The rich artistic and cultural heritage of ancient Pakistan is being celebrated at the prestigious “Entering Xiangshan - Exploring the Origins of Gandhara Art” exhibition at Shenzhen’s Fanya Art Museum from May 15 to June 15. The month-long showcase presents Pakistan’s Gandhara civilization, one of history’s most remarkable cultural crossroads, to Chinese audience through rare artifacts and stunning photographic documentation.

The exhibition’s title references the spiritual connections between China’s sacred Xiangshan (Fragrant Mountain) and Pakistan’s ancient Buddhist sites, symbolizing centuries of shared heritage along the Silk Road. “Entering Xiangshan - Exploring the Origins of Gandhara Art” exhibition in Shenzhen.

[Photo provided by Shenzhen Fanya Art Museum] The exhibition features more than 50 authentic Gandharan artifacts from the museum’s collection alongside 100 carefully selected photographs from over 5,000 images documenting 16 archaeological sites across Pakistan’s historic northwest region.

These materials, curated with contributions from six leading museums, highlight Gandhara’s unique position as a melting pot of Greek, Persian and Indian artistic traditions that gave birth to distinctive Buddhist art forms. As a public-spirited initiative with free admission, the exhibition underscores China’s commitment to preserving and promoting the shared cultural heritage.

Visitors can marvel at elaborate Buddha statues displaying characteristic Greco-Buddhist features, intricate stucco reliefs and architectural fragments that demonstrate the artistic splendor of Gandhara. Photographic displays provide rare glimpses of UNESCO World Heritage sites such as Taxila and Takht-i-Bahi, potentially sparking Chinese tourist interest in Pakistan’s cultural treasures.

Credit: Independent News Pakistan (INP) — Pak-China