The Poly MGM Museum of Macao is currently showcasing the Bronze Zodiac Heads of the Old Summer Palace — specifically the Ox, Tiger, Monkey, and Pig — as part of Macao's celebration of its 25th anniversary of returning to its motherland China on December 20.

Opened this month, the Poly MGM Museum is a state-of-the-art cultural venue covering nearly 2,000 square meters. It features advanced technology such as movable LED screens, flexible display panels, and directional audio systems, designed to provide visitors with an immersive and innovative experience.

The inaugural exhibition, titled The Maritime Silk Road—Discover the Mystical Seas and Encounter the Treasures of the Ancient Trade Route, includes 184 sets of unearthed relics, textiles, spices, and various treasures. This exhibition explores the origins, development, influence, and future of the Maritime Silk Road.

Among the highlights are four of the original 12 bronze animal heads from Beijing's Old Summer Palace. These heads — representing the Tiger, Pig, Ox, and Monkey — were part of a remarkable set of zodiac sculptures that adorned a water clock fountain in Yuanmingyuan, the Old Summer Palace, built during the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911). The original pieces were looted by the Anglo-French allied forces during the Second Opium War in 1860 and have since become symbols of cultural repatriation efforts for Chinese art and artifacts.