On July 19th 2023 , the multilingual website of the Forbidden City Palace Museum- Beijing, China, People’s Republic of China was officially released at the Digital Cultural Tourism Development Forum of the 2023 China Internet Civilization Conference! The website covers five languages: English, French, Russian, Japanese, and Spanish, and will meet the needs of audiences with different languages.
[On April 30, the “ All Things Harmoniously Born “ The Palace Museum’s new exhibition invites you to visit the Zoo in the Forbidden City – Palace Museum ]
—Special Exhibition of Animal-Themed Paintings from the Palace Museum” was launched at the Wenhua Hall Painting and Calligraphy Gallery of the Palace Museum. The exhibition is fully supported by the Hong Kong Jockey Club and exclusively donated by the Public Welfare and Charity Research Institute. This exhibition is the first time that the Palace Museum has concentrated on displaying its rich collection of animal-themed paintings. It carefully selected 63 sets of 117 precious works from the Tang Dynasty to the Qing Dynasty, covering multiple categories such as birds, livestock, grass insects, and scales. Famous artists gathered, many schools, and diverse techniques. “All things are born in harmony, and all are nurtured to grow.”
This exhibition is not only a response to the artistic pursuit of “observing the world and all things and making life” by painters of all dynasties, but also a profound revelation for the current construction of ecological civilization. Welcome everyone to enter the exhibition hall of the Wenhua Hall Painting and Calligraphy Gallery to appreciate the living creatures of all creatures under the brush and ink of famous artists of all dynasties, and experience the beauty of harmonious coexistence between humans and animals!
#Palace Zoo# From April 30 to June 29 2025 , come to the Forbidden City- Palace Museum to see the #All Things in Harmony exhibition! Huang Quan’s “Rare Birds Sketches” scroll, Zhao Mengfu’s “Bamboo and Hoopoe” scroll, Lang Shining’s “Wan Jixi” scroll and other heavyweight exhibits are on display in the Wenhua Hall exhibition hall. Let’s appreciate the various styles of brushwork and feel the beauty of harmonious coexistence between humans and animals
On July 19th 2023 , the multilingual website of the Forbidden City Palace Museum- Beijing, China, People’s Republic of Chinawas officially released at the Digital Cultural Tourism Development Forum of the 2023 China Internet Civilization Conference! The website covers five languages: English, French, Russian, Japanese, and Spanish, and will meet the needs of audiences with different languages.
Announcement of the Exhibition Change of “Le Lin Quan – Chinese and Foreign Garden Culture Exhibition”
The “Le Lin Quan – Chinese and Foreign Garden Culture Exhibition” opened in the Wumen Exhibition Hall on April 1, 2025, is based on Chinese classical gardens and looks at the world’s gardens. The exhibition is interspersed with six garden events: “Gathering”…………………
In the mountains and forests, by the winding waterside, the Lanting Gathering more than 1,600 years ago cast an eternal ripple in the hearts of Chinese literati. The place for drinking and chanting is integrated into the garden, and elegant and famous works are everywhere. While we appreciate the poems and essays left by the noble scholars in the elegant gatherings such as Lanting, Xiyuan, and Yushan, the chapters of Persian poets such as Saadi and Hafez also echoed on the westward journey of the Silk Road. In the garden symbolizing heaven, they discussed love, nature and life through fine wine, flowers and birds, mountains and rivers and quiet nights. Scholars from different civilizations and different times gathered here, and the garden became a place for nurturing beauty and philosophy. The elegance in civilization has been sustainable since then.
乐林泉The first unit of the exhibition, “Elegant Gathering”, takes you into the Chinese and foreign gardens where scholars gather….
The “Enjoy the Forest and Springs – Chinese and Foreign Garden Culture Exhibition” opened at the Wumen Exhibition Hall on April 1, 2025. It is based on Chinese classical gardens and looks at the world’s gardens. The exhibition is interspersed with six garden events: “gatherings”, “collections”, “mountain tours”, “quiet cultivation”, “flower viewing” and “music”. It is hoped that through people’s activities in the gardens and the garden landscapes, we can explore the ideals and pursuits of people in different cultures and regions about living.
In order to protect the cultural relics and provide relevant exhibits to enrich the visitors, according to the exhibition plan, the following exhibits will be on display until April 30, 2025, and will be replaced the next day and will be on display until the end of the exhibition :
Wen Zhengming’s “Yilan Room” scroll replaces the Song Dynasty’s “Deep Hall Qin Qu Tu” page
The following exhibits will be on display until May 18, and will be moved to a new location the next day and will remain on display until the end of the exhibition :
The ivory carvings of the “Flower Viewing” unit, “Yueman Qingyou” in May and August, replaced the ivory carvings of the “Yueman Qingyou” in April and October.
Meanwhile, the following exhibits will be on display until April 30, and will be replaced with replicas the next day :
“Elegant Gathering” Unit
Yuan Dynasty “Junzilintu” scroll
Cao Zhibai (attributed) “Eighteen Gentlemen” scroll
“Mountain Tour” Unit
Zhao Ji’s “Auspicious Dragon Stone Picture” Scroll
Zhao Bosu’s “Ten Thousand Pines and Golden Palace” scroll
Page from the Song Dynasty painting “Pengying Fairy House”
“Retreat” Unit
Page from the Song Dynasty painting “The Fairy Ferry in Lotus Boat”
On July 19th 2023 , the multilingual website of the Forbidden City Palace Museum- Beijing, China, People’s Republic of Chinawas officially released at the Digital Cultural Tourism Development Forum of the 2023 China Internet Civilization Conference! The website covers five languages: English, French, Russian, Japanese, and Spanish, and will meet the needs of audiences with different languages.
On August 30th 2024 at the Wenhua Hall, Forbidden City Beijing , China, People’s Republic of China, the 千秋佳人 ——Special Exhibition of Figure Paintings from Past Dynasties in the Collection of the Palace Museum (Fourth Phase)” opened in the Wenhua Hall of the Palace Museum which 30the August to 31st October 2024. Paintings of ladies are a classic genre in traditional Chinese painting with a long history and important influence, including the graceful and elegant figures of the Six Dynasties, the gorgeous and plump figures of the prosperous Tang Dynasty, the dignified and beautiful figures of the Song and Yuan Dynasties, the slender and delicate figures of the Ming and Qing Dynasties… The faces of the people in the paintings have significant characteristics of the times, reflecting the changes in the social status and living conditions of women in different eras as politics, customs, and fashions changed. Through the 83 precious paintings in the museum collection exhibited in this exhibition, one can not only appreciate the peerless grace of women painted by painters of all ages, but also understand the spiritual strength and daily life interest of ancient women from the moving stories that have been passed down through the ages and are related to the country .
文华殿 Wenhua Hall The Hall of Literary Brilliance , or the Hall of Literary Glory or Wenhua Hall, is a hall in the outer court of the Forbidden City, located far east of the Hall of Supreme Harmony. In the early Ming Dynasty, the hall was originally used as the residence of the heir apparent. However, starting in 1536, Ming emperors began to use the building as a secondary hall. During both the Ming and Qing Dynasty, the hall hosted grand imperial lectures on Confucian classics and served as a place for the emperor to meet his scholars and officials. The hall was also where palace examinations papers would be reviewed and marked by nine readers who would be sequestered in the hall for two days. The hall gave its name to one of the seven different titles of grand secretary in late-imperial China. Becoming Grand Secretary of Wenhua Hall was considered to be an especially prestigious honour for high-ranking Officials ….
On July 19th 2023 , the multilingual website of the Forbidden City Palace Museum- Beijing, China, People’s Republic of China was officially released at the Digital Cultural Tourism Development Forum of the 2023 China Internet Civilization Conference! The website covers five languages: English, French, Russian, Japanese, and Spanish, and will meet the needs of audiences with different languages.
The symphony of gold and jade, the auspicious dragon shows its elegance,
the golden dream is woven, and the prosperity is reflected on the neck
Listen to the drums and recount the old dreams of the Forbidden City.
Travel through time and encounter the splendor and grandeur.
The symphony of golden drums and the rhythm of leaping
fashion and classics complement each other
to extol the glorious chapter of a thousand years
This month of August 2024 launches a new collection in Collaboration with the Forbidden City- Palace Museum- Beijing with one of Asia Largest Jewellery companies周大福珠寶Chow Tai Fook Jewellery with international Iconic Chinese Designed elements A Living Legacy. Introducing our brand-new Palace Museum Collection. Featuring a reverberating display of Chinese drums and spirited twirls of cultural dance, our House collaborates with the iconic Palace Museum to showcase the contemporary allure of Chinese heritage through modern forms.
The butterfly wings dance lightly, blooming with lively and colorful
soft patterns, flowing in various and interesting ways
Reimagining Traditions.
Inspired by the Palace Museum’s exhibition piece of Qing Dynasty imperial drums and treasures, this intricate creation is a modern interpretation of Chinese prowess. Blending a multitude of ancient Chinese gold crafting techniques and colourful gemstones, the pendant symbolises good fortune and is the ultimate expression of grandeur.
A Living Legacy.
Introducing our brand-new Palace Museum Collection. Featuring a reverberating display of Chinese drums and spirited twirls of cultural dance, our House collaborates with the iconic Palace Museum to showcase the contemporary allure of Chinese heritage through modern forms.
The Cultural Era Awaits.
Prepare to venture into the wonderous world of The Palace Museum. Home to countless Chinese treasures and untold stories, our House pays homage to this iconic wonder with the Palace Museum Collection — a series of masterpieces that brings art to life.
周大福珠寶 Chow Tai Fook Jewellery – Chow Tai Fook group is a Chow Tai Fook group is a Hong Kong–based, privately-owned conglomerate with holdings in the jewellery, property development, hotel, department store, transportation, energy, telecommunications, port, casino, and other businesses
On July 19th 2023 , the multilingual website of the Forbidden City Palace Museum- Beijing, China, People’s Republic of Chinawas officially released at the Digital Cultural Tourism Development Forum of the 2023 China Internet Civilization Conference! The website covers five languages: English, French, Russian, Japanese, and Spanish, and will meet the needs of audiences with different languages.
The multilingual website of the Palace Museum is committed to establishing an international website that is concise, clear, easy to use for overseas audiences, and fits the construction of the modern civilization of the Chinese nation, including tour guides, information, panoramic tours, online exhibitions, collection appreciation, cultural topics, etc. Rich immersive content describing of the most detail collection that housed within the Forbidden City collection….
Qing Qianlong, Yao Wenhan, etc., Chongqing Empress Dowager’s eighty-year longevity picture is posted (partial). This picture depicts the grand occasion of Emperor Qianlong’s 80th birthday celebration held for his mother, Empress Dowager Chongqing, in the Cining Palace in the Forbidden City where she lived in November of the 36th year of Qianlong’s reign (1771). In the palace, the Queen Mother was sitting on the throne enjoying the banquet, and Emperor Qianlong was sitting sideways to accompany her. In the east and west rooms were Emperor Qianlong’s concubines and Prince Fujin, etc., and on the platform outside the palace were the princes and grandchildren. At this time, the person in charge of the Sixth Palace was the imperial concubine Wei Jia, the biological mother of Emperor Jiaqing Yong Yan, who was posthumously named Queen Xiaoyi. This picture is the only existing painting that truly shows the emperor and his family congratulating the Queen Mother on her birthday. It has precious historical value.
Qianlong of the Qing Dynasty, anonymous, all nations come to court. In order to promote the majesty of the Qing Dynasty, Emperor Qianlong ordered the court painters to create several works that reflected the envoys from various countries coming to the Forbidden City to congratulate them on the New Year. This picture is one of them. The coming of all nations to court was both a family and a state matter for Emperor Qianlong. Therefore, he not only ordered the court painters to depict the lively scenes of envoys from the surrounding vassal states of the Qing Dynasty and Western countries paying homage to him, but also ordered the painters to depict the lively scenes in the paintings…
On the 7th December 2023 The warm sun is shining, gently touching the painted pillars and caressing the railings. Today 大雪 , together with the spine beasts, we are looking forward to a heavy snowfall that will decorate the Forbidden City!
Emperor Qianlong of the Qing Dynasty, unknown, scroll of all nations coming to court (detail). This picture is part of the axis of “The Map of All Nations Coming to Court”. It shows the elderly Emperor Qianlong embracing the descendants of the royal family, sitting in the Ningshou Palace area that was rebuilt for him to take care of himself after returning to power, and receiving New Year’s congratulations from envoys from various countries. For Emperor Qianlong, the dynasty was important, but the prosperity of his descendants was also a top priority. Emperor Qianlong had a total of twenty-seven children in his life. In the forty-ninth year of Qianlong’s reign (1784), his great-great-grandson was born, and he was very excited about the five generations living under the same roof. Afterwards, he added the inscription “Five Blessings and Five Dynasties Hall” to the Gyeongbokgung Palace in the Forbidden City to commemorate his wishes, and then engraved “Five Blessings and Five Dynasties Hall Ancient and Rare Emperor Treasure” to express his contented imperial life. There is no date of creation for this painting, but according to the records of the Qing Palace Construction Office, it was painted in December of the 44th year of Qianlong’s reign (1779), so the infant in his arms at this time must be his great-grandson.
Qing Jiaqing, anonymous, Emperor Jiaqing’s ancient costumes and entertainment scroll. This picture depicts Emperor Jiaqing and his concubines dressed in traditional Han costumes, relaxing and entertaining in the courtyard. Although it is a picture of a couple having fun, Emperor Jiaqing not only occupies the main position in the painting, but is also taller than his concubines who are also seated and even the standing waiters, highlighting his supreme status as the king of a country and the head of a family. The waiter came towards them with a scroll of calligraphy and painting in his hand. The gathering of couples was about to begin in the imperial garden where peonies and magnolias were in full bloom, forming an enviable scene of love.
The 40th Anniversary Exhibition of the Palace Museum Publishing House” will be officially opened to the public on December 9 in the Wenhua Hall of the Palace Museum! This exhibition unfolds the 40-year development history of the Palace Museum Press in five units, and for the first time adopts the innovative exhibition format of “books + cultural relics”. In the exhibition hall, there are not only the “Forbidden City Book Mountain” and the “Forbidden Book City” built with thousands of fine books, but also 22 precious cultural relics, including fine porcelain from the five famous kilns of the Song Dynasty, and the Qianlong Jasper Dragon Button from the Qing Dynasty. “An ancient rare treasure of the emperor” and other exquisite cultural relics. The exhibition will last until February 25, 2024. The general audience can make an appointment to visit through the “Forbidden City Museum” applet
Daoguang of the Qing Dynasty, anonymous, empress Xiaoshencheng’s lotus scroll. Daoguang Emperor Minning had four queens in his life, the second of whom was Queen Xiaoshencheng. She is the daughter of Shu Ming’a, the third-class Chengen Gong. She entered the palace during the Jiaqing Dynasty and married Minning, who was the prince at the time. In the 13th year of Jiaqing (1808), Emperor Renzong granted her the title of successor to the Jin Dynasty. In the second year of Daoguang (1822), she was canonized as queen. She was the eldest daughter of Emperor Daoguang, Princess Duan Ming Lun, but unfortunately she died in infancy. This picture shows Empress Xiaoshencheng holding a folding fan and wearing seasonal flowers as headdress while admiring the flowers and scenery in the picturesque imperial garden. A pair of mandarin ducks in the lotus pond made her stop and watch. Obviously, the flowers in the garden could not touch her heart as much as the loving mandarin ducks.
Daoguang of the Qing Dynasty, anonymous, Xiao Quancheng, Queen Xuan Palace’s spring mist scroll. This picture is a portrait of Empress Xiao Quancheng holding the prince’s hand. Empress Xiao Quancheng (1808-1840) entered the palace in the early years of Daoguang and was given the title of Quanbi. She gave birth to the third and fourth daughters of Emperor Daoguang. In the eleventh year of Daoguang (1831), when she was twenty-four years old, she gave birth to The fourth son of the emperor was Emperor Xianfeng. In the thirteenth year of Daoguang’s reign (1833), she was granted the title of Imperial Concubine by the Jin Dynasty. In October of the fourteenth year of Daoguang (1834), she was officially appointed by Emperor Daoguang as the third queen after Queen Xiao Shencheng. When she passed away, Yi𬣞 was just over nine years old. The prince she is holding in the picture may be the still young Yi𬣞. The mother and son are holding lotus leaves and lotus flowers respectively, implying the inseparable affection between flowers and leaves.
In order to implement the spirit of the “Opinions on Promoting the Work of Ancient Books in the New Era” and deepen the protection and revitalization of ancient literature and cultural relics, the Palace Museum, on the basis of sorting, protecting and researching the engraving cultural relics in the museum’s collection, has established a monastery in the southeast of Taihe Gate. The ” 九牌馆 ” was opened in the building and the court room , and the ” 吉光片雨 – Exhibition of Qing Dynasty palace engraving cultural relics collected by the Palace Museum” was held at the same time, with more than 15,000 pieces (groups) of cultural relics displayed in a warehouse-style display. This is the first time the Palace Museum has held a special cultural relics exhibition of this type since its establishment. The exhibition will be officially open to the public from October 31, 2023, in the Southeast Chonglou and Chaofang Engraving Hall inside the Taihe Gate of the Palace Museum.
Daoguang of the Qing Dynasty, anonymous, the scroll of Emperor Daoguang’s joyful autumn garden. This painting depicts the scene of Emperor Daoguang having fun in the courtyard with his concubine, elder brother and princess. With Emperor Daoguang in the open pavilion was the 26-year-old imperial concubine, Queen Xiao Quancheng, the mother of Emperor Xianfeng. At this time, she was dignified in appearance and had just been promoted to imperial concubine due to the death of Empress Xiao Shencheng. She was in charge of the affairs of the Sixth Palace and assumed the power of the empress. Therefore, she was qualified to sit with Emperor Daoguang, but according to regulations, she could not sit side by side with the emperor, so she could only sit respectfully to the side. In front of the pavilion are the lively princes, princesses and elegant concubines. In the happiness of his family, Emperor Daoguang couldn’t help but write the title of the picture “Happiness Overflowing the Autumn Garden” in his own handwriting…..
On the 11th December 2023 Overnight, the inside and outside of the palace were wrapped in white. The glazed golden roof is covered with jade dust, and the red walls and corridors are covered with silver stars. Looking far into the distance, Danchen and green tiles meet the snow, which is the same color as the sky.
There is flying snow on the red steps, and the green branches are cold and crisp. Under the city full of silver, dots of red and golden stars are scattered among them, forming a moving picture of the Forbidden City in winter.
The white snow is the base, the yellow eaves are the lines, and the dots of vermilion dance like musical notes, like falling jade beads on a plate, composing a majestic movement of snow falling on the Danchen!
The cold stamens are rustling, and the flying feathers are fluttering. The winter elves break the tranquility among the ice and snow, adding infinite vitality…
Qing Xianfeng, Anonymous, Mei Guifei, Chun Guiren and other carnival scrolls. This picture depicts Emperor Xianfeng’s concubine Mei, the noble concubine of the spring, and Qi Chang enjoying their summer fishing activities. There is a yellow paper tag with their name stuck next to each person. Among them, the highest-ranking concubine Mei Guifei is among them, with a look of joy on her face. Their eyebrows are slender and their lower lips are a little bright red, which is the typical makeup of court women in the late Qing Dynasty. As a concrete realistic painting, this picture provides relatively precious image data for studying the costumes of concubines and palace entertainment life in the Qing Dynasty….
The river body is smooth, the eaves and ridges are smooth, and the viewing pillars are in order. The captivating sky and earth trace the changes, and the charm of six hundred years becomes more apparent.
