Asia Minor, major influence

An ornamental jar [Photo provided to China Daily]

Both China and Turkey feature mixed cultural influences in their long history. The Silk Road connected China and Asia Minor, so that trade and communications never stopped, says Li Zhongmou, deputy director of Shanghai Museum.

China has made a significant impact on ceramic development in Turkey, and the Islamic style is also widely present in China's ceramic pieces since the 14th century, Li says.

In December 2011, the Year of Chinese Culture in Turkey started in Ankara, the capital of Turkey. On Nov 11, 2012, an exhibition of Treasures from China opened at the Topkapi Palace Museum in Istanbul, showing more than 100 items collected from 11 Chinese museums, such as the Palace Museum, Shanghai Museum and Shaanxi History Museum.

"The Chinese treasures exhibition was held in Istanbul only, and the Turkish show will be held in Shanghai alone, without touring to other places," Yao says. A special project especially put together for the occasion, the exhibition is unlikely to go to other parts of the world, making the event an opportunity unusually rare for audiences in China.