ISTANBUL, May 18 (Xinhua) -- Turkish museums are spotlighting the historical and cultural connections between Türkiye and China through artworks made of porcelain, stone, and silk that date back centuries.

On the occasion of International Museum Day, which falls on Sunday, museums from Erzurum in the east to Istanbul and Bursa in the west are displaying artifacts that testify to the vibrant exchanges along the historic Silk Road, illustrating how Turkish and Chinese civilizations have influenced each other.

In eastern Türkiye, the Erzurum Museum showcases the history of Silk Road trade, migration, and cultural exchange -- particularly with Chinese and other Asian civilizations -- through its collection of 24,000 artifacts, ranging from the Paleolithic period to the early Republic era.

Husnu Genc, director of the museum, told Xinhua that many items in the collection demonstrate how these cultures became interwoven over centuries of exchange.

Among the exhibits is the 2,500-year-old Tas Ata stele, discovered in Erzurum. "This rare anthropomorphic tombstone symbolizes deep cultural ties between Anatolia and the Eurasian steppe, especially regions like China, Mongolia, and Kazakhstan," Genc said.

Murat Kucukugurlu, a faculty member in the Department of History at Erzurum Technical University, emphasized Erzurum's rich cultural heritage and its importance as a key hub on the ancient Silk Road.

"Erzurum's central role on the Silk Road and its emergence as a crossroads of trade and culture are made visible through the museum's collection," Kucukugurlu told Xinhua.

In Istanbul, Topkapi Palace -- home to one of the world's richest collections of Chinese porcelain -- is preparing to unveil a new Porcelain Museum later this year, with a special focus on China.

"We have around 22,000 porcelain pieces, 12,000 of which are Chinese. It's considered one of the most valuable collections globally," said Ilhan Kocaman, head of the Topkapi Palace Department.

The museum, which preserves the rich heritage of Ottoman sultans, will exhibit artifacts obtained through trade and diplomatic exchanges spanning from the 13th to the early 20th century. Highlights include celadon and blue-and-white porcelain from China's Yuan and Ming dynasties, underscoring the longstanding historical connections between China and the Ottoman Empire.

A silk museum at the Umurbey Silk Production and Design Center in northwestern Bursa province also bears witness to Türkiye's historic ties to the Silk Road and China.

The museum showcases traditional handlooms, weaving equipment, silk threads, as well as historical photographs and documents. It also features artifacts that reflect cultural exchanges between China and Bursa, such as trade goods and textiles.

"The museum highlights the cross-cultural exchanges between China and Bursa that shaped the region's textile heritage," Ayca Tayar, head of the Lifelong Learning Department at Bursa Metropolitan Municipality, told Xinhua. ■