SHANGHAI - Ancient China and the world had always kept in close contact. Through the prominent networks of overland and maritime Silk Roads, the East and the West joined hands in promoting international trade, transmitting cultural ideas, and propelling the development of human civilization.

More than 700 years ago, Venice became a commercial and transportation powerhouse in the Mediterranean with its energetic trade and advanced oceanic navigation. From this city of water and bridges, Marco Polo set out on a long journey. He passed through the ancient Silk Road across Eurasia and came to the Karakorum steppe. Then, from the vast northern grasslands, he went to the water town of Hangzhou located to the south of the lower Yangtze River. He also visited the ancient port of Quanzhou before departing by ship for Hormuz in the Persian Gulf and returning home. In China, he was bedazzled by the magnificent architecture in the capital cities and came face to face with the empire's lively commercial markets. He witnessed the fierce conditions of rugged lands as well as vivacity of trade at seaports. Indeed, all the lives and wonders that he captured on his travels to China and elsewhere were the epitome of the ancient world of globalization in the thirteenth century.

Marco Polo was by no means a solitary traveler. In his time, there was an endless stream of merchants, envoys, pilgrims, and artists moving back and forth on the ancient Silk Road. Many travelers left records of political culture, social beliefs, and economic life. From these historical texts, it is not difficult to see that each civilization has its own strengths. They learn from each other and together contribute to the progress of world history.

This exhibition gathers many wonderful cultural relics from museums in Italy and China to picture the era in Marco Polo's time. Visitors will be able to visualize the vibrant maritime trade of Venice, the robust networks of commerce under the aegis of Mongol Khanates, and the ancient cities of Hangzhou and Quanzhou, which were just as prosperous as Venice. As we piece together the jigsaw puzzle of history, we invite everyone to feel the pulse of globalization in its early form and appreciate the many splendors of ancient civilizations.

Exhibition 'Wonders of the World: China and Beyond in the Eyes of Marco Polo' at the Shanghai Museum, 2024-11-23 - 2025-03-30 

Jacopo de' Barbari, Venetie MD (Perspective plan of the city of Venice, 1500), After 1511. Length 282.0 cm, Width 134.5 cm. Museo Correr, Venice. © Shanghai Museum

Illuminated Sheet with St. Mark's Lion from Mariegola dei Marangoni dell' Arsenal, 1595. Length 25.0 cm, Width 20.0 cm, Biblioteca del Museo Correr, Venice. © Shanghai Museum

Crystal Plate with Vertical Stripes, Late 15th century to 1525. Height 3.7 cm, Max. diameter 22.0 cm. Museo del Vetro di Murano, Venice. © Shanghai Museum

Quae hoc volumine continentur. Ad Marinum Sannutum epistola qui apud graecos scripserint metamorfoseis (A Letter to Marinum Sannutum), Publio Nasone Ovidio, 1502. Length 16.2 cm, Width 11 cm, Thickness 3.7 cm. Biblioteca del Museo Correr, Venice. © Shanghai Museum

Fruit Bowl with "Adam and Eve", Urbino Manufacture, Painter Marsia from Milan, 1530-1540. Diameter 29 cm, Height 3.5 cm. Museo Correr, Venice. © Shanghai Museum

White-glazed Compass Bowl with Brown Decoration, Yuan Dynasty (1271-1368). Height 7.8 cm, Rim diameter 17.8 cm, Ring foot diameter 6.6 cm. Unearthed from Duimiangou village of Yingchengzi, Ganjingzi district in Dalian in 1964. Collection of Lüshun Museum. © Shanghai Museum

Printing Plate for the Two-guan Banknote Circulated in the Zhiyuan Reign, Yuan Dynasty (1271-1368). Length 28.4 cm, Width 20.4 cm, Thickness 4.1 cm, Weight 3750 g, Shanghai Museum. © Shanghai Museum

Glazed Drip Tile with Dragon Pattern, Yuan Dynasty (1271-1368). Length 13.8 cm, Width 9.5 cm, Height 8 cm. Unearthed from the ruins of Muqing Pavilion built in Yuan-dynasty capital Shangdu. Collectiojn of Xilingol League Cultural Heritage Protection and Research Center © Shanghai Museum

Glazed Pottery Phoenix, Yuan Dynasty (1271-1368). Height 36.5 cm. Unearthed from the platform south-west of the palace ruins of Zhongdu. Collection of Hebei Provincial Institute of Cultural Relics and Archaeology © Shanghai Museum

Handscroll Painting of West Lake (Attributed to Li Song), Southern Song Dynasty (1127-1279). Ink on paper, ,Length 80.7 cm, Width 27.0 cm. Collection of Shanghai Museum. © Shanghai Museum

"Moonlight on the Sea" String Instrument, 12th year of Zhizheng reign (1352), Yuan Dynasty. Total length 117.3 cm, Shoulder width 18.3 cm, Thickness 5 cm. Donated by Mr. Sun Yiwu. Shanghai Museum. © Shanghai Museum

Blue-and-white Brush Stand in Mountain Design, Yuan Dynasty (1271-1368). Height 9.3 cm, Width 11.4 cm, Thickness 2.0 cm. Unearthed from the Hangzhou Commercial Storage and Transportation Co., located on Zhaohui Road, Hangzhou City. Collection of Hangzhou Museum. © Shanghai Museum

Tombstone of Ren Renfa's Family, 11th year of Zhizheng reign (1351), Yuan Dynasty. Height 96.8 cm, Width 54.0 cm, Thickness 14.0 cm. Unearthed from the Ren Family Cemetery in Qingpu, Shanghai. Collection of Shanghai Museum. © Shanghai Museum

Jade Magic Square, Yuan Dynasty (1271-1368). Length 3.6 cm, Width 3.5 cmUnearthed from the Ming-dynasty Lu Family Cemetery in Pudong, Shanghai in 1969. Shanghai Museum. © Shanghai Museum

Jade Inlay Piece with Dragon-head Design, Yuan Dynasty (1271-1368) . Length 9.1 cm, Width 3.7 cm. Collection of Shanghai Museum. © Shanghai Museum

Gugu Hat (Headdress for Mongol Noble women), Yuan Dynasty (1271-1368). Total height 34 cm, Cylindrical shaft diameter 9.2 × 8.3 cm, Side width 22.5 cm. Collection of Inner Mongolia Museum. © Shanghai Museum

Gugu Hat Cover Made in Nasich (Gold-wefted Brocade), Yuan Dynasty (1271-1368). Crown width 84 cm, Length 50 cm, Strap length 20 cm (including tassel 2 cm). Shanghai Museum. © Shanghai Museum

Rubbing of Brick with Characters, Yuan Dynasty (1271-1368). Unearthed from the ruins of Shibosi (maritime trade bureau). Collection of Quanzhou Cultural Relics Conservation Center. © Shanghai Museum

Blue-and-white Vase with Peony Scrolls, Jingdezhen ware, Yuan Dynasty (1271-1368). Porcelain. Height 41.9 cm, Mouth diameter 6.1 cm, Foot diameter 13.9 cm. Shanghai Museum. © Shanghai Museum

Hindu Corner Capital Stone with Animal-shaped Decoration, Yuan Dynasty (1271-1368). Length 58 cm, Width 58 cm, Height 21.5 cm. Excavated from the foundation of Tonghuai Gate in Quanzhou in 1939. Collection of Quanzhou Maritime Museum, Fujian. © Shanghai Museum

Tombstone of Elizabeth (a Nestorian Christian Woman), Yuan Dynasty (1271-1368). Height 29.3 cm, Width 24.5cm, Thickness 4 cm. Unearthed in 1981 at the southern end of Saogou Mountain, west of Yangzhou City. Collection of Yangzhou Museum. © Shanghai Museum

Nestorian Ceramic Tombstone, 13th-14th century. Height 46.5 cm, Length 39 cm, Thickness 6 cm. Unearthed from the ancient city of Yuan-dynasty Songzhou in Chengzi county, Songshan district, Chifeng city. Collection of Inner Mongolia Museum. © Shanghai Museum

Bronze Pass for the Pacification Commissioner's Office, Yuan Dynasty (1271-1368). Diameter 17.2 cm, Width 14 cm, Thickness 0.7 cm. Unearthed from the inner side of the west city wall of Yangzhou South Gate in 1951. Collection of Yangzhou Museum. © Shanghai Museum

Marco Polo Jar, Beginning of the 14th century. Height 12.1 cm, Max. diameter 8.3 cm. Procuratoria di San Marco, Venice. © Shanghai Museum

Will of Marco Polo, January 9, 1323. Length 67.5 cm, Width 24.5 cm. Biblioteca Nazionale Marciana, Venice. © Shanghai Museum