Visit Macao to See the "Blue Ribbon"

When we think of Macao, we think of the Ruins of St. Paul's, Sands Macao, The Venetian Macao, the Friendship Bridge, and the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge. These are all landmarks of Macao, but Macao has become so much more in the 25 years since its return to China. Macao has always been a window for cultural exchange between the East and the West, where people can hear the pulse of world culture. I recently visited Macao to see a museum, the MGM Cotai Museum, which is hosting the "Blue Ribbon" Maritime Silk Road Exhibition. Let's explore the mysterious sea and encounter the treasures of the Silk Road. The museum is designed with cultural elements from 12 countries along the Silk Road and is themed around the Belt and Road Initiative. It displays and collects cultural heritage relics and artworks from countries and regions along the route. It is a combination of traditional intangible cultural heritage and contemporary innovation, ancient relics and modern art, and the essence of Eastern and Western cultures. Four bronze animal heads from the Old Summer Palace are on display at the museum's first exhibition. These four bronze animal heads are the ox, monkey, tiger, and pig. They stand quietly in the display case, as if they want to tell people the unknown legendary history. They were once part of the fountain outside the Haiyan Hall of the Old Summer Palace, witnessing the splendor and magnificence of ancient Chinese royal gardens. Each bronze animal head is a masterpiece of craftsmanship. The ox head is steady and powerful, the monkey head is lively and playful, the tiger head is majestic, and the pig head is adorable. The details show the exquisite skills of the craftsmen. During the turbulent years of modern times, they were looted and lost overseas, and after countless hardships, they finally returned to China. Their fate is like a mirror of history, reflecting the suffering and humiliation that China once endured. Now on display in Macao, like Macao after its return, they have an extraordinary significance, showing their wisdom and strength.