The exhibition “Launch from Greater Bay Area: Nanhai I Shipwreck & the Maritime Silk Road,” held at the Hong Kong Heritage Discovery Center in Tsim Sha Tsui, brings the mysterious story of the ancient Nanhai I merchant ship to life for visitors. Organized by the Development Bureau of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, the National Cultural Heritage Administration, and the Office of the Secretary for Social Affairs and Culture of the Macao Special Administrative Region, the exhibition opened on August 16, 2024, and attracted over 50,000 visitors by the end of December 2024.
The exhibition showcases 255 artifacts from over 180,000 cultural relics salvaged from Nanhai I in 2007. Among these, the “Kwangtung jars,” primarily used for storing fine wine, highlight Hong Kong’s significant role in the Maritime Silk Road since the Song Dynasty. Curator Lee Hiu Wai emphasized that the jars confirmed Hong Kong’s importance as a transit point in historical trade routes.
The exhibition also features detailed accounts of the shipwreck’s recovery process, stories of ancient trade, and multimedia materials shedding light on the region’s maritime history. Open to the public free of charge until February 12, 2025, the exhibition celebrates the shared cultural heritage of Hong Kong and the Greater Bay Area, while reviving the maritime spirit that has connected civilizations for millennia.
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