Turkey gets a glimpse of China's civilization

Treasure of China, a high-profile exhibition consisting of 101 representative relics of Chinese civilization over its 5,000 years of development, has arrived at the Topkapi Palace in Istanbul, Turkey.

As part of the ongoing Chinese Culture Year in Turkey, the exhibition - the first of its kind initiated by the two governments - will be open to the public from Nov 20 to Feb 20.

"We hope to offer a glimpse of China's 5,000-year civilization and an enjoyable visiting experience for the Turkish people," says Yao An, deputy director of Arts Exhibition of China who helped curate the exhibition.

For the exhibition, curators have spent more than one year handpicking the exhibits from major museums in Beijing, Shanghai and Shaanxi province, including the Imperial Palace Museum, Shanghai Museum and the Qinshihuang Terracotta Museum, Yao says.

Among them are Chinese iconic treasures like colorful pottery from the New Stone Age (c. 3300-2200 BC), Terracotta Warriors and horses from the Qinshihuang Terracotta Museum in Xi'an, stone carved Buddha statues from the Tang Dynasty (AD 618-907) when the Silk Road connecting China and Turkey was in its prime period and glazed plates used in the imperial family during the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911).

Curators have also arranged five mirrors to reflect the four Terracotta Warriors, including a general and a kneeling bowman and one horse, to produce the effect of an army.

Tolga Ucak, political counselor from the Turkish embassy to China, says he believes the exhibition will attract a lot of attention, especially the terracotta army exhibits. He visited the Qinshihuang Terracotta Museum for the first time in 2010.

"Everyone in Turkey know of the Terracotta Warriors and horses, but few of them have seen them for real," the counselor says.

"Once they see them at the exhibition today, they might be interested in coming to China to see more tomorrow."

Zhang Heqing, director of Division of Foreign Affairs under the State Administration of Cultural Heritage, says the exhibition is part of the ongoing Chinese Culture Year in Turkey, which started in December 2011.

In 2013, China will host the Turkish Culture Year.

linshujuan@chinadaily.com.cn