TEHRAN -- Iran’s foreign ministry spokesman on 
Saturday announced the opening of “Glory of Ancient Persia” exhibition in its third destination in China, saying the exhibition is expected to captivate a wide audience.
“The Glory of Ancient Persia exhibition has been inaugurated in Urumqi, the capital of the Xinjiang Autonomous Region of China,” Esmaeil Baghaei wrote on his page on the social media platform X.
“Simultaneously, an article by the Minister of Cultural Heritage, Handicrafts, and Tourism on revitalizing the ancient ties between Iran and China through enhanced cultural and tourism exchanges was published in the People’s Daily in China,” he said.
Baghaei added that the exhibition received significant attention in Beijing and Shanghai, garnering extensive media coverage and captivating millions of online viewers.
Baghaei further noted that with the abundant cultural and historical commonalities between China and Iran, the exhibition is expected to leave a profound impression.
Organized by Iran’s Ministry of Cultural Heritage, Tourism, and Handicrafts in cooperation with the Chinese government, the exhibition showcases over 280 artifacts spanning more than 3,000 years of Persian history.
The collection includes treasures from prominent archaeological sites across Iran, such as the National Museum of Iran, the Persepolis Museum, and regional museums in Rasht and Gorgan.
The event aims to introduce the magnificence of Persian civilization to Chinese audiences and promote tourism to Iran. 
The exhibition officially opened at the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region Museum in Urumqi on Friday.
Addressing the ceremony, Director of the National Museum of Iran Jebrael Nokandeh said over the years, the National Museum of Iran and Chinese museums have forged a rich record of positive and valuable experiences.
“This exhibition will further strengthen and develop the friendship between our two countries,” Nokandeh added.
As two ancient civilizations, China and Iran have been closely connected through the Silk Road since antiquity. 
Diplomatic relations between China and Iran were established on August 16, 1971. Over the past half-century, cultural exchanges between the two nations have deepened, witnessing the steady development of bilateral ties.
Some pieces in the exhibition incorporate Chinese elements, highlighting the Silk Road’s historical and contemporary role in fostering dialogue, promoting cultural exchange, and building a shared future for humanity.
“Together, we will foster cultural dialogue, enhance mutual understanding, and jointly promote the preservation and development of cultural heritage. This will further advance the narrative of cultural exchange between our two nations,” said Party Secretary of the Xinjiang Museum He Jia.