HONG KONG — Commuters in Hong Kong can now travel through 5,000 years of history without leaving the city’s extensive railway network, as the MTR Corporation and the Hong Kong Palace Museum (HKPM) jointly launched “T Chai x Pharaoh Cat: A Journey into Ancient Egypt” on Thursday.
The citywide cultural discovery route brings ancient Egyptian civilization to the community through immersive themed experiences spanning MTR stations.
Running until the end of August, the collaboration sees MTR’s beloved mascot, “T Chai,” transformed into a pharaoh. It joins forces with HKPM’s popular “Pharaoh Cat” character, inspired by the museum’s ongoing exhibition, “Ancient Egypt Unveiled: Treasures from Egyptian Museums.”
The journey begins at MTR Hong Kong Station, where a limited-time ancient Egyptian temple scene is set up from May 28 to June 28. Visitors are welcomed by two 1.4-meter-tall installations, “Pharaoh T Chai” and “Pharaoh Cat” statues, before stepping into a themed train compartment and a giant pyramid installation.
An interactive hieroglyph installation at the station also allows participants to convert their names into ancient Egyptian hieroglyphs, offering a hands-on encounter with one of the world’s oldest writing systems.
Inspired by Nile
Drawing inspiration from the Nile River — the cradle of ancient Egyptian civilization that served as both a lifeline and transport artery — the campaign weaves the legendary river’s spirit into Hong Kong’s MTR network. The cultural discovery route covers Hong Kong Station, Admiralty Station, Central Station, Hong Kong West Kowloon Station, Hung Hom Station, Kowloon Tong Station, and Kowloon Bay Station, as well as two MTR malls, ELEMENTS and Maritime Square.
At each stop, “Pharaoh T Chai” appears alongside “Pharaoh Cat”, with designs inspired by treasured artefacts from HKPM’s collection. At Hong Kong West Kowloon Station, Captain Go, the High Speed Rail’s mascot, makes a special appearance in a pharaoh-inspired outfit, joining a majestic Tutankhamun-themed Pharaoh Cat to welcome passengers arriving on cross-border services.
Audio narration by popular radio host Bonnie Wong (Ah Jeng) accompanies visitors at every stop, bringing themed characters and cultural stories to life while linking ancient Egyptian civilization with local Hong Kong communities.
The campaign also extends beyond Hong Kong to Shenzhen Bay Checkpoint Station on Shenzhen Metro Line 13 and Mission Hills Station on Line 4, where MTR Corporation takes part in operations. Themed installations and photo spots at these locations invite cross-boundary travelers and Shenzhen residents to join the experience.
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Linda Choy, Corporate Affairs and Branding Director of MTR Corporation, said the initiative highlights the value of bringing cultural experiences into daily life.
“When Pharaoh T Chai meets the Pharaoh Cat, this new pairing not only adds fun to every journey, but also encourages the public and visitors to explore different MTR stations and malls along this cultural discovery route, rediscover the mysterious charm of ancient Egyptian civilization, and bring new color to their journeys,” she said.
Louis Ng, Museum Director of the Hong Kong Palace Museum, emphasized the spirit of collaboration.
“Through the imaginative journey of Pharaoh T Chai and Pharaoh Cat, treasured ancient Egyptian artefacts in the exhibition are thoughtfully connected with the stories of communities around various MTR stations and malls, bringing a civilization spanning millennia closer to local audiences and visitors from around the world,” he said.
Enjoy the allure of ancient Egypt through the lens of China Daily photographer Andy Chong.
