Xinjiang, Morocco to feature at Hangzhou's Silk Road Week

The 2026 Silk Road Week is set to kick off at the China National Silk Museum in Hangzhou, Zhejiang province, on June 24, according to a press briefing on Thursday.

Themed "Harmony in Diversity, For a Shared Future", this year's event will see the Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region and Morocco serve as the guest province of honor and the guest country of honor, respectively.

Xinjiang's location at the heartland of the Eurasian continent made it a focal point where Eastern and Western civilizations converged on the ancient Silk Road, according to Zhang Chengming, deputy director of the museum. "With its diverse ethnic groups and flourishing trade traditions, Xinjiang has become the heart of the Silk Road, connecting ancient and modern times, and bridging China with the world," said Zhang.

Supported by UNESCO, the annual Silk Road Week was inaugurated in 2020.

As well as highlighting the thriving scene of economic and cultural exchanges and integration along the Silk Road, the event will introduce Morocco's unique cultural heritage to the Chinese audience, with a particular emphasis on the caftan, a traditional Moroccan garb. Worn by people of all ages for special occasions and celebrations, the caftan embodies ceremonial functions, artistic value, and symbolic cultural significance.

In December 2025, the caftan and the traditional knowledge associated with its craftsmanship were inscribed by UNESCO on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.

As one of the first countries in North Africa to join the Belt and Road Initiative, Morocco has a longstanding friendship with China. "Since 2026 marks the China-Africa Year of People-to-People Exchanges, we hope the event can help further strengthen ties between the two sides," said Zhang.

Hosted by the National Cultural Heritage Administration and the People's Government of Zhejiang Province, the 2026 Silk Road Week will feature a host of online and offline exhibitions, academic conferences, livestreams, and immersive and interactive workshops for the public.