'Wanli Shipwreck' exhibition opens at HK's GuWei Museum

More than 100 pieces of blue and white porcelain recovered from a centuries-old shipwreck are on display at the newly opened GuWei Museum in Hong Kong. The exhibition, titled “The Wanli Shipwreck: Blue and White Porcelain in Global Trade,” runs through March 31, 2026.

 The wreck, discovered off the east coast of Malaysia, was carrying late Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) Kraak porcelain from Jingdezhen, bound for Europe. Of the more than 30,000 porcelain pieces recovered from the site, only about 7,000 were intact or restorable, with some bearing the markings of Jingdezhen’s Guanyin Pavilion kilns.

 The exhibition explores the golden era of Chinese ceramic exports from the 16th to 19th centuries, offering a glimpse into the commercial and cultural exchanges of the period, from the Ming Dynasty’s Wanli reign to the mid-Qing Dynasty (1644-1911).

A 17th-century “Kraak”-style plate made in Jingdezhen during the Wanli reign. Photos courtesy of GuWei Museum

A highlight of the collection is a 17th-century “Kraak”-style plate made in Jingdezhen during the Wanli reign. The piece, which depicts a Persian lady, was likely intended for Dutch traders.

A category of blue and white porcelain is exhibited at the museum.

The display also features around 20 categories of export porcelain, illustrating how ceramics served as a cultural bridge between China and the West and chronicled the evolution of global trade.

Blue and white porcelain originated in the Tang Dynasty (618-907) and matured during the Yuan Dynasty (1271-1368) before rising to prominence in the Ming Dynasty, replacing traditional celadon and white porcelain as the dominant ceramic ware. During the 16th-century Age of Discovery, it became a global commodity.

 “We hope this exhibition allows visitors to feel the charm of mutual learning between civilizations and highlights the role of the museum as a platform for social education,” museum founders Franco and Pauline Cutrupia said in a statement. “Hong Kong has always been a cultural crossroads, and GuWei is committed to passing on this legacy to future generations.”

Ticket: Free

Date: Until March 31, 2026

Venue: GuWei Museum, 33/F, Global Trade Square, 21 Wong Chuk Hang Road, Aberdeen, Hong Kong