On the occasion of International Museum Day, museums across Türkiye are showcasing porcelain, stone, and silk artifacts that highlight the country’s deep-rooted historical and cultural ties with China. From Erzurum in the east to Istanbul and Bursa in the west, the exhibitions shed light on the centuries-old cultural exchanges along the historic Silk Road. Erzurum Museum’s 24,000-piece collection reflects the region’s long-standing interactions with Asian civilizations, with the 2,500-year-old anthropomorphic “Tas Ata” stele symbolizing strong cultural connections between Anatolia and regions such as China, Mongolia, and Kazakhstan.
In Istanbul, Topkapi Palace houses one of the world’s richest collections of Chinese porcelain, including 12,000 pieces, and plans to open a dedicated Porcelain Museum this year. Meanwhile, in Bursa, the silk museum at the Umurbey Silk Production and Design Center illustrates the city’s historical textile trade with China, featuring traditional weaving tools, silk threads, and artifacts reflecting China-Bursa exchanges that shaped the region’s heritage.