A grand exhibition of ancient Egyptian artifacts in Shanghai has reached a significant milestone, attracting its one-millionth visitor since its opening in July.
The exhibition, "On Top of the Pyramid: The Civilization of Ancient Egypt," showcases a total of 788 artifacts, with over 95 percent of them debuted in Asia. It is the largest of its kind held outside Egypt and marks the first collaboration between a Chinese state museum and the Egyptian government to present world-class artifacts.
Since its launch over four months ago, the exhibition has maintained a staggering daily attendance rate, with all 8,000 available tickets selling out each day. Ticket sales have already surpassed 1.3 million, with pre-sales extending through the end of the year.
"The previous record for an Egyptian exhibition was set at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York in 1978, with 1.36 million visitors. Given the current trends, we are on track to surpass that record," said Chu Xiaobo, director of the Shanghai Museum.
The exhibition's popularity has also spurred a boom in cultural and creative merchandise sales, exceeding 140 million yuan (approximately 20 million U.S. dollars).
"From fridge magnets to scented candles, there are all kinds of little items that you can smell, use, or play with. These are particularly popular among us young people," said a visitor.
Moreover, the exhibition has stimulated local economic activity, with surrounding businesses, hotels, tourism, and entertainment benefiting from an estimated 10 billion yuan in consumer spending.
The Egyptian Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities has reported a 65 percent year-on-year increase in Chinese tourists visiting Egypt, reflecting the exhibition's impact on international interest in the country.
Ancient Egyptian exhibition in Shanghai welcomes a million visitors
