Foreigners perform a cultural show at the opening ceremony of the Silk Road Week. [Photo/hangzhou.com.cn]

The 2024 Silk Road Week commenced at the China National Silk Museum in Hangzhou on June 19, marking the 60th anniversary of China-France diplomatic relations and the China-France Year of Culture and Tourism.

This event, now in its fifth year, highlights France as the guest country and Shaanxi province as the guest province. Organized by the China National Silk Museum, it continues to celebrate the cultural and historical significance of the Silk Road.

Since its inception in 2020, Silk Road Week has engaged over 200 cultural institutions from more than 30 countries across Europe, America, and Asia-Pacific, attracting millions of participants worldwide.

The opening ceremony featured video messages from prominent cultural institutions and scholars, including the mayor of Lyon and UNESCO representatives. Highlights included the screening of the 2024 Silk Road Week promotional film and an introduction to the 18th Century Lyon: The Enlightenment Era Silk Capital exhibition.

Peter Stewart, a scholar from Oxford University, addresses the event via video message. [Photo/hangzhou.com.cn]

Key initiatives launched included an international cooperation memorandum, the Sericulture and Silk Weaving Skills Exhibition overseas tour, and the Walking the Silk Road: Study Tour project. The 2023 Silk Road Cultural Heritage Annual Report, compiled by experts from nine countries, was also unveiled.

That evening, the Night of Chang'an and Prosperous Tang Silk Road Digital Museum Curatorial Competition Awards took place, featuring performances and award presentations. The main exhibition, Gate of the Nine Heavens: Chang'an on the Silk Road, opened simultaneously, showcasing 210 artifacts, including over 50 first-class relics, highlighting the political, economic, and cultural significance of the Tang Dynasty (618-907) capital of Chang'an and its connections to Zhejiang.

In October, France will host a series of events, including the Silk Road Splendor: From Hangzhou to Paris exhibition, a Sino-French fashion design showcase, and the Sericulture and Silk Weaving Skills performance.

An exhibit. [Photo/Fang Jianfei]