Museum of Art to showcase four centuries of Sino-Portuguese exchange

Macau will host a major exhibition exploring centuries of cultural and trade ties between China and Portugal.

“Reflections of Maritime Connections: 16th-19th Century Sino-Portuguese Cultural Exchange” opens on November 7 at the Macao Museum of Art (MAM), jointly organized by the Cultural Affairs Bureau and the Palace Museum, with contributions from the National Museum of Ancient Art, the Orient Foundation, and the Ajuda Library.

The exhibition, divided into three sections – “Dawn of the Porcelain Road,” “Cultural Exchange in Porcelain,” and “Dialogues between Courts” – features 177 artefacts tracing the Maritime Silk Road’s impact.

Highlights include a Ming Dynasty blue-and-white lidded jar from the Palace Museum, a porcelain kendi with phoenix motifs from the National Museum of Ancient Art, and Portuguese-armorial porcelain from the Museum of the Orient.

Rare documents from the Ajuda Library and exported porcelain shards unearthed in Macao further illustrate the city’s historic role as a cultural bridge.

Visitors can participate in lectures, workshops, and musical performances during the exhibition. On November 8, Rafael Alfenim of the National Museum of Ancient Art will discuss the influence of Chinese porcelain on Portuguese ceramics, while youth workshops and guided tours offer hands-on experiences.

The Macao Chinese Orchestra will perform on select dates, interpreting the exchange through music.

The exhibition runs through March 8, 2026. LV