Copy in clipboard...
Chinese visitors turn out for Iranian antiquities show as cooperation deepens
The exhibition, widely billed as ‘Ancient Persia and the Silk Road,’ features 151 artifacts from five Iranian museums and has been on display at the Inner Mongolia Museum since December 2025. Organizers extended the show into early April 2026 to coincide with the Qingming holiday, reflecting sustained.
The collection traces Iran’s rich artistic and historical legacy through ceramics, metalwork, glassware and miniature paintings, with a particular focus on the Safavid era and centuries of cultural exchange along the Silk Road. Displayed far from regional tensions, the works have become a focal point for Chinese audiences seeking a deeper understanding of Iran’s civilizational heritage.
The exhibition forms part of a broader cultural tour that opened in Guangzhou on March 31, 2025, ran through June 17, and later moved to Nanjing before arriving in Hohhot. It shows expanding cultural ties between Tehran and Beijing, where museum cooperation has steadily gained traction.
Chinese officials stressed the universal value of cultural heritage. Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said “shared” heritage belongs to all humanity and must be safeguarded from harm during conflicts.
Hongda Fan, director of the China-Middle East Center at Shaoxing University, said cultural initiatives help counter “incomplete” narratives shaped by conflict-focused coverage. “Cultural exchange engages people directly,” he said, adding that stronger mutual understanding can “pave the way” for broader cooperation.
Parallel exhibitions of Iranian artifacts in other Chinese cities, including Shanghai, point to a widening cultural footprint as the two countries deepen people-to-people engagement.