Hong Kong's Egyptian Exhibition Attracts Over 670,000 Visitors

The 'Ancient Egypt Unveiled: Treasures from Egyptian Museums' exhibition at the Hong Kong Palace Museum drew to a close on August 31, 2026, following a nine-and-a-half-month run. During its time in the city, the exhibition recorded over 670,000 visits, with about half the audience consisting of local residents and the rest traveling from mainland China and Southeast Asia. Sales of related merchandise brought in more than HK$33 million (approximately $4.21 million), reflecting the strong interest and economic activity surrounding the event.

Since its launch on November 20, 2025, the showcase stood as the largest of its kind ever held in Hong Kong, featuring 250 treasures drawn from seven different Egyptian museums and archaeological sites. These artifacts spanned nearly 5,000 years of history. One of the more prominent features was a digital installation that used dynamic projection mapping to reconstruct a 2.85-meter-tall statue of Tutankhamun. By restoring the statue's original colors through technology, the display offered a new way for visitors to interact with ancient history.

The project involved close coordination between the Hong Kong Palace Museum and the Egyptian government. At a news conference, museum director Louis Ng Chi-wa spoke about how the exhibition helped deepen cultural ties between China and Egypt. To build on visitor interest, the museum offered around 170 themed items, including catalogs and plush figures. These efforts, paired with promotional partnerships involving local merchants and public transport, helped the museum secure over 12,000 new memberships during the exhibition period.

The high attendance and strong merchandise sales highlight the broader potential within the cultural and creative sectors. Ng noted that by providing high-quality merchandise alongside an engaging experience, the museum could see further growth in this area. The multimedia installations used in the galleries were well-received by Egyptian representatives and will now be gifted to Egypt as a token of the ongoing partnership.

Officials from both the museum and the Egyptian government have expressed a shared desire to keep building on these connections. Hisham El-Leithy, secretary-general of the Supreme Council of Antiquities of Egypt, said the exhibition has laid a solid foundation for future cooperation. With the 70th anniversary of diplomatic relations between China and Egypt approaching, the end of this exhibition marks a step toward further collaborative projects that honor the heritage of both nations.