Bactrian bounty

[Photo by Jiang Dong/China Daily]

Palace Museum director Shan Jixiang says the ongoing event is the first exhibition of relics from Afghanistan in China.

"The two countries have a long history, and Zhang Qian (a second-century BC Chinese diplomat) is known to have traveled to Bactria," he says.

Incidentally, the story of the Bactrian gold and how it has been looked after since it was found in 1978 is as fascinating as the hoard itself.

Janan Mosazai, Afghan ambassador to China, says Afghanistan was invaded by the former Soviet Union a year after Sarianidi excavated the treasures. This was followed by a civil war and takeover by

the extremist Taliban group, which was desperately seeking the gold.

"But a group of officials from the National Museum (of Afghanistan) took a huge risk and moved all the Bactrian hoard to the vaults of the national bank," the ambassador says.