The Nanjing Museum in Jiangsu province faces a major scandal after a probe found mismanagement and corruption involving donated artworks. Five paintings donated in 1959 were secretly sold or lost, including the famous Ming dynasty painting Spring in Jiangnan by Qiu Ying. This painting appeared at auction for 88 million yuan (US$12.7 million) before being withdrawn after protests from the family of the donor, Pang Laichen. The investigation, involving over 1,100 interviews and 65,000 documents, revealed that in the 1990s, then vice-director Xu Huping illegally approved transfers of the paintings to a state relic store for sale. An employee changed the price tag on Spring in Jiangnan to buy it cheaply and resell it to a private collector. Three missing paintings have been recovered, one was misfiled, and one remains missing. Xu, along with 24 other officials, faces serious disciplinary actions. The report said the museum had "systemic deficiencies and chaotic management," with weak rules and staff ignoring discipline. The provincial government plans a complete overhaul of donation and oversight systems, staff training, and stricter relic safety measures. The Nanjing Museum apologized to the Pang family, admitting it betrayed their trust and damaged China's cultural reputation. The case serves as a warning that relic crimes will face harsh punishment regardless of how long ago they occurred. Authorities urge public participation to protect cultural heritage and preserve China’s history.