Heritage of ancient civilization 'blows mind' of historian

One of Britain's best-known broadcasters has said China's potential for historical study "blows his mind" and he "runs out of superlatives" when talking about the riches the country has to offer.

Over the course of a broadcasting career going back nearly 25 years, Dan Snow has become a familiar face and voice to British viewers, presenting programs about everything from Peru's lost city of Machu Pichu to World War II, and he has taken a particular interest in and made numerous films about China.

Speaking at the opening of a new Ancient Egypt exhibition Ramses and The Pharaohs' Gold at London's Battersea Power Station, Snow, who had just returned from a filming project in China, spoke of his fascination with the country, and compared its rich heritage to that of Egypt.

"History and heritage are not just fascinating and beautiful, it's a national strategic asset — it's like having an oil well on your property that never runs out," he said. "It's a huge advantage for Egypt, but it's the same in China.

"I grew up in the European culture, where we talked about kings and conquerors and dramatic stories, then you open your mind to Chinese history and realize that all of that is there, and more," he said. "There are stories and objects there equal to anyone's in the world, probably better, and now it's so easy to travel around. They are the best people with the best food in the world, I love going to China because it's exploring brand new history as dramatic and exciting as anything in the world."

The Ramses exhibition, which runs until the end of May, contains 180 priceless artifacts, many of which have rarely, if ever, been seen outside Egypt, telling the story of the pharaoh who reigned for 67 years, making him one of the most influential characters in world history.

"Length of time is vital for a ruler as it means you can bed in reform and your rules, build your buildings, see off enemies and make diplomatic alliances," Snow said.

"Ramses wanted to be remembered as the greatest of kings, and it seems he succeeded, because all subsequent pharaohs knew there was something special about him, and measured themselves against him in some way."

After military successes early in his reign, he then set about bringing stability to the country, enjoying economic security, and creating his own legend.

"Everywhere you go in Egypt, there are huge carvings of Ramses in his chariot with his bow and arrows smiting his enemies," said Snow. "That's how he wanted to be remembered, and winners write the history books, so a lot of what we have to go on is what he was telling us, which is not so different from Chinese emperors and medieval European kings."

Ramses the Great, as he became known, built the world-renowned temple of Abu Simbel, and the exhibition's selection of genuine artifacts, including gold funeral masks, granite statues, intricately-made jewelry and his perfectly preserved cedar wood coffin, shine a bright light on the wonders of his time, before ending with an immersive virtual reality tour of Abu Simbel and the tomb of Ramses' wife, Nefertari.

In an interview with CGTN earlier this year, Ahmed Youssef, CEO of the Egyptian Tourism Authority, said that in 2025, Egypt welcomed 360,000 Chinese tourists, and the aim was for that figure to grow significantly.

Speaking to China Daily at the London exhibition, Egypt's Minister of Tourism and Antiquities Sherif Fathi Attia said he was keen for the two countries to build on their ancestral similarities and grow closer.

"China and Egypt are two countries with great history, and both are proud of their ancient culture," he explained. "I have been to China twice in the last two years, we are joining hands with major stakeholders in promoting Egypt.

"But I also told my counterparts in China, 'please, promote China in Egypt'. Egyptians travel a lot but what they know of China is very limited, the country has so much to offer more than the Forbidden City and the Great Wall. I believe in promotion both ways, and this way we can make passenger and tourist flow for airlines feasible and sustainable in the future."