- POLY MGM MUSEUM presented its new large-scale exhibition centered on the theme of the Silk Road.
- The exhibition weaves together four thematic chapters and three defining highlights.
On 1 October 2025, in commemoration of the 12th anniversary of the Belt and Road Initiative, the Poly MGM Museum presented its new large-scale exhibition, centered on the theme of the Silk Road. Anchored in the history of the ancient route stretching across Eurasia, the exhibition weaves together four thematic chapters and more than 200 rare artifacts, reviving the epic cultural fusion and grandeur of the Silk Road over thousands of years.
It embodies the enduring spirit of “peaceful cooperation, openness and inclusiveness, mutual learning and shared benefit”, illuminating the continued relevance of cultural exchange and serving Macau’s vision of becoming a hub for cultural exchange and collaboration, where “Chinese culture serves as the mainstream and diverse cultures coexist”.
Four Thematic Chapters: Dialogues across time and space
The exhibition unfolds across four thematic chapters – Through Sand and Wind, Gilded Threads, The Golden Bough and Road to the Future – which together narrate the evolution, achievements and legacy of the Silk Road.
Through Sand and Wind traces the journeys of early Silk Road pioneers, illustrating how trade and communication gradually formed the economic lifeline that sustained centuries of prosperity. Models of camel caravans and ancient coins transport visitors to the vast deserts once traversed by merchants and envoys.
Gilded Threads focuses on the exchange of craft and aesthetics. Through exquisite displays of silk, ceramics, lacquer, metalwork, glass and enamel, visitors witness how arts and techniques traveled along the route, influencing the ways of life and design sensibilities of both East and West.
The Golden Bough delves into the spiritual and artistic dimensions of the Silk Road. Religious statues, manuscripts and ancient musical relics reflect the fusion of philosophies and beliefs – from Buddhism and Zoroastrianism to Islam and Christianity – demonstrating how the Silk Road served as a corridor for the human spirit.
Finally, Road to the Future projects the heritage of the Silk Road into the modern era, showing how its material and intangible legacy continues to inspire contemporary artistic creation while nurturing mutual understanding and trust within a shared global community.
Poly MGM Museum has become a cultural landmark in the Greater Bay Area
Three Highlights: A civilizational epic from “Trailblazing” to “Future Paths”
The exhibition features three defining highlights that establish it as a truly global cultural event.
- Breakthroughs in Cultural Relics. Rare treasures from nearly 20 prestigious Chinese institutions – including the Palace Museum and the National Museum of China – are showcased alongside artifacts from the National Museum of Damascus (Syria) and the Hirayama Ikuo Silk Road Museum (Japan). Planned collaborations with Portuguese and French institutions will further expand the exhibition’s international reach.
- Modern Interpretations of Silk Road Values. The exhibition celebrates the artistic legacy of generations of cultural guardians, including Dunhuang scholar-painter Chang Shuhong and his daughter Chang Shana, representing more than eight decades of dedication to preserving Dunhuang art. World-renowned Chinese musician Tan Dun presented reconstructed ancient instruments – the phoenix-headed konghou, five-string and rebounding pipa, among others – reawakening the “Sounds of the Silk Road” through orchestral collaborations that bridge past and present.
- Immersive “Night Tours”. The museum launched an innovative nighttime program that fuses live dramatic performance with static cultural displays, allowing visitors to experience the tales of the Silk Road through sight, sound and emotion – a multisensory journey transcending time.
From Zhang Qian to world heritage
The story of the Silk Road began in 138 BCE when Chinese envoy Zhang Qian embarked westward under imperial command, establishing the first recorded diplomatic and trade link between China and Central Asia. His mission set a precedent for cross-cultural exchange, later chronicled in Records of the Grand Historian. In 2014, the Silk Road: Chang’an – Tianshan Corridor – jointly nominated by China, Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan – was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List as the first successful multinational nomination in history.
In 2025, Poly MGM Museum’s Silk Road exhibition continues this cross-civilizational legacy, presenting masterpieces such as the Bronze Procession of Chariots and Cavalry from Gansu Provincial Museum, the Yongzheng Period Octagonal Blue Bottle from the Palace Museum, a blue-and-white ceramic bottle from the National Museum of Damascus and a Gandhara Buddha from the Hirayama Ikuo Silk Road Museum. Enhanced with immersive light, sound and interactive digital art, these artifacts revive the glory of the ancient route in a breathtaking new form.
Extending the Experience: Tan Dun brings Dunhuang’s ancient music to life
As an extension of the exhibition, the concert The Vanishing Mogao Caves – a collaboration between Poly MGM Museum and UNESCO Global Goodwill Ambassador Tan Dun – premiered on 6 October at MGM Macau’s “Fantasy Box.” Nearly 500 guests from Macau’s cultural and performing arts communities attended the event, which celebrated the Mid-Autumn Festival and the living legacy of Dunhuang.
Embracing the concept of a “living museum,” Tan Dun conducted the Dunhuang Academy Ancient Music Consort in performing Tang-era pieces such as Changsha Maiden Prelude, Ruyi Niang and Konghou Yin using ancient instruments reconstructed from Dunhuang murals. Multimedia imagery and AI technology transformed the stage into an immersive echo of the Mogao Caves, merging history, art and technology into one resonant experience.
After the performance, Tan Dun remarked, “Whether through the exhibition of ancient Silk Road instruments I’ve reconstructed, or this concert that revives millennia-old melodies, we offer a tribute to the spirit of the Silk Road. I hope this inspires more people to reflect on how culture disappears, revives and shines anew through time.”
Pansy Ho, Chairperson and Executive Director of MGM China Holdings Limited, noted that MGM remains dedicated to sharing Chinese cultural heritage with the world.
“Drawing from the shared Silk Road heritage between Macau and Dunhuang, and powered by the advanced technology of Fantasy Box, we’ve created a culturally unique and high-quality original performance for Macau,” she said. “This complements the ‘Silk Roads Beyond Borders’ exhibition at the Poly MGM Museum, together advancing and extending the spiritual essence of Chinese civilization.”
The exhibition embodies the enduring spirit of “peaceful cooperation, openness and inclusiveness, mutual learning and shared benefit”
A new cultural landmark in Macau
Since opening to the public in November 2024, Poly MGM Museum has become a cultural landmark in the Greater Bay Area. Focusing on artifacts and artworks from Belt and Road countries, the museum pioneers a curatorial approach that fuses scholarship, artistry, education and interaction.
With Silk Roads Beyond Borders, the museum invites audiences to rediscover the enduring vitality of cultural exchange – to see the past not as distant history, but as a living dialogue that shapes our collective future. The exhibition stands as both reflection and aspiration: a tribute to cooperation, coexistence and the timeless journey of civilizations connecting beyond borders.
