During the Spring Festival holiday from January 28 to February 4, 2025, the Shanghai Museum became a cultural hotspot as throngs of visitors flocked to experience the exhibition “On Top of the Pyramid: The Civilization of Ancient Egypt.”
Co-hosted by the Shanghai Museum and the Egyptian Supreme Council of Antiquities, the exhibition runs from July 19, 2024, to August 17, 2025. It features an impressive collection of 788 artifacts spanning various periods of ancient Egypt, including statues of pharaohs, ornate mummy sarcophagi, and exquisite gold jewelry. Remarkably, over 95 percent of these treasures are being displayed in Asia for the first time.
The exhibition has sold more than 1.4 million tickets, with over 70 percent of attendees traveling from other provinces, municipalities, and overseas. This surge in cultural tourism highlights a new trend of “celebrating the New Year with culture,” as more young people seek enriching experiences during traditional holidays.
Visitors expressed awe at the depth and beauty of ancient Egyptian civilization. “It’s incredible to see these artifacts up close,” said Li Wei, a university student from Beijing. “It feels like we’re connecting with history in a very real way.”
The Shanghai Museum continues to be a beacon for cultural exchange, offering immersive experiences that bridge the past and present. The overwhelming response to the exhibition underscores the universal appeal of ancient cultures and the growing interest in global heritage among younger generations.
