Cathay Cargo has completed the transport of 250 ancient Egyptian artifacts weighing more than 30 tons from Shanghai to Hong Kong, where they will be displayed at the Hong Kong Palace Museum starting November 20, 2025.
The shipment supports ‘Ancient Egypt Unveiled: Treasures from Egyptian Museums’, a nine-month exhibition jointly organized by the Hong Kong Palace Museum and Egypt’s Supreme Council of Antiquities. It represents the largest and longest display of ancient Egyptian treasures ever shown in Hong Kong.
For the first time, Hong Kong will exhibit museum artifacts and recent archaeological discoveries loaned directly from Egypt. The Supreme Council of Antiquities, which owns all the pieces, is making the artifacts available as part of its mission to preserve and promote Egyptian cultural heritage through international partnerships.
The exhibition opens as Egypt celebrates the November 1 launch of its Grand Egyptian Museum in Giza, one of the world’s largest archaeological museums. The timing is significant: Egyptologists have been calling on museums worldwide to return Egyptian artifacts, including the Rosetta Stone currently held by the British Museum. The Netherlands recently announced it would return a stolen 3,500-year-old sculpture to Egypt.
Moving ancient artifacts across international borders requires specialized expertise. Cathay Cargo transported the collection using custom equipment including two 20-foot pallets, one oversized pallet, 12 lower-deck pallets, and shock-absorbing dollies designed to protect fragile items during flight.
An Egyptian courier accompanied the shipment, and experts in Shanghai supervised the loading process to ensure every piece traveled safely.
Dominic Perrett, Cathay’s Director of Cargo, said the operation showcased the airline’s capabilities in handling sensitive shipments.
“This is a wonderful example of how Cathay Cargo helps connect cultures as well as commerce. We are honoured to support the transport of these remarkable treasures to Hong Kong. It underscores both our expertise in handling sensitive shipments through our Cathay Secure solution, and our commitment to facilitating Hong Kong’s position as a centre for international cultural exchange,” Perrett said.
The successful delivery required coordination between Shanghai Airport Authority, customs officials, ground handlers, and Cathay Cargo teams. Customs opened a dedicated green channel for the artifacts, and the operation included three days of advance document verification, expedited screening, and enhanced security procedures.
“This shipment demonstrates how our teams in the Chinese Mainland work seamlessly with airports, customs and partners to deliver delicate, high-value goods with precision and care,” Perrett added.
The Egyptian artifact transport builds on Cathay’s track record of supporting arts and cultural exchange. The airline has a three-year partnership with the West Kowloon Cultural District Authority to promote Hong Kong as a hub where Eastern and Western cultures meet.
Earlier in 2025, Cathay Cargo transported terracotta figures and more than 200 artifacts from Xi’an to Perth via Hong Kong for the ‘Terracotta Warriors: Legacy of the First Emperor’ exhibition, using its specialized Cathay Expert and Cathay Secure handling services.
‘Ancient Egypt Unveiled’ will run through August 2026, giving Hong Kong residents and visitors nearly a year to view artifacts that span thousands of years of Egyptian civilization. The exhibition represents one of the most significant cultural loans Egypt has made to the Asia-Pacific region.
