Length: 1.35 m  Width: 1.35 m  Height: 1.999 m 

The gift was presented by the People’s Government of Shandong Province to celebrate Macao’s return to the People’s Republic of China. This archaistic copper work was cast using the traditional techniques of Shangdong. The process of producing archaistic bronzewares combines casting, drawing, carving and inlaying techniques to imitate the rare bronze arts of ancient time. Ancient bronzewares have specific shapes, patterns and colours. When imitating this style, different skills are required in order to achieve best possible resemblance. The diverse archaising techniques of Shangdong have gained the region international acclaim. 

This cast copper vase is an imitation of the phoenix-tail-shaped bronze vases from ancient China. The patterns on the vase include the lotus flower, which represents Macao, and scenes from Shangdong such as Daming Lake, Mount Tai, Qufu, Confucius Temple and Penglai Pavilion. The ensemble of these designs symbolises the brotherhood between Shangdong and Macao. The upper round shape and the lower square shape represent the sky and the earth, which symbolise an everlasting universe. The mouth of the vase looks like a blossoming lotus, symbolising Macao’s prosperity. The arms on both sides represent phoenixes flying back home. The dragon embossments on the lower part of the vase body represent the People’s Republic of China. Together with the Shangdong scenes carved on the neck and the feet of the vase, the work symbolises the unity between the province and Macao. The vase is 1.999 meters in height, commemorating the year 1999. It weighs 880 kilograms, expressing the good wishes of the 88 million people in Shangdong.