To mark the third anniversary of the inscription of Silk Roads: the Routes Network of Chang’an-Tianshan Corridor to the World  Heritage list, the China National Silk Museum held an opening ceremony for the exhibition, “New Knowledge on Ancient Roads: Silk Road Cultural Heritage Sci-tech Achievements”. This exhibition which opened on June 22,2017 was organized by the State Administration of Cultural Heritage of China, People's Government of Zhejiang Province and co-organized by Zhejiang Provincial Cultural Heritage Bureau, Shaanxi Provincial Cultural Heritage Bureau, Gansu Provincial Cultural Heritage Bureau and Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region Cultural Heritage Bureau, as well as the China National Silk Museum.

Mr Cheng Yuechong, Vice-Governor of the People's Government of Zhejiang Province; Mr Guan Qiang, Deputy Director General of the State Administration of Cultural Heritage of China; and Ms Marielza Oliveira, Director UNESCO Office in Beijing and Representative of UNESCO in China, attended the opening ceremony, delivered speeches, and attended the signing ceremony of the Alliance of Silk Road Cultural Heritage Sci-Tech Initiative.

The "Silk Roads: the Routes Network of Chang'an-Tianshan Corridor" covers a timespan stretching from the fifth century BC to the eight century AD, from which a vast amount of history, architectural sites, and cultural relics were produced. Many artefacts from this route and the period which it was most used are exposed at this new exhibit which is divided into three sections: “Origin of Silk Road", "Start of Silk Road" and "Prosperity on Silk Road”, and which presents the scientific and technological achievements of the Silk Roads as well as the cultural heritage of these routes. The 144 exhibits come from various archaeological sites in Kazakhstan and China.

In her opening remarks, Ms Oliveira emphasized the importance of the Silk Roads and how they connected civilizations from the East and the West and brought together peoples and cultures from many regions - all of which led to these route being significant to the diffusion and development of culture, technology, science and so much more, thereby helping to shape our modern world. She also noted that more opportunities should be taken to deepen and strengthen scientific and cultural collaboration across the nations along the Silk Roads

The International Symposium of “New Knowledge on Ancient Roads: Silk Road Cultural Heritage Sci-tech Achievements”, which served as the supporting academic event lasted for two days. Many experts and scholars from major universities, research institutes and enterprises from China and abroad attended the symposium and discussed the Silk Roads and their ever important contributions to science and technology.

Again, Ms Oliveira gave the keynote speech, this one entitled "UNESCO: Protecting and Connecting World Heritage Sites along the Silk Roads".

You can take a virtual tour of the exhibit by clicking here.