• Poly MGM Museum celebrated its grand opening in November.
• The opening ushering in a New Era of the Inheritance of Chinese Culture with a Premium World-class Cultural Tourism Landmark.

Jointly developed by state-owned cultural enterprise Poly Culture and MGM, the Poly MGM Museum was officially unveiled in early November at MGM Macau, marking a significant milestone in Macau’s cultural and tourism landscape.

The opening ceremony featured congratulatory remarks delivered via video by Li Qun, Deputy Minister of Culture and Tourism of China and Director-General of the National Cultural Heritage Administration of the People’s Republic of China. Speeches were also given by Liu Hualong, Chairman of China Poly Group Corporation Limited, and Pansy Ho, Chairperson & Executive Director of MGM China. Witnessed by Chief Executive of the Macao Special Administrative Region Ho Iat Seng, the two officiated the plaque unveiling ceremony for the Poly MGM Museum.

Following the ceremony, dignitaries participated in the ribbon-cutting for the museum’s debut exhibition “The Maritime Silk Road – Discover the Mystical Seas and Encounter the Treasures of the Ancient Trade Route”. Exhibition curator Su Dan, who is also the Deputy Director of the China National Arts & Crafts Museum and the China Intangible Cultural Heritage Museum, shared insights into the curatorial vision and future prospects via video.

Located on the second floor of MGM Macau, the Poly MGM Museum spans nearly 2,000 square metres and is built to Chinese national standards for the exhibition of grade-one cultural relics. With highly precise environmental controls to meet international artifact display requirements, it is the first museum of international standing within an integrated resort across the Greater China region.

The museum showcases traditional Chinese intangible heritage crafts through the language of modern architecture. A pivotal attraction is the Intangible Cultural Heritage Craft Column that pays homage to quintessential Chinese palatial architecture such as dougong and ornate cloisonné enamel, alongside art and cultural elements from the main countries along the “Silk Road Economic Belt and the 21st-Century Maritime Silk Road”. Together, they present a vibrant scenographic interior that brings traditional craftsmanship’s rich cultural and historical value to the fore.

The museum innovates with features such as caisson ceilings, movable LED screens and flexible display panels to create a dynamic and versatile exhibition space. Cutting-edge technologies, including Poly’s proprietary OLED screens for interactive displays and directional audio systems, introduce a realm of possibilities for diverse exhibitions, offering visitors a multi-sensory immersive experience.

In its design essence, the museum is a seamless embodiment of “East meets West”, “Antiquity and Modernity”, “Virtuality and Reality” and “Culture and Technology”.  It harnesses innovative forces to breathe fresh life into the junction of history and the contemporary, enriching the narrative of heritage treasures and unveiling a harmonious mosaic that blends the rich tapestries of Eastern and Western cultural synergy.

MGM emphasized that the museum will be managed by a professional team, including local talent from Macau, contributing to the development of Macau’s cultural and creative industries. This initiative aims to establish Macau as a new cultural and tourism hub.

Debut exhibition highlights a cultural journey
The inaugural exhibition at the Poly MGM Museum, titled “The Maritime Silk Road – Discover the Mystical Seas and Encounter the Treasures of the Ancient Trade Route”, invites global audiences to delve into the past, present and future of the Maritime Silk Road. Using underwater archaeology as a narrative thread, the exhibition celebrates the historical and cultural significance of this ancient trade route.

Divided into four themed zones: Monsoon, Cultural Origin, Integration, and Connections, the curation places equal importance on ancient cultural relics and contemporary art pieces, featuring Maritime Silk Road archaeological artifacts as a key element while emphasizing Macau’s rich culture and history. The display adopts a balanced approach, combining historical artifacts with contemporary art, presented through an international curatorial vision and advanced technological techniques. A central focus is placed on underwater relics associated with the Maritime Silk Road, showcasing Macau’s rich cultural heritage and long-standing historical traditions.

In collaboration with nearly 20 state-run museums and esteemed cultural institutions, the exhibition features 184 sets comprising 228 artifacts and artworks. These include treasures linked to the Maritime Silk Road, such as underwater relics, textiles and spices, alongside renowned contemporary art pieces from China and abroad.

With the Guidance of Art Exhibitions China and Poly Group, the exhibition is powered by a distinguished team of experts from China, Italy and France.

Notably, the exhibition features four Bronze Zodiac Heads of the Old Summer Palace, classified as national grade-one cultural relics. These treasures, once part of a set of 12 zodiac sculptures and prized by Chinese royalty, were scattered overseas due to historical events. Among them are the pig and horse heads, which were acquired by Dr Stanley Ho, father of Ms Pansy Ho, in 2003 and 2007. Dr Ho generously donated these pieces to the Chinese government. The bronze pig head, which belongs to the Beijing Poly Art Museum, is now on display as part of this exhibition.

“Amidst Macau’s drive towards economic diversification, the city embraces its strategic role as ‘One Base’, capitalizing on the significant opportunities presented by the nation’s development initiatives, such as the Belt and Road, the Greater Bay Area and the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road. Our Poly MGM Museum leverages Macau’s vital role as a crucial juncture on the Maritime Silk Road, acting as a gateway for international exchange and a crucible for the melding of Chinese and Western cultures,” said Pansy Ho. “It captures the city’s distinctive urban essence, linking history with today, thus fueling a multifaceted local economic expansion.

“Bound by our collective enthusiasm for the nation and our cultural heritage, Poly Culture, with its vast repository of artistic resources, and MGM, with our integrated resort capabilities, inject new life into the storied legacy of Chinese culture using cutting-edge technology. We employ the universal language of art to broadcast the splendor of our culture and to convey good Chinese narratives on the international stage.

“This endeavor also honors the momentous 75th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China and the 25th anniversary of Macau’s reunification with the Motherland. Featuring world-class artistic expression, the Poly MGM Museum serves as a conduit linking the heartbeat of global cultures via Macau.”

The exhibition is set to run until September 2025, though the bronze animal heads will only be on display until February 2024. The museum offers free admission, with visitors encouraged to make advance reservations via the official website due to high demand. Guided tours in Cantonese and Mandarin are available daily, with additional languages by request.

Introduced by the museum, special time slots are designated for students and community groups, who can book morning sessions from Monday to Saturday, 9am to 10am. Interactive workshops tailored for different age groups are also available. In the future, local community groups will be invited to visit and experience Macau’s profound cultural heritage, its shared lineage with Chinese traditions, and its historical role as a pioneer in East-West cultural exchange.