Tracing the influences of cultures

This quern, with its dragon-faced fish, is one of the over 220 cultural objects displayed in the exhibition Where Civilizations Meet: Collections from Museums of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization Member States at the National Museum of China.

The objects come from the collections of 10 museums and cultural institutions of Shanghai Cooperation Organization member states to celebrate the diverse cultures that are thriving on the vast, fertile Eurasian soil, says Wang, the exhibition's curator.

The exhibition opened on Aug 27, ahead of the SCO Summit 2025 held in Tianjin on Aug 31 and Monday, and will run until Nov 16.

The SCO, a permanent intergovernmental international organization, was announced in Shanghai in 2001. Upholding the Shanghai Spirit, it pursues the principles of mutual trust, mutual benefit, equality, consultation, respect for diversity of civilizations and pursuit of common development.

The Where Civilizations Meet exhibition addresses the Shanghai Spirit's two pursuits — cultural diversity and common development — and includes representative objects that illuminate the ancient civilizations and highlight mutual influences among the member states.

"The exhibits span from the prehistoric period to the early 20th century, telling a brief history of each member state on show," Wang says.

Also at the exhibition is a dragonhead bas-relief from the eighth century, speculated to be an architectural component, from the collection of the State Museum of History of Uzbekistan. Its teeth are visible from the open mouth, and it has several curved horns on its head.