The Shang Dynasty Capital Site Museum in Henan Province, China, will host the international exhibition “Glimpses of the Ancient North Arabian Kingdoms” from September 26 to January 5. The exhibition is jointly organized by the Royal Commission for AlUla and the Chinese museum as part of the Saudi-Chinese Year of Culture 2025.
The exhibition highlights the rich heritage of both AlUla and Henan, which host UNESCO World Heritage sites, share histories dating back to around 6,000 BC, and serve as prominent centers of archaeological discovery, reported the Saudi Press Agency on Monday.
It explores the kingdoms of Dadan, Lihyan, and the Nabataeans, which flourished in the northwest of the Arabian Peninsula. The Dadan Kingdom emerged about 4,500 years ago in the fertile AlUla Valley and thrived in the first millennium BC as a powerful city controlling key points along the Incense Trade Route. It rose to prominence by exerting political and cultural influence, leaving behind inscriptions, tombs, and rock carvings.
The Nabataeans, known for their transcontinental trade, established a prosperous kingdom from Petra, whose reach extended deep into the Arabian Peninsula. Hegra, also known as Mada’in Salih, north of AlUla, became their most important southern city and a major commercial hub. In 2008, Hegra was inscribed as Saudi Arabia’s first UNESCO World Heritage site.
The exhibition features 30 artifacts from the Royal Commission for AlUla’s collection, half of which are on public display for the first time. Among the highlights is a massive sandstone sculpture of a Lihyanite ruler in Dadan, dating back to between the fifth and third centuries BC.
Visitors will see human remains left by pilgrims at Umm Daraj and Jabal Dadan, as well as a rare silk piece over 2,000 years old, discovered in a Nabataean burial site. AlUla’s collection is complemented by 10 Chinese artifacts, including camel models, incense burners, cosmetics, and engraved items, underscoring shared artistic traditions and values between the two civilizations.
The exhibition reflects the historical ties linking China and the Arabian Peninsula since the first millennium BC. Both regions witnessed the rise of writing systems, long-distance trade, and early economies. The Nabataeans, along with the Qin and Han dynasties, played a pivotal role in early Eurasian connectivity, laying foundations for the Silk Road.
Chinese interest in AlUla was underscored last year through the exhibition “AlUla, Wonder of Arabia” at the Palace Museum in Beijing, which drew more than 200,000 visitors and was extended for an additional week due to high demand. Travel to AlUla has since become easier for Chinese visitors, with Mandarin-speaking guides, signage, multimedia guides at heritage sites, and a free copy of “AlUla: a Rich History” fully translated into Mandarin.
