HONG KONG – This November, ancient Egypt will rise again—this time on the shores of Victoria Harbour. When the Hong Kong Palace Museum unveils Ancient Egypt Unveiled: Treasures from Egyptian Museums on 20 November 2025, visitors will walk into the largest, most comprehensive showcase of Egyptian antiquities ever staged in Hong Kong. The scale is unprecedented: 250 artefacts spanning nearly 5,000 years of history, many of which have never before left Egypt.

What makes the exhibition remarkable is not only its grandeur, but its intimacy. These works—monumental statues, vibrant funerary coffins, exquisitely worked jewellery, and even humble objects like bread, sandals, and a wooden toilet seat—offer a rare glimpse into the daily and spiritual lives of a civilisation that continues to fascinate the world. All items are being lent directly by Egypt’s Supreme Council of Antiquities (SCA), the sole custodian of the country’s cultural treasures. Their arrival in Hong Kong marks a milestone in international cultural exchange.

The exhibition is the result of a deepening relationship between the HKPM and the SCA, supported by Bank of China (Hong Kong) as Strategic Partner, with Cathay and UnionPay International as Major Sponsors. For Hong Kong audiences, the collaboration means access to artefacts normally seen only in Cairo, Luxor, or Sohag. For the SCA, it represents a chance to share Egypt’s heritage with the world in a new way—through advanced digital interpretation, immersive storytelling, and a dialogue-rich curatorial approach.

The exhibition unfolds across four thematic sections, beginning with “The Land of the Pharaohs,” a sweeping introduction to ancient Egyptian civilisation. Here, iconic figures like Senwosret I, Hatshepsut, and Rameses II stand in sculptural form as reminders of the pharaohs’ divine authority. Displays of painted coffins, canopic jars, and delicate amulets illuminate beliefs surrounding death and the afterlife—concepts that shaped Egyptian culture as profoundly as its monumental architecture.

Yet it’s the everyday items that bring ancient Egypt most vividly to life: the kneeling brewer, the elegant musical instruments, the game pieces for Senet, and the objects of daily ritual and comfort. These pieces remind visitors that beyond the pharaohs’ grandeur lived a civilisation of artists, labourers, priests, and families.

The next two sections turn to archaeology’s most electrifying moments. “The World of Tutankhamun” revisits the 1922 discovery that stunned the globe: a nearly untouched royal tomb overflowing with 5,000 objects. Among the works on display is a quartzite head of Nefertiti, long hailed as a pinnacle of Egyptian beauty and craftsmanship, along with jewellery, faience, and sculptures that evoke the opulence of the New Kingdom.

“The Secrets of Saqqara” spotlights one of Egypt’s most active modern dig sites. Saqqara—the ancient necropolis of Memphis—has revealed dozens of painted coffins, animal mummies, and temple remains in recent years. Visitors will encounter stunning pieces unearthed since 2020, including statues of animal-headed deities and mummified cats and cattle. These discoveries are rewriting scholars’ understanding of ancient Egyptian burial practices and religious life.

The final section, “Ancient Egypt and the World,” places Egypt in conversation with other civilisations. Greco-Roman influences appear in mummy masks and multi-script stelae, while the concluding displays highlight 70 years of Sino-Egyptian diplomatic relations—an apt reminder that cultural exchange is as old as civilisation itself.

Complementing the artefacts are more than ten multimedia installations: a projection-driven exploration of mummification, a reconstruction of Tutankhamun’s tomb excavation, and a digital colour restoration of a damaged statue of the boy king. These are entirely non-intrusive, designed to bring visitors closer to the ancient objects without compromising conservation.

To deepen engagement, the HKPM is rolling out a suite of talks, guided tours, workshops, and performing arts events, along with exhibition merchandise and publications. Visitors can also take advantage of special ticket packages leading up to opening day.

For most people, travelling to Egypt to witness its antiquities firsthand is a dream. This exhibition brings Egypt to Hong Kong—its grandeur, its mysteries, its daily intimacies, and its modern rediscoveries. Ancient Egypt Unveiled isn’t just a showcase of ancient masterpieces; it’s a portal into one of the world’s most captivating civilisations, presented with a level of depth, clarity, and access never before offered in the region.

Ancient Egypt Unveiled: Treasures from Egyptian Museums runs from 20th November 2025 through 31st August 2026 in Gallery 9, the Hong Kong Palace Museum. Please visit the Museum’s website for more details.