Macao's Poly MGM Museum showcases China's top-class cultural relics

Poly MGM Museum, collaboratively presented by Poly Culture and MGM, is offering people in China's Macao Special Administrative Region (SAR) a glimpse into the country's top-class cultural relics.

The museum, which opened in November this year, aims to be a major global cultural landmark, presenting China's cultural heritage and broadening the country's global cultural outreach.

Bronze head sculptures of the Ox, Tiger, Monkey and Pig from the destroyed Old Summer Palace, or "Yuanmingyuan" in Chinese, are currently on display at the museum. The bronze animal heads are from a collection of 12 Chinese zodiac animals. They were originally mounted on exquisite bronze stands around a spectacular pool in the old royal garden to form a fountain clock.

"Poly Culture has a deep historical connection with Macao. Twenty years ago, the renowned patriotic entrepreneur in Hong Kong and Macao, Stanley Ho Hung-sun, donated the bronze pig head of the Old Summer Palace to the Poly Art Museum, which allowed the national treasures that had been lost overseas for many years to return to their homeland. After 20 years, Poly Culture and MGM join hands to establish a heavyweight international cutting-edge cultural and art museum, which also serves as a tribute for the 25th anniversary of Macao's return to the motherland," said Wang Bo, Chairman of Poly Culture Group Corporation Limited.

The first-ever exhibition of the museum, titled "The Maritime Silk Road -- Discover the mystical seas and encounter the treasures of the ancient trade route," showcased 228 exhibits, including nearly 30 pieces of China's national first-class cultural relics.

"Macao is a place with rich cultural content, especially as a key node on the Belt and Road and the Maritime Silk Road. We look at the cultural inheritance of our Chinese culture and history from a perspective of China-West cultural convergence. Looking back, we have had very close cooperative relationships with Western regions for a long time," said said Pansy Ho Chiu-king, chairperson and executive director of MGM China.

The Poly MGM Museum contest was covered in the fourth episode of the China Media Group (CMG) documentary series titled "25 Years of Lotus Bond."

The series premiered on CCTV-1 at 20:00 Dec 13 and will run until Dec 17, with subsequent broadcasts on CCTV-4 and CCTV-13.

The series highlights the successful practices of "one country, two systems" in Macao under the strategic guidance of the central government.

The Chinese government resumed the exercise of sovereignty over Macao and established the Macao SAR on December 20, 1999.

Macao's Poly MGM Museum showcases China's top-class cultural relics

Lion dance performance in China's Macao Special Administrative Region (SAR) has emerged as a cultural bridge over time to connect people from both local and across the world, according to a five-episode documentary launched by China Media Group (CMG).

Chio Lai Kei, a staff member of Macao's light rail system, competed in the International Lion Dance Championship, representing the Macao Workers' Association of Martial Arts and Physical Education. Before heading to work, he went to a martial arts gym to practice lion dancing.

"The strength of the hands, legs, and waist is very important. You need to practice over and over again in front of a mirror, so as to know how to look better," said Chio.

Chio learned lion dance from his mentor Lei Kam Wa, a martial arts master, who always said that the fundamental movements of lion dance are Chinese martial arts.

Lei is also the head of the Macao Workers' Association of Martial Arts and Physical Education. His daughter Lei Cho Ieng, a firefighter, also loves the performing art of lion dance.

"When I pick up the lion and interact with performers, I feel happy inside. It's as if the lion serves as a bridge, allowing me to connect with those who love lion dancing," she said.

With 21 lion dance troupes from 13 countries and regions participating this year, the 11th International Lion Dance Championship 2024 was held in front of the A-Ma Temple dedicated to the sea-goddess Mazu. "Since the return of Macao, the lion dance has been staged on more occasions with the thriving development of the society, aligning with global development trends," said Pun Keng Man, deputy director of the Wushu General Association of Macao.

To commemorate the 25th anniversary of Macao's return to the motherland, CMG is airing the documentary series titled "25 Years of Lotus Bond" on CCTV-1 at 20:00 every night from Dec 13 to 17, with subsequent broadcasts on CCTV-4 and CCTV-13.

The documentary comprises five thematic episodes: Love for the Home and the Nation, A Path of Diversity, The Flavor of Happiness, A City of Integration, and Gateway to the Future. It showcases the successful practices of "one country, two systems" in Macao under the strategic guidance of the central government.

On December 20, 1999, the Chinese government resumed its exercise of sovereignty over Macao and established the Macao SAR.

Lion dance serves as cultural bridge connecting people