The year 2023 coincides with the 10th anniversary of the Belt and Road Initiative and this July 11 marks the 19th National Maritime Day of China with the themed “Setting Sail for the New Maritime Silk Road, Heading Towards a New Development Paradigm”. On the same day, the exhibition Reaching for the Horizon: Great Voyages of Discovery Connecting the World was opened at the Shenzhen Museum of Ancient Art. The exhibition is jointly organized by the Shenzhen Museum and the China Maritime Museum (Shanghai). The city of Shenzhen has actively leveraged its strengths as a key junction on the Maritime Silk Road; the exhibition aims to review the history of China’s ancient maritime accomplishments and foster the spirit of maritime exploration in the modern era, thereby contributing to China’s rise as a major maritime power.
Drawing from the collections of the Shenzhen Museum, the China Maritime Museum (Shanghai), the China Port Museum (Ningbo), the China (Hainan) Museum of the South China Sea and the Southern University of Science and Technology, the exhibition recreates the Age of Navigation through 265 objects (sets) from over 20 countries across five continents. These precious artifacts date back between the 15th and 19th centuries, and include sea charts, astrolabes, octants and more.
The exhibition is divided into four sections. The first section “Setting Sail for Distant Voyages” recounts several renowned maritime expeditions from both the East and the West during the Age of Discovery. These voyages opened new sea routes that connected the world into one. The second section “Maritime Tools and Techniques” focuses on astronomy, mathematics, navigation and shipbuilding technology and other scientific and technological advancements that enabled the Age of Discovery. The third section “Maritime Rivalries” depicts the maritime battles that reshaped global power structures. The fourth section “Different Places, Same Sky” explores the interconnected commodity trade and the rise of maritime art.
Source: Shenzhen Museum