Acclaimed Chinese actor and director, Zhang Guoli, has been appointed the Foundation for the WA Museum’s (“the Foundation”) Exhibition Cultural Ambassador for the upcoming Terracotta Warriors: Legacy of the First Emperor exhibition at the WA Museum Boola Bardip.
Zhang Guoli is one of China’s most iconic and influential screen talents - a celebrated actor, director, and producer whose career spans over five decades. Renowned for his powerful performances, cultural depth, and distinctive artistic vision, Zhang is a household name across generations. He’s also lent his voice to the Chinese versions of global hits like Tarzan, Finding Nemo, and Kung Fu Panda, bringing animated characters to life to the Chinese audience.
Zhang Guoli is a strong advocate for museums and their contribution to the community. He is the host of the immensely popular CMG program, The Nation’s Greatest Treasures, a series exploring the historical context of cultural items from museums across China.
The Nation’s Greatest Treasures was awarded Best Variety Program (Seasonal) at the 24th Shanghai Television Festival. The program has become a household name in China and has directly transformed museums from niche destinations into cultural hotspots. Following the broadcast of the first episode, online searches for museum-related travel products surged by 50%. Each episode has garnered over 10 million views.
As the host for The Nation’s Greatest Treasures and the Foundation’s Exhibition Cultural Ambassador for the Terracotta Warriors: Legacy of the First Emperor exhibition at the WA Museum Boola Bardip, Zhang Guoli will visit Perth for the opening week of the exhibition in late June, and the Terracotta Warriors: Legacy of the First Emperor exhibition at the WA Museum Boola Bardip will be featured in the very first international segment of CMG’s new program Grand Tour of the Nation’s Greatest Treasures, with the Perth exhibition as its featured destination.
These international episodes offer unprecedented opportunities to showcase the WA Museum’s metropolitan sites and iconic Perth locations on an international scale.
This is the first time the Foundation has undertaken such a unique and exclusive partnership for an exhibition. The Foundation is excited at the prospect of Zhang Guoli’s ability to profile this extraordinary exhibition with Chinese audiences in Australia and around the world.
Zhang Guoli said his love for museums stemmed from his deep appreciation of Chinese history and culture, and the important role of museums in preserving and promoting the history and culture.
“Museums can provide opportunities for cultural exchange and understanding, both within China and across the globe. The Terracotta Warriors: Legacy of the First Emperor exhibition at the WA Museum is a wonderful example of this, and I am looking forward to visiting the exhibition and sharing the experience with others,” he said.
Foundation for the WA Museum CEO, Coralie Bishop added, “The Foundation for the WA Museum is honoured to host Zhang Guoli for the opening of the much-anticipated exhibition Terracotta Warriors: Legacy of the First Emperor."
"The Foundation works to mobilise, harness and direct support for the WA Museum. The Foundation’s International Exhibition Fund has been instrumental in helping to bring this outstanding exhibition to Perth. We are proud and excited to collaborate with Zhang Guoli. His passion and advocacy for museums and the Foundation’s role as advocates for the WA Museum form the basis for a fruitful and impactful relationship.”
