With the support of the Consulate General of Italy in Shanghai and the Italian Institute of Culture in Shanghai, an exhibition titled "Perfect Path: Hangzhou, Marco Polo's 'city of heaven,'" was inaugurated in Hangzhou, East China's Zhejiang Province, on November 9. 

Jointly hosted by the China Academy of Art and La Biennale di Venezia (Venice Biennale), the exhibition commemorates the 700th anniversary of the death of the Italian explorer Marco Polo. 

Francesco D'Arelli, director of the Italian Institute of Culture in Shanghai, told the Global Times that the exhibition is a significant result that represents the ancient and profound friendship between Italy and China. It is an exchange between two ancient civilizations, rooted in their historical and cultural wealth and extending toward a future of cooperation. In this way, it represents a continuation of Marco Polo's journey.

Pietrangelo Buttafuoco, president of the Venice Biennale, told the Global Times that both nations, Italy and China, have long and rich histories and cultures with many commonalities. This exhibition opens a new chapter of the Venice Biennale in China, and it is a major event in the art world that reflects the mutual cultural closeness between the two countries. 

"For the first time, the Venice Biennale has traveled outside Italy and come to Hangzhou, where Italian and Chinese artists interpret the shared elements of the two cultures together. This not only showcases the technical excellence of the artists, but also fosters cultural exchange and development between the two countries through art, presenting to the world [with] an authentic and multi-faceted China," said Buttafuoco.

The exhibition features 43 sets of works by 18 Chinese artists and artistic groups. Their outstanding works have  contributed to the artistic and cultural exchanges between the two countries. 

Tiziana D'Angelo, consul general of Italy in Shanghai, told the Global Times that Italy and China have always maintained strong friendly relations, and the artistic exchange between the two countries is significant for the interaction and fusion of the two cultures.

D'Angelo affirmed that artists' outstanding works will actively contribute to the cultural and artistic exchange between the two countries, saying "it is hoped that this exhibition in his [Marco Polo's] honor will become a significant event in the sphere of cultural exchange between Italy and China."

The exhibition opened to the public on November 11 and will run until January 10, 2025.