Exhibition Celebrating Han Dynasty's Cultural Legacy Opens in Hong Kong Today

2026-03-19 21:36 Last Updated At：21:48

"The Majestic Han: A Golden Age of Vigour and Cultural Integration" exhibition opens

The opening ceremony of the exhibition titled "The Majestic Han: A Golden Age of Vigour and Cultural Integration" was held today (March 19) at the Hong Kong Heritage Discovery Centre. The exhibition is jointly organised by the Development Bureau (DEVB) and the National Cultural Heritage Administration (NCHA). It features significant archaeological finds unearthed on the Chinese Mainland and in Hong Kong, showcasing the dynamic and innovative Han dynasty, a golden era that made profound contributions to promoting exchanges between Chinese and Western civilisations.

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"The Majestic Han: A Golden Age of Vigour and Cultural Integration" exhibition opens Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

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"The Majestic Han: A Golden Age of Vigour and Cultural Integration" exhibition opens Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Speaking at the opening ceremony, the Secretary for Development, Ms Bernadette Linn, said that the Han and Tang dynasties were both golden eras in Chinese history, leaving behind a wealth of important historical legacies for the Chinese nation. Following the success of the "Tang Vogue Beyond the Horizons: A Golden Era of Multicultural Integration and Openness" exhibition jointly organised by the DEVB and the NCHA last year, both parties collaborated again to present a large-scale Han dynasty-themed artefact exhibition this year. She eagerly anticipates that through these precious artefacts, members of the public and tourists will learn more about the glorious history of the Han dynasty and appreciate the remarkable virtues of traditional Chinese culture. They will also discover a fresh perspective through the narratives conveyed by the artefacts from Hong Kong and the Chinese Mainland.

Other officiating guests at the opening ceremony of the exhibition were the Director of Art Exhibitions China, Mr Tan Ping; the Second-level Inspector of the Department of Publicity, Cultural and Sports Affairs of the Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, Mr Chen Xinyu; the Chairman of the Antiquities Advisory Board, Professor Desmond Hui; and the Chairman of the Advisory Committee on Built Heritage Conservation, Professor Douglas So.

The exhibition is presented in six thematic sections, covering political system, economic development, culture and beliefs, scientific and technological development, social life and external exchanges. It features 252 pieces/sets of invaluable exhibits. Among them, 203 pieces/sets, including 40 grade-one cultural relics, come from 29 museums and cultural institutions in 14 provinces and autonomous regions on the Chinese Mainland, and most of them are being shown in Hong Kong for the first time. The remaining 49 pieces/sets are significant archaeological finds dating to the Han period unearthed in Hong Kong, painstakingly selected by the Antiquities and Monuments Office of the DEVB.

The star exhibits from the Chinese Mainland highlight the Han precious bronze horse-leading figurine and bronze horse; an eaves end tile with Chinese characters Han Bing Tian Xia (Han unifies the realm); a seven-storey painted pottery granary house with linked pavilion; the Yi Li (Etiquette and rites) wooden slips, a bronze fang vessel of Inner Treasury of Zhongshan, a gold linzhi hoof, the silk letter from Yuan to Zifang and arithmetical slips unearthed at the Xuanquan relay station site in Dunhuang; a silk manuscript of Yinyang Wuxing (Yinyang and the Five Elements) Article B; a silk padded robe with Chang Shou (longevity) embroidery on a crimson purple juan (plain weave silk) ground; gloves with lozenge pattern; padded socks; and a lacquered wooden plate with leopard cat motif and Chinese characters Jun Xing Shi (food for the honoured guest) and a silver box with garlic pattern. Other exhibits cover a variety of categories, ranging from Han bamboo slips, coins, bronze vessels, clothes and ornaments to pottery figurines, pottery houses and agricultural tools, which present the daily lives of various social strata in the Han period.

The key exhibits unearthed in Hong Kong include a pottery house unearthed at Lei Cheng Uk Han Tomb, as well as the Han period artefacts excavated at local significant archaeological sites such as Tung Wan Tsai in Ma Wan, So Kwun Wat in Tuen Mun and Kau Sai Chau in Sai Kung, covering Wuzhu bronze coins, a textile fragment, a stone seal, a bronze ear-cup, jade slotted rings and glass beads. These relics reflect that the Han culture had long been rooted in Hong Kong, and showcase the city's connection with the country, the pluralistic nature of the Chinese culture and Hong Kong's links with the early Maritime Silk Road trade.

Admission to the exhibition is free. Details are as follows:

Date: March 20 to September 20

Opening hours:

Monday to Wednesday and Friday: 10am to 6pm

Saturday, Sunday and public holidays: 10am to 7pm

Closed on Thursdays (except public holidays)

Venue: Hong Kong Heritage Discovery Centre, Kowloon Park, Haiphong Road, Tsim Sha Tsui

Note: Docent services in Cantonese, Putonghua and English are available on Saturday, Sunday and public holidays. Enrolment on-site is welcome and no advance booking is required.

For more details about the exhibition and docent services, as well as a highlight video of the exhibition, please visit the Antiquities and Monuments Office website (www.amo.gov.hk/en/visitor-centre/exhibitions/heritage-discovery-centre/han-exhibition/index.html).

Financial Secretary Paul Chan Visits Beijing to Discuss Hong Kong's Alignment with National Five-Year Plan

FS begins visit to Beijing

The Financial Secretary, Mr Paul Chan, began his visit to Beijing today (March 19).

The Director of the Hong Kong and Macao Work Office of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the State Council, Mr Xia Baolong, met with Mr Chan and other officials this morning. Mr Xia said that when President Xi Jinping heard the Chief Executive's report on the work of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) at the end of last year, President Xi stressed that Hong Kong and Macao should proactively align with the National 15th Five-Year Plan. Approved by the National People's Congress, the 15th Five-Year Plan supports Hong Kong in consolidating and enhancing its competitive edge, facilitating Hong Kong's better integration into and service of the overall national development. Mr Xia said he believed that the HKSAR Government will lead various sectors of the community to formulate the first Hong Kong's five-year plan based on the practical situation, with a view to further consolidating and enhancing its status as an international financial, shipping and trade centre. This will accelerate its development as an international innovation and technology hub, injecting greater impetus for Hong Kong's economic development.

Mr Chan thanked Mr Xia for his guidance and care for the HKSAR's work on the economic and financial fronts. He reported to Mr Xia on the overall economic development and financial operations of Hong Kong, as well as the specific work of the HKSAR Government to fully align with the 15th Five-Year Plan under the leadership of the Chief Executive, including the progress in formulating Hong Kong's first five-year plan at full speed. Mr Chan said that the HKSAR Government and different sectors will utilise Hong Kong's unique advantages under the "one country, two systems" principle, actively reinforce the development of industries with clear advantages, and nurture emerging and future industries, grasping the vast opportunities offered by the 15th Five-Year Plan and contributing to the country's high-quality development.

The meeting was attended by the Executive Deputy Director of the Hong Kong and Macao Work Office of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China and the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the State Council, Mr Xu Qifang. The HKSAR Government's Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury, Mr Christopher Hui; the Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development, Mr Algernon Yau; the Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry, Professor Sun Dong; the Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Monetary Authority, Mr Eddie Yue; the Chairman of the Securities and Futures Commission (SFC), Dr Kelvin Wong; and the Chief Executive Officer of the SFC, Ms Julia Leung, also joined the meeting and reported on their respective areas of work.

Mr Chan also called on the Governor of the People's Bank of China, Mr Pan Gongsheng, and the Chairman of the China Securities Regulatory Commission, Mr Wu Qing, this afternoon respectively to discuss the development of the financial market and regulatory co-operation. Mr Hui, Mr Yue, Dr Wong and Ms Leung also attended the meetings.

Mr Chan also attended a seminar on the 15th Five-Year Plan organised by the Hong Kong Trade Development Council and the Hong Kong Chamber of Commerce in China, and delivered a keynote speech. Mr Chan noted in his speech that Hong Kong has to proactively align with the 15th Five-Year Plan, leverage Hong Kong's unique advantages of maintaining close connections with both the Mainland and the world under the principle of "one country, two systems" to serve the country's needs, and create new opportunities of high-quality development for Hong Kong.

He pointed out that to align with the 15th Five-Year Plan, Hong Kong can focus on three key areas in economic development: First, contributing to building a modernised industrial system and accelerating high-level scientific and technological self-reliance of the country. Leveraging strong scientific research capabilities and a vibrant innovation and technology ecosystem, Hong Kong will actively empower various sectors and promote industrial upgrading through the dual engines of "AI+" and "Finance+". He specifically mentioned that the Northern Metropolis, indicating that Hong Kong welcomes local, Mainland and overseas enterprises to participate in its development. The HKSAR Government has prepared preferential policy packages, considering to provide land, tax concessions and financial support, as well as adopt flexible co-operation models such as co-investment, in order to bring in frontier technology enterprises. The second area is supporting the country's development in promoting high-level two-way opening up. Serving as a "super connector" and "super value-adder”, Hong Kong will provide comprehensive support for Mainland enterprises to go global and for foreign enterprises to enter the Mainland market. The HKSAR Government established last year the cross-organisation and cross-departmental Task Force on Supporting Mainland Enterprises in Going Global to offer one-stop services for enterprises. The third area is bringing together high-calibre talent from across the globe. Through various recruitment measures, the talent pool has been enriched. Since the end of 2022, nearly 600 000 applications under various talent admission schemes have been received, with close to 280 000 talents arriving in Hong Kong for work and development. Hong Kong welcomes more local, Mainland and overseas talent to share in its development opportunities and inject new impetus into its economy.

Mr Chan will continue his visit to Beijing tomorrow (March 20).

Exhibition Celebrating Han Dynasty's Cultural Legacy Opens in Hong Kong Today