hosts a collection of sandstone and bronze artifacts, which serve as testaments to the Kingdom of Champa.

I didn't have time to see all the treasures, although my favorite was a bronze statue of a goddess named Tara. The sculpture dates back to the ninth century, according to the museum's introduction, and is the largest known Cham bronze piece. Tara has beautifully body - broad shoulders, ample breasts, long arms and a slender waist - and is wearing only a skirt. She doesn't have a pretty face, but her hair has been meticulously crafted. Tara embodies the aesthetics of her time, infusing Chinese and Indian influences with Cham traditions.