Take the Silk Road to Philly

Beginning this Friday, February 18, for a very limited time, there will be an exhibit of remarkable Silk Road treasures (including some extremely well preserved and somewhat controversial mummies) making an exclusive East Coast stop at the Penn Museum of the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia.

Called Secrets of the Silk Road, the exhibit will explore the artifacts and diverse cultural heritage of the Tarim Basin, where for thousands of years, the oasis towns were famous Silk Road trading posts for goods from the East and the West. The mummies will be on display only until March 15, so if you want to see them, get your tickets now.

Most of the artifacts are from the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region in far western China, where there has been ongoing local resistance to the Han Chinese influence by the Uygur ethnic minority there. So it’s nice to see the region getting some positive attention.

Marriott and Sofitel in Philadelphia are offering some VIP hotel deals

which include two tickets and audio tours plus discounts for the museum shop and cafe. The museum cafe is getting into the act with a Silk Road menu, featuring special teas from China, plum blossom pastries, and savory wontons. The Penn Museum will extend their normal day and evening hours so more people can experience this extraordinary exhibition during its limited run.

Click through for a preview video of the exhibit.

Here the museum staff gives a preview of what they’ve got up their sleeves.

Read more about the Uygurs in National Geographic Magazine, here.