"Where is Hangzhou Road?" Surprisingly, it wasn’t a road—it was Hangzhou’s official Yuan Dynasty (1271–1368) title. Under Yuan rule, a "Road" functioned like a modern city. A thousand miles south, the bustling port of Quanzhou bore the same designation—Quanzhou Road.                             

Commerce flourished in the Yuan Dynasty, and Hangzhou and Quanzhou stood at its heart, their trade networks spanning the globe. A recent Hangzhou exhibition brought their golden age to life, showcasing artifacts that revealed these cities’ dazzling past.                                           

The exhibition’s design mirrored their unique identities: celadon tones reflected Hangzhou’s serene blue-gray bricks, while terracotta hues echoed Quanzhou’s fiery red architecture. Through a "mirror of two cities" theme, it contrasted their urban charm, multicultural fabric, and maritime legacies. Curators called this dual-city approach a groundbreaking experiment in Chinese exhibitions.