In order to foster cultural exchanges between Macao and Jakarta and to promote Macao’s rich historical and cultural heritage, the Cultural Affairs Bureau of the Macao Special Administrative Region Government, in collaboration with the Department of Culture of the Provincial Government of Jakarta, is holding the exhibition “Splendor of the Mirrored Sea: Macao’s Symphony of Civilizations on the Maritime Silk Road” in Jakarta. The exhibition aims to present to Southeast Asian and international audiences Macao’s historical role as a key node on the Maritime Silk Road, highlight the deep cultural ties between the two places, and reflect the long‑standing cultural exchanges and mutual learning between China and Indonesia.

The exhibition was inaugurated at the Jakarta Textile Museum on 1 September and was officiated by the Chief Executive of the Macao Special Administrative Region, Sam Hou Fai; the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the People's Republic of China in the Republic of Indonesia, Wang Lutong; the Secretary for Economy and Finance of the Macao Special Administrative Region Government, Ng Wai Han; the Head of the Culture Office of DKI Jakarta Province, Mochamad Miftahulloh Tamary; and the President of the Cultural Affairs Bureau of the Macao Special Administrative Region Government, Leong Wai Man. During the ceremony, the Macao Chinese Orchestra performed a new adaptation of the Macao work Lilau and the Indonesian folk song Ayo Mama. Instructed by Cantonese opera virtuoso Zeng Hui, students of the Cantonese Opera Performance at the School of Theatre of the Macao Conservatory, Leong Lok Hin and De Guzman Aldelia Tam, presented excerpts from the classic mythological opera Monkey King Borrows the Plantain Fan Three Times, creating a lively atmosphere.

The exhibition “Splendor of the Mirrored Sea” is divided into seven sections, namely “Where Maritime Routes Converge”, “The Historic Centre of Macao”, “Western Learning Eastward, Eastern Learning Westward”, “The Harmony of Ritual and Custom”, “The Flavor of Craftsmanship”, “The Art of Fusion”, and “The Lotus Island and the Land of a Thousand Islands”, featuring a selection of Macao’s representative intangible cultural heritage items, covering performing arts, social practices, traditional craftsmanship and festive rituals. Through physical exhibits, images and live demonstrations, the exhibition vividly presents Macao’s unique traditions formed through the fusion of Chinese and Western cultures, revealing the profound cultural memory of the local communities and the vibrant outcomes of dynamic heritage transmission.

To further enhance exchanges and showcase Macao’s cultural appeal, the Cultural Affairs Bureau also organized the abovementioned performing troupes to participate in the roadshow on Car‑Free Day in Jakarta on 30 August. With ethnic music and intangible cultural heritage, this event not only built a cross‑cultural bridge but also drew substantial public interest and interaction.

The exhibition “Splendor of the Mirrored Sea: Macao’s Symphony of Civilizations on the Maritime Silk Road” is held from 1 to 27 September 2026 at the Jakarta Textile Museum, and is open from Tuesday to Sunday, from 9am to 3pm. All are welcome.