Hong Kong Maritime Museum hosts immersive VR exhibition on ancient Shu civilization

Starting October 1, the Hong Kong Maritime Museum, in collaboration with China Tourism Group Corporation Limited, the Sanxingdui Museum, and the Chengdu Jinsha Site Museum, presents an innovative exhibition titled “Voyage into Shu: Exploring Sanxingdui and Jinsha.” 

Running until November 15, this event introduces Hong Kong audiences to the ancient Shu civilization through a blend of virtual reality and interactive installations. 

Moving beyond traditional museum displays, the exhibition immerses visitors in the archaeological wonders of the Sanxingdui and Jinsha sites, located in Sichuan’s Chengdu Plain, revealing their significance as key centers of ancient Chinese civilization.

The Sanxingdui site, discovered in the 1920s along the Yazi River, represents the largest and longest-lasting pre-Qin settlement in southwest China. 

Excavations since the 1980s have uncovered nearly 20,000 artifacts, including bronze statues, mythical trees, gold masks, and a gold scepter, highlighting the advanced metallurgy and unique belief systems of the Shu capital during the Shang period. 

The Jinsha site, unearthed in 2001 in Chengdu, served as the Shu Kingdom’s capital from the 12th to 7th centuries BC, offering insights into the civilization’s evolution and its sudden decline. 

Notable finds, like the “Golden Sun Bird,” now Chengdu’s city emblem, underscore the region’s cultural legacy and its role in the diverse tapestry of Chinese civilization.

The exhibition’s centerpiece, the “Exploring Sanxingdui VR Experience,” transports visitors through four 30-minute scenes, from enlarged bronze artifacts to virtual flights over the ruins, simulating archaeological digs and the grandeur of the ancient Shu. 

Interactive installations, such as a five-screen panoramic setup recreating excavation scenes and touchscreen systems for role-playing as archaeologists, allow visitors to engage deeply with the artifacts and history. 

These features make the ancient Shu accessible to all ages, blending education with immersive storytelling.

The exhibition also draws parallels between the Shu civilization, rooted in the Minjiang River Basin, and Hong Kong’s Pearl River estuary, both tied to water as carriers of culture. 

Thousands of shell artifacts at Sanxingdui hint at ancient maritime connections, aligning with the museum’s 20th anniversary theme of linking past and future. Held at the museum’s thematic galleries, the event requires special tickets for the VR experience, priced at HK$170–190 for adults and HK$130–150 for discounted entry, including access to permanent galleries. 

This exhibition not only showcases the brilliance of the Shu civilization but also positions it within the global context of Bronze Age cultures, inviting Hong Kongers to explore their shared heritage through cutting-edge technology.