To commemorate the 12th anniversary of the Belt and Road Initiative, the Poly MGM Museum in Macau, China will unveil its new exhibition, Silk Roads Beyond Borders, on October 1, recreating the grandeur of civilizational exchange along the Silk Road across millennia.
Anchored in the cultural heritage of the Belt and Road and framed by the intangible cultural legacies of East and West, the exhibition features over 200 rare artifacts arranged into four thematic sections. Together, they systematically trace the history of exchange, the achievements of integration, and the future vision of the Overland Silk Road.
The first section, “Through Sand and Wind”, chronicles the journeys of the Silk Road’s early pioneers, and the foundational role of trade and information exchange in sustaining the route’s prosperity over millennia. The second section, “Gilded Threads”, highlights the transmission of technologies, such as silk weaving, ceramics, lacquerware, metalwork, glassmaking and enameling, which enriched daily life and advanced cultural exchange across East and West. The third section, “The Golden Bough”, delves into the spiritual and aesthetic integration along the Silk Road, demonstrating its profound role in fostering deeper human dialogue. The fourth section, “Road to the Future”, illustrates how the Silk Road’s material and spiritual heritage continue to inspire contemporary art and contribute to the building of a community with a shared future for mankind.
The exhibition features three major highlights. First, the breadth of its collection: in addition to contributions from nearly 20 museums and cultural institutions across mainland China—including the Palace Museum and the National Museum of China—it also showcases remarkable treasures from overseas institutions such as the National Museum of Damascus in Syria and the Hirayama Ikuo Silk Road Museum in Japan, with further loans from Portugal, France, and beyond to follow. Second is its focus on modern interpretations of Silk Road values: through the works of generations of artists and scholars—including Chinese painter Chang Shuhong and his daughter Chang Shana—the exhibition highlights over 80 years of dedicated efforts to preserve Dunhuang art. Also on display are ancient Silk Road musical instruments reconstructed after years of research by renowned Chinese composer Tan Dun, brought to life through modern symphonic performance to revive the “Sounds of the Silk Road.” Third is the introduction of “Night Tours”, where live performances serve as a cultural medium to weave together the rich narratives of Silk Road civilizations, offering visitors an immersive experience that transcends time and space.
The exhibition is open until June 2026.
Source: Poly MGM Museum