On the morning of November 29, 2023, the photo exhibition of archaeological achievements of the Silk Road (Uzbekistan Section) was officially opened at the Museum of the Tomb of the Han Guangling King in Yangzhou. The Chinese Academy of Social Sciences Archaeological Institute of Jiangsu team leader Wang Bo attended the opening ceremony. The opening ceremony was presided over by Wang Qinghai, deputy director of Shugang - Slender West Lake Scenic Spot Management Committee.

Prof. Wang Jianxin said in his speech that following the footsteps of Zhang Qian's westward journey, he has led the Central Asia Archaeology Team of Northwestern University to carry out archaeological work on the Silk Road since 2009, and explored the historical imprints of the Silk Road from an “oriental perspective”. After the “Belt and Road” initiative, the Silk Road research to promote mutual understanding and understanding of countries along the route has a more important significance, archaeological research in this regard plays an irreplaceable role. “Our archaeological achievements need to be widely shared by the community, Silk Road research needs more people to pay attention to, to participate. This exhibition is a good start, and we hope that such exhibitions can be held across the country and around the world.”

The Palace Museum and Northwestern University presented Tang Zicheng Scenic Spot with the catalogue of the exhibition of archaeological achievements of the Silk Road (Uzbekistan section) and academic monographs such as Silk Road Archaeological Cooperation Study.

After the opening ceremony, the guests visited the exhibition, Prof. Wang Jianxin introduced the basic information of the exhibition to the media, and post-doctoral fellow of the Palace Museum, Leah Ma, introduced the display information for the guests.

After visiting the exhibition, Prof. Wang Jianxin gave a lecture on “The Progress and Harvest of Archaeological Research on the Silk Road” in the conference room of Hanling Court, introducing the latest archaeological achievements and future development to more than 40 workers in the field of cultural and scientific research in Yangzhou City and the neighboring areas.

As one of the first historical and cultural cities in China, Yangzhou has a history of more than 2,500 years, where the Yangtze River and the Grand Canal converge, and is the connection point of the ancient Land Silk Road and the Maritime Silk Road, and in 2018, Yangzhou was listed as one of the “World Heritage Cities of China's Maritime Silk Road Declaration”. In 2018, Yangzhou was listed as one of the cities declared as the World Heritage of China's Maritime Silk Road. This exhibition is the first time that Yangzhou displays the results of the stage-by-stage work of archaeology, conservation and research of the Silk Road heritage carried out in Uzbekistan in Central Asia.