Diameter: 1.22 m Height: 1.999 m

The gift was presented by the People’s Government of Zhejiang Province to celebrate Macao’s return to the People’s Republic of China. The main feature of the composition is two dynamic dragons encompassing a shining pearl. The dragons have a double meaning, symbolising the two main rivers in China, the Yangtze River and the Yellow River, as well as the Chinese nationalities (as the descendents of dragons). The pearl represents Macao, a city situated by the Southern Sea of China and part of the Pearl River Delta Region. The depiction of the two dragons welcoming the pearl out of the sea is a symbol of the Mainland’s excitement at Macao’s return to Chinese sovereignty.

The dragon has long been considered as a symbol of the Chinese people, while bamboo symbolises the Chinese people’s moral values, representing power, justice, gentleness and loyalty. This piece subtly combines all these features into a creative and well-crafted work of art. The height of 1999 millimetres and the width of 1220 millimetres represent the year and the date of the Macao Handover.