A life-size replica of a Buddhist temple in Hotan prefecture, Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region.[Photo by Gao Erqiang/China Daily]

The sixth section consists of a 17-minute virtual reality experience jointly developed by Xinjiang Museum, Alight Digital and Backlight Studio, a French company that develops augmented, virtual and mixed reality.

"Thanks to the latest visual and interactive technologies, we have made bold, creative designs and managed to break the boundaries of traditional museum exhibitions to present a complete three-dimensional showcase of the Niya site," says He Jia, Party secretary of Xinjiang Museum.

The cutting-edge VR and AR technologies enable visitors to walk through ancient Niya's bustling bazaar to see and touch objects and even smell the crackling bonfire around which people would start dancing.

Hosted by the publicity department of Shanghai's Huangpu district and Xinjiang Museum, the exhibition is latest example of cultural exchange between Shanghai and Xinjiang. According to Wang Yufeng, head of the Huangpu Party committee's publicity department, the exhibition will inject fresh vitality into the rich culture and still mysterious history of China's western regions.

During the exhibition, Jiushi Culture Co Ltd, co-organizer of the event, will launch a series of educational initiatives and introduce tailor-made merchandise, offering a window into the culture of Xinjiang in Shanghai.