The exhibition On Top of the Pyramid: The Civilization of Ancient Egypt opened to the public at the Shanghai Museum on July 19, marking a significant milestone in cultural exchange between China and Egypt. This remarkable event is the largest display of ancient Egyptian artifacts outside of Egypt, featuring 780 artifacts curated by Chinese scholars.
Running for the next 13 months, the exhibition is the first of its kind to be curated by Chinese experts. The collaboration represents a pioneering effort between the Shanghai Museum and the Egyptian government. “This is the largest exhibition that ever traveled from Egypt to come here to China. We value our relationship with China, especially with the Shanghai Museum,” said Mohamed Ismail Khaled, secretary-general of Egypt’s Supreme Council of Antiquities, during the opening ceremony.
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The exhibition showcases 492 sets of artifacts from various periods of ancient Egyptian civilization, sourced from seven renowned Egyptian museums. More than 95 percent of these artifacts are making their debut in Asia. “The most meaningful aspect of this exhibition is that our team curated the theme and artifacts based on research by our Chinese scholars into ancient Egyptian civilization, and we selected all 788 objects featured ourselves,” said Li Feng, deputy director of the Shanghai Museum.
To accommodate this extraordinary display, the Shanghai Museum has renovated three exhibition halls, creating a total space of 3,000 square meters. The exhibition is divided into three narratives: The Land of the Pharaohs, The Secrets of Saqqara, and The Age of Tutankhamun, offering visitors an immersive journey through ancient Egypt.
Zhong Xiaomin, an official from the Shanghai Municipal Administration of Culture and Tourism, highlighted the exhibition’s significance in celebrating the 10th anniversary of the comprehensive strategic partnership between China and Egypt. “We believe that this pioneering exhibition about ancient Egyptian civilization will vividly enact a dialogue across time between two ancient civilizations and will serve as an exemplary instance of exchanges and mutual learning among world civilizations,” said Zhong.
This exhibition not only celebrates the rich history of ancient Egypt but also underscores the growing cultural exchange and cooperation between China and Egypt.
Source: Discover Ancient Egypt: Grand Exhibition Opens at Shanghai Museum
