Feature: Where does Venice's iconic bronze lion come from?

ROME, Nov. 8 (Xinhua) -- Towering atop a column in St. Mark Square, Venice, Italy, the massive bronze lion has long symbolized the city's power and heritage for centuries. Yet its actual origin has remained a mystery.

A recent study led by a team of Italian scientists, including archaeologists, geoscientists, and sinologists, suggests the iconic bronze lion may actually trace its roots back to China's Tang Dynasty (618-907).