Not only is this special exhibition the biggest one on ancient gold artefacts in Hong Kong in recent years, it also marks the debut of the Hong Kong Palace Museum (HKPM)’s permanent collection. It features more than 200 sets of ancient gold artefacts from the world-renowned Mengdiexuan Collection — thanks to the generous donations by owners Betty Lo and Kenneth Chu — many of them are shown to the public for the first time. The precious objects, including exquisite accessories and splendid ornaments that once adorned horses and carriages of the noble classes, came from the Eurasian Steppe, the Tubo Kingdom, and the Central Plains, with the oldest dating back to the 18th century BCE. These delicately crafted gold objects still glimmer despite their long history. The exhibition highlights the artistic and technical achievements of gold in ancient China, while exploring the role of gold in political activities, life, culture, and the dynamic connections across territories over the past 3,000 years.

© The Hong Kong Palace Museum