Texas exhibition reveals secrets of "silk road"

"Secrets of the Silk Road," which showcases a great number of pieces of newly-excavated cultural relics, provides a window on all aspects of the people and cultures of the Silk Road during its early period, organizers said at an opening ceremony for the exhibition Wednesday.

Many of the exhibits, which come from collections of the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region Museum and the Xinjiang Institute of Archaeology in Urumqi, are for the first time on display outside of Asia, said Han Ziyong, a top official from the department of cultural affairs of the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region.

The silk road is an important route connecting East and West in ancient times and embodies the spirit of openness and harmony, said Han, adding that this spirit is also important in modern society when it comes to promoting exchanges and communication among nations.

The exhibition will provide a rare chance for U.S. viewers to see those valuable cultural relics from the old "silk road" and also will promote understanding between two cultures, Gao Yanping, the Chinese Consul General in Houston.

The extreme age and superb preservation of the objects on display at the Houston Museum of Natural Science, some dating back 4,000 years ago, has set this special exhibition apart from other shows.

Many objects have predate the renown Silk Road by almost 2,000 years, reflecting a much more global population than previously realized, organizers said.

The first stop of the exhibition is Santa Ana, California. After the display in Houston, the exhibition will move to Pennsylvania, Kazinform cites Xinhua. See www.xinhuanet.com for full version.