Cathay Cargo flies in precious artefacts for the Hong Kong Palace Museum’s ancient Egypt exhibition

Cathay Cargo has transported 250 precious artefacts weighing more than 30 tonnes from Shanghai to Hong Kong for the upcoming “Ancient Egypt Unveiled: Treasures from Egyptian Museums” exhibition at the Hong Kong Palace Museum (HKPM), jointly organised with the Supreme Council of Antiquities of Egypt. The artefacts will go on display at HKPM for nine months from 20 November 2025, furthering cultural exchange between Egypt, the Chinese Mainland and Hong Kong.   

“Ancient Egypt Unveiled” marks the largest, most comprehensive, and longest-running display of ancient Egyptian treasures in Hong Kong. For the first time, Hong Kong will exhibit museum artefacts and the latest archaeological findings directly loaned from Egypt. The SCA of Egypt, the sole owner and lender of all artefacts, is honoured to share these treasures with the people of Hong Kong and the world, as part of its mission to preserve, protect, and promote Egypt’s cultural heritage through international collaboration. 

Cathay Director Cargo Dominic Perret commented: “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.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."

The shipment was carried on a Cathay Cargo flight from Shanghai to Hong Kong using specialist equipment including two 20-foot pallets, one oversized pallet, 12 lower-deck pallets and shock-absorbing dollies. Handled under Cathay Cargo’s highest standards of care, the artefacts were escorted by an Egyptian courier and supervised by experts in Shanghai to ensure the safe transport of every piece.

The successful transport was made possible through the close collaboration of Shanghai Airport Authority, customs, ground-handling agents, and Cathay Cargo, which opened a green channel for customs clearance. Three days of pre-document checks, fast-track screening and enhanced procedures ensured efficiency throughout the operation.  

This project builds on Cathay’s long-standing support for arts and culture, including its three-year collaboration with the West Kowloon Cultural District Authority (WKCDA) to promote Hong Kong as an East-meets-West centre for international cultural exchange.

Earlier this year, Cathay Cargo also transported a number of terracotta figures and over 200 artefacts from Xi’an to Perth via Hong Kong for the “Terracotta Warriors: Legacy of the First Emperor” exhibition, leveraging its Cathay Expert and Cathay Secure solutions to help bring these important cultural treasures to the world.