The 2024 Silk Road Week will officially open on June 19, according to a news briefing held on June 7.

This year marks the 10th anniversary of the successful transnational inscription of the Silk Roads: the Routes Network of Chang'an-Tianshan Corridor as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, as well as the 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and France. The 2024 Silk Road Week will be held under the theme "Roads Connect, Civilization Blossom". France is invited as the guest country of honor, with Shaanxi province serving as the guest province.

Silk Road Week, now in its fifth consecutive year, promises a rich cultural experience with a variety of exciting events. The thematic exhibitions include Lyon in the 18th Century: the Prosperity of the Silk Capital in the Age of Enlightenment and Chang'an on the Silk Roads: Heavenly Palace.

The former exhibition, in collaboration with the Lyon History Museum in France, features 18th-century urban models, silk fabrics and garments, portraits, ceramics, furniture, and clocks from Lyon, the "Silk Capital" of France. It showcases the economic, social and fashion developments of France during the Enlightenment, highlighting Sino-Western cultural exchanges through elements of "Chinoiserie" in art and fashion.  

"Coming to Hangzhou symbolizes the strong relationship between China and France. Silk production has always been a key theme in the cultural and technical exchanges between our countries," said Léa Herlet from Lyon History Museum.

The latter exhibition presents the political, economic and cultural significance of Chang'an (modern-day Xi'an) during the Tang Dynasty (618-907) and its role in the Silk Road and cultural exchanges between the East and West. Ji Xiaofeng, director of the China National Silk Museum, revealed that over 50 top-grade artifacts, many exhibited for the first time in Zhejiang, will be featured.

The main events will include exhibitions, academic seminars and curatorial workshops. Additionally, a series of photographic displays will showcase French cultural heritage, scenic spots, customs, and fashion trends.

Moreover, the China National Silk Museum will host a series of performances and exhibitions in France, demonstrating silkworm rearing, silk weaving techniques and cultural dissemination along the Silk Road. An academic exchange themed on China-France fashion dialogue will also take place.