Popularity of Egyptian Exhibition at Hong Kong Palace Museum Sparks Interest

The Egyptian exhibition at the Hong Kong Palace Museum has attracted significant public interest, featuring over 200 treasured pieces from seven major Egyptian museums and an archaeological site. The exhibition, titled 'Ancient Egypt Unveiled: Treasures from Egyptian Museum,' opened last month and drew unexpected crowds, with 16,000 visitors showing up in the first four days.

On November 22, the museum faced chaos as ticket holders queued for hours and demanded refunds. Museum director Louis Ng Chi-wa apologized, acknowledging that some staff might have been inexperienced in managing such crowds.

The museum had initially expected around 700,000 visitors over the nine-month run but reported that 76,000 people visited within the first four weeks alone. Local residents made up about 40 percent of the visitors, while mainland and overseas visitors accounted for about 30 percent each.

The museum responded to the overwhelming demand by extending opening hours on weekends and allowing ticket holders to visit on any day in the next three months. This event underscores the allure of ancient Egyptian artifacts and their cultural significance, as well as the role exhibitions play in educating the public about ancient civilizations.

According to the South China Morning Post, the popularity of the exhibition is encouraging for both the museum and the tourism industry.