Guangzhou, Guangdong province, has since ancient times been an important seaport via which commodities are transported and where Eastern and Western cultures integrate to produce new aesthetics. Its distinctive character has been shaped by history, natural environment and local customs, which distinguish it from other seafront cities such as Shanghai.
All Rivers Flow to the Sea: Mutual Learning Among Civilizations Along the Maritime Silk Road, an ongoing exhibition at the Museum of Shanghai University, brings a different perspective on how maritime traditions shaped a city’s past and present. The exhibition runs until July 31.
Over 130 artifacts from several institutions in Guangzhou, including some of the latest archaeological findings, are on display across five sections, presenting a panoramic view of the connections between ancient China and the world built through the Maritime Silk Road network.
For example, the Guangdong Provincial Institute of Cultural Relics and Archaeology showcases relics recovered from two renowned shipwrecks — the Nanhai No 1, a cargo ship that sank in the Song Dynasty (960-1279), and the Nan’ao No 1 of the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) — which vividly reconstruct the booming scenes of transoceanic voyages and cross-border commerce of bygone eras.
Objects from the Nanyue King Museum — vessels and apparatuses for brewing, storing, serving, and drinking alcohol — delineate the long developmental trajectory of winemaking in ancient China.
Meanwhile, the Museum of Shanghai University showcases selected qipao dresses from its own collection, which embody the elegance of Cantonese style, the subtle grace of the Jiangnan region, and the clean lines of Western tailoring. The regional features of Guangzhou and Shanghai, as well as foreign influences in both cities, were woven into every stitch and thread.
The exhibition opens a dialogue across time and space between Guangzhou and Shanghai, illustrating the spirit of peace and cooperation, openness and inclusiveness, and mutual learning and mutual benefit.