Xinjiang artifacts, artworks exhibition opens in Athens-Xinhua

Visitors take photos of an exhibit at an exhibition of artifacts and artworks from China’s Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, in Athens, Greece, May 7, 2026. The exhibition opened at the Byzantine and Christian Museum in Athens on Thursday, highlighting the rich cultural exchanges that flourished along the ancient Silk Road. (Xinhua/Lyu You)

ATHENS, May 8 (Xinhua) — An exhibition of artifacts and artworks from China’s Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region opened at the Byzantine and Christian Museum in Athens on Thursday, highlighting the rich cultural exchanges that flourished along the ancient Silk Road.

The exhibition presents 44 replicas and reproductions of artifacts unearthed across Xinjiang, together with digital displays, to show the region’s pivotal role in connecting China with the wider world throughout history.

At the opening ceremony, Tang Wei, deputy head of China’s National Cultural Heritage Administration, said that cultural heritage authorities in China and Greece have achieved fruitful results in such areas as joint exhibitions, the recovery and repatriation of lost cultural relics, and cooperation on preservation technologies.

Tang expressed the hope that the exhibit would serve as an opportunity to carry forward the deep friendship and emotional resonance between the two ancient civilizations.

Georgios Tsaprounis, chairman of the Board of Directors of the Byzantine and Christian Museum, said the exhibition transcends the boundaries of time and space and showcases the profound historical ties among different cultures.

While today’s world is full of challenges and divisions, culture is a powerful vehicle for dialogue and understanding, he said, adding that culture could help promote mutual respect and peaceful coexistence among countries.

The exhibition will run through mid-June. ■

An exhibit is pictured at an exhibition of artifacts and artworks from China’s Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, in Athens, Greece, May 7, 2026. The exhibition opened at the Byzantine and Christian Museum in Athens on Thursday, highlighting the rich cultural exchanges that flourished along the ancient Silk Road. (Xinhua/Lyu You)

A visitor takes a photo of an exhibit at an exhibition of artifacts and artworks from China’s Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, in Athens, Greece, May 7, 2026. The exhibition opened at the Byzantine and Christian Museum in Athens on Thursday, highlighting the rich cultural exchanges that flourished along the ancient Silk Road. (Xinhua/Lyu You)