Nanyang's Museum of Han Stone Carving was voted as the second most beautiful architecture in Henan, according to a poll carried out in October.

A view of Nanyang's Museum of Han Dynasty Stone Carving. [Photo/Nanyang Daily]

The museum came in just behind the first place winner, the memorial tower in Zhengzhou. Voting in the poll were locals, enterprises, government officials, and architecture experts.

It's not the first accolade for the museum to have one since its establishment way back in 1935. Other plaudits include being honored as one of the nation's top 10 museums in 2000, and being included as a First-tier National Museum in 2008.

A stone sculpture on exhibition at the Nanyang Museum of Han Dynasty Stone Carving. [Photo/Nanyang Daily]

The 6,000-square-meter museum was the first of its kind in China to specialize in the collection, display, and research of Han Dynasty (206 BC-AD 220) stone carving art. It is home to some 1,300 stone carvings, of which 150 are regarded as national first grade artifacts.

A stone carving work on display at the museum. [Photo/Nanyang Daily]