Touring Afghan artifacts arrive in Hong Kong for a special showcase

This exhibition offers a good opportunity for Hong Kong residents to understand more about Afghan culture, she adds.

The precious collection originally stored in the National Museum of Afghanistan has been under threat since Afghanistan was plunged into political turmoil in the 1970s. Museum staff transferred the artifacts to different locations to protect them from being destroyed at home.

In 2006, the collection made its global debut at the Guimet Museum in France, which marked the start of its long world tour. The artifacts were presented in eight cities in China, including Beijing and Dunhuang in Gansu province, in 2017. The Hong Kong Museum of History has also produced a 12-minute documentary, introducing the Afghan people's efforts to preserve the exhibits.

"We firmly believe that the cultural heritage that we protect represents the spirit of the Afghan people and reflects our common history," Muhammad Rahimi, head of the National Museum of Afghanistan, says in the documentary.

The 13-year tour around the globe has helped to accumulate experience and know-how about packaging, transporting and protecting the artifacts so that their beauty can be appreciated by a wider audience. But in the meantime, people can't help but wonder－when can these pieces eventually return home?