An exhibition featuring over 200 rare artefacts from along the historic Silk Road will open at MGM MACAU’s POLY MGM MUSEUM in Nape on National Day, October 1.
According to a statement recently provided by the integrated resort operator, the “Silk Roads Beyond Borders” exhibition commemorates the 12th anniversary of the nation’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI).
The statement said the exhibition is structured into four thematic chapters that explore the history of exchange and integration between Eastern and Western civilisations: “Through Sand and Wind”, “Gilded Threads”, “The Golden Bough” and “Road to the Future”. The display will include artefacts chronicling ancient trade, material culture like ceramics and textiles, and spiritual integration through art and music.
The exhibition will feature significant international loans, many coming to Macau for the first time, the statement noted. Artefacts will be presented from institutions such as the National Museum of Damascus in Syria and the Hirayama Ikuo Silk Road Museum in Japan, alongside items from nearly 20 leading institutions in the Chinese mainland, including the Palace Museum in Beijing, the statement added.
Furthermore, the statement said, the exhibition will include ancient musical instruments, such as a phoenix-headed konghou* which has been restored through research by composer Tan Dun. The museum will also offer immersive “Night Tours” that use live performances to bring Silk Road stories to life alongside the static displays.
The POLY MGM MUSEUM, which opened in late 2024, focuses on cultural relics from Belt and Road (B&R) countries. The statement said the museum aims to serve as a cultural landmark in the Greater Bay Area (GBA) and a link between Eastern and Western cultures.
*The phoenix-headed konghou (凤首箜篌) is an arched harp that entered China from India during the Eastern Jin Dynasty (317-420 AD). It was named for its carved phoenix head at the top of the instrument. – DeepSeek
This undated handout photo recently provided by MGM MACAU shows the Gandhara Buddha statue from the Hirayama Ikuo Silk Road Museum in Japan.
