The Forbidden City and Maritime Silk Road exhibition has opened to the public at the Palace of Ajuda in Lisbon, as part of the China Culture Year program in Portugal. The launch coincides with the state visit by Chinese President Xi Jinping to the country.

This exhibition features 66 artifacts from a collection comprising over 1.8 million items that represent the Maritime Silk Road. These items present a picture of the interaction and communication of the Ming and Qing courts with the outside world, demonstrating that this route was not only a flourishing trade route but also the bond between imperial China and the world.

"Not many people have the opportunity to go to China to the Forbidden City itself. It is a great pleasure to see a bit there and I hope many people come to see that," said a Lisbon resident, who did not reveal his name.

Next year is the 40th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Portugal, and the 20th Anniversary of Macao's handover to China. The Portuguese Culture Minister Graça Fonseca said this exhibition is an important part of the China Culture Year program in Portugal and will serve as a bridge between the two countries.

“This is a good platform reminding us that we have this long cooperation, this long connection between our two nations and our cultural artifacts and objects. Culture is probably the best way we have to connect countries, to connect people,” said Fonseca.