Sichuan holds exhibition on ancient Shu Civilization in Mexico

Sichuan held a special exhibition on ancient Shu Civilization and a dialogue between the ancient Shu Civilization and Maya Civilization at Yucatan International Convention Center of Merida in Mexico on July 8.

The exhibition features artworks, photos, videos and multimedia, which offers visitors a vivid presentation of the mysterious and ancient Shu Civilization once existed in southwest China.

A traditional worship ceremony of Maya culture unveiled the opening ceremony of the special exhibition. The photos of gold vessels, bronze wares, jades and ivories are displayed with advanced digital technologies so that visitors can have a virtual experience of Sanxingdui Museum in Sichuan’s Guanghan City and Jinsha Site Museum in Chengdu, the capital of Sichuan Province.

Chengdu Plateau belonged to Shu state more than 3,000 years ago, and Sanxingdui site was the capital then.

“It’s the first time for me to get to know the ancient Shu Civilization, and I found it shared many common features with Maya Civilization, which made me very interested in the ancient Shu Civilization,” Thomas from Mexico said after having a virtual reality views of the two museums.

“We hope to help visitors from Mexico to get to know Sichuan, and welcome Mexican visitors to Chengdu to have a look at Sanxingdui, Jinsha Site and Giant Panda Base, in order to enhance cooperation in culture, travel, trade, economy and education,” said Li Zhuo, deputy minister of Sichuan Publicity Department of the CPC Sichuan Committee, at the opening ceremony.

“I hope Chengdu and Merida can cultivate friendship through more cultural activities and strengthen exchange and development between the two most livable cities in the world,” said Martinez, vice mayor of Merida. Merida and Chengdu established friendly cooperation relationship in 2016.

“Last May I visited Chengdu, Dujiangyan and Tianfu New Area and I was deeply impressed by what I saw there,” Martinez added. “It was incredible to see the Jinsha Site Museum in Chengdu, so beautiful.”

“Ancient Shu Civilization and Maya Civilization jointly laid the foundation for the development of civilization of human kind,” said Zhu Zhangyi, executive vice curator of Jinsha Site Museum, at the symposium.

“The worship for the sun and the moon is common for Maya Civilization and ancient Shu Civilization,” said Xiao Xianjin, director of Sanxingdui Research Institute.