“From Lorient to the Orient - Port Cities of China and France on the 18th Century Maritime Silk Route” is an important exhibition presented by the 26th Macao Arts Festival and Le French May. It mainly presents the French and Chinese port cities of Lorient, Macao and Canton, cities located along the eastern maritime trade route. It shows how the French East India Company and the port of Lorient, built by King Louis XIV of France, contributed to the prosperity of the Eurasian maritime trade in the 18th century and their impact on culture, art, religion and daily life in that era. In addition, the Chinoiserie trend in Europe, a result of the continuous cultural exchange between the East and the West, extensively influenced the artworks and daily commodities.

The items on display, including textiles, costumes, oil paintings, prints and porcelain, are on loan from various museums in France, such as the Musée de la Compagnie des Indes de Lorient, Musée des Art Décoratifs, Musée national des Chateaux de Versailles et de Trianon and the Musée de la Toile de Jouy.