Exhibition on Nanhai I Shipwreck Opens, Showcasing Maritime Silk Road Artifacts in Greater Bay Area.

"Launch from Greater Bay Area: Nanhai I Shipwreck and the Maritime Silk Road" exhibition opens

The opening ceremony ofthe exhibition entitled "Launch from Greater Bay Area: Nanhai I Shipwreck and the Maritime Silk Road", co-organised by the Development Bureau (DEVB), the National Cultural Heritage Administration and the Secretariat for Social Affairs and Culture of the Government of the Macao Special Administrative Region, was heldtoday (August 15).Featuring artefacts discovered from Nanhai I, an ocean-going merchant ship, and relevant artefacts from Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macao, the exhibition showcases the role of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area on the Maritime Silk Road.

The opening ceremony was officiated by the Secretary for Development, Ms Bernadette Linn; Deputy Director of Art Exhibitions China Ms Zhou Yu; the President of the Guangdong Provincial Institute of Cultural Relics and Archaeology, Ms Cao Jin; and the Vice President of the Cultural Affairs Bureau of the Government of the Macao Special Administrative Region, Mr Cheang Kai-meng.

Nanhai I was a merchant ship of the Southern Song dynasty. Its shipwreck was salvaged in 2007 and is the most complete ancient ocean-going merchant ship discovered through archaeological excavation to date. A large collection of artefacts was discovered from Nanhai I, mainly porcelain, bronzeware, ironware, gold, silverware, lacquerware and woodenware. The quantities, shapes, craftsmanship and forms of the artefacts are rare among the archaeological finds of the Southern Song dynasty. Archaeologists believe that Nanhai I might have sunk along the maritime route from Guangdong to the South China Sea in the 10th year of the Chunxi reign (1183) of the Southern Song dynasty or shortly afterwards.

Among the 255 items of exhibits are artefacts discovered from Nanhai I, including a brown glazed jar with four lugs and stamped with the Chinese characters "Chun Xi Shi Nian" (i.e. the 10th year of the Chunxi reign) from the Nanhai kiln; a qingbai glazed foliated bowl with stamped plum blossom pattern from the Jingdezhen kiln; a green glazed ogee-shaped foliated dish with incised lotus pattern from the Longquan kiln; a necklace with gold chain and rhinoceros horn-shaped cone ornaments; and a gem-set hollow gold bracelet. Also on display are relevant exhibits unearthed from Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macao, including the bottom fragment of a qingbai glazed bowl with inked Chinese characters "Gong Shi" (i.e. envoy) from the Hutian kiln of the Song dynasty from the site of the Nanyue Kingdom Palace in Guangzhou; a yellowish-green glazed jar with six lugs and dragon pattern of the Song dynasty from the site of the former Sacred Hill in Hong Kong; and a blue-and-white kendi with elephant head shaped spout from the Jingdezhen kiln of the Ming dynasty from the site of St. Paul's College in Macao.

The exhibition will run at the Hong Kong Heritage Discovery Centre, Kowloon Park, Haiphong Road, Tsim Sha Tsui, from tomorrow (August 16) to February 12 next year. Admission is free. A short video about the preparation of the exhibition is available on the website of the Antiquities and Monuments Office of the DEVB (www.amo.gov.hk/en/news/index_id_153.html?year=2024).

"Launch from Greater Bay Area: Nanhai I Shipwreck and the Maritime Silk Road" exhibition opens Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

"Launch from Greater Bay Area: Nanhai I Shipwreck and the Maritime Silk Road" exhibition opens Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

"Launch from Greater Bay Area: Nanhai I Shipwreck and the Maritime Silk Road" exhibition opens Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

"Launch from Greater Bay Area: Nanhai I Shipwreck and the Maritime Silk Road" exhibition opens Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

"Launch from Greater Bay Area: Nanhai I Shipwreck and the Maritime Silk Road" exhibition opens Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

"Launch from Greater Bay Area: Nanhai I Shipwreck and the Maritime Silk Road" exhibition opens Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

"Launch from Greater Bay Area: Nanhai I Shipwreck and the Maritime Silk Road" exhibition opens Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

"Launch from Greater Bay Area: Nanhai I Shipwreck and the Maritime Silk Road" exhibition opens Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

"Launch from Greater Bay Area: Nanhai I Shipwreck and the Maritime Silk Road" exhibition opens Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

"Launch from Greater Bay Area: Nanhai I Shipwreck and the Maritime Silk Road" exhibition opens Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

"Launch from Greater Bay Area: Nanhai I Shipwreck and the Maritime Silk Road" exhibition opens Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

"Launch from Greater Bay Area: Nanhai I Shipwreck and the Maritime Silk Road" exhibition opens Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

"Launch from Greater Bay Area: Nanhai I Shipwreck and the Maritime Silk Road" exhibition opens Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

DH signs Co-operation Arrangement on Research for Quality Testing and Standards of Chinese Medicines with Experimental Research Center of the China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences to promote implementation of innovation and high-quality development of traditional Chinese medicine

The Director of Health, Dr Ronald Lam, today (September 11) witnessed in Beijing the Department of Health (DH) and the Experimental Research Center (ERC) of the China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences (CACMS), which is a subsidiary organisation under the National Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine (NATCM), signing a Co-operation Arrangement on Research for Quality Testing and Standards of Chinese Medicines (Co-operation Agreement) that covers a period of five years. The Co-operation Agreement reinforces the exchange and collaboration, jointly promote the modernisation and innovation of Chinese medicines, as well as the advancement of high-quality development of Chinese medicines.

Witnessed by Dr Ronald Lam, Director of the Department of International Co-operation (Office of Hong Kong, Macao & Taiwan Affairs) of the NATCM, Mr Wu Zhendou, and the Vice President of the CACMS, Dr Yang Hongjun, the Co-operation Agreement was signed by the Assistant Director of Health (Chinese Medicine), Dr Edmund Fong, and the Deputy Director of the ERC, Dr Yuan Yuan.

The areas of collaboration include reinforcement on research and standardization of Chinese medicines quality testing, establishment of Chinese medicines quality testing data platforms, holding expert meetings on different fields of Chinese medicines jointly. The Co-operation Agreement enhances the standard of local Chinese medicines testing technology, reinforces the exchange and collaboration on testing technology, nurtures innovative talents and further foster the internationalisation of Chinese medicines, so as to align with the national development strategies for Chinese medicines as outlined in the Development Plan for Traditional Chinese Medicine during the 14th Five-Year Plan Period.

"I would like to express my heartfelt gratitude to the NATCM and the CACMS for their continuous support to the DH, including sending Chinese medicine experts to join Hong Kong to combat the COVID-19 pandemic, arranging acupuncture experts to provide guidance and training for local Chinese medicine practitioners on smoking cessation services with the Chinese medicine and acupuncture, sending Chinese medicine experts to assist Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) in conducting the Chinese Medicine Practitioners Licensing Examination, and inviting HKSAR Government to participate in the 'the Fourth National Survey of Chinese Materia Medica Resources' and providing guidance in various technical aspects. We have maintained close collaboration on the inheritance and innovation of Chinese medicine and to the development of global health over the years. I earnestly look forward to deepening our co-operation and exchange in Chinese medicine through the Co-operation Agreement signed today, and continue to work together to build a healthy China, healthy Greater Bay Area, and a healthy Hong Kong!", Dr Lam said.

After the signing ceremony, Dr Lam visited the ERC and the National Resource Center for Chinese Materia Medica of the CACMS, to learn about the latest development of Chinese medicines testing and research work in the Mainland and had discussion with professional staff in the laboratories. Dr Lam stated that upon the completion and commissioning of the new building of the Government Chinese Medicines Testing Institute, there will be more opportunities for both parties to collaborate on Chinese medicines research, allowing more research results to be published in the new journal Science of Traditional Chinese Medicine.

The DH has been actively facilitating exchange and co-operation with the NATCM in the testing and reference standard research of Chinese medicines. Both parties will implement the work related to promoting the high-quality development of the traditional Chinese medicines industry as outlined in the Development Plan for Traditional Chinese Medicine during the 14th Five-Year Plan Period, including the joint construction of a quality testing platform for Chinese medicines, and accelerating the standardisation, informatisation, modernisation and internationalisation of Chinese medicines. Under this synergistic effect, it can further promote the Chinese medicines industry towards high-quality development.

DH signs Co-operation Arrangement on Research for Quality Testing and Standards of Chinese Medicines with Experimental Research Center of the China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences to promote implementation of innovation and high-quality development of traditional Chinese medicine Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

DH signs Co-operation Arrangement on Research for Quality Testing and Standards of Chinese Medicines with Experimental Research Center of the China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences to promote implementation of innovation and high-quality development of traditional Chinese medicine Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases