To maintain authenticity and integrity of culture relics within the Palace Museum and ensure a smooth process for ticket checking and entry, the Palace Museum plans to further reduce visitor entry times in the principles of limiting the maximum number of visitors and implementing online reservation on a staggered manner, so as to alleviate crowds during peak hours and improve the visitor experience. Starting from November 1, 2023, the Palace Museum will improve its time-slot reservation policy and ticket inspection measures. Detailed information is as follows: 1. Ticket booking: Reservations for the Palace Museum are divided into morning and afternoon sessions each day. Please book your visit for the desired timeslot through the Palace Museum’s official WeChat mini program. 2. Ticket inspection: Visitors who have reserved the morning timeslot must have their tickets checked no later than 12:00 on the day of entry. Visitors who have reserved the afternoon timeslot can have their tickets checked no earlier than 11:00 on the day of entry. Please ensure you arrive at the museum at your reserved timeslot to guarantee your ticket is inspected and ensure a pleasant tour. 3. For further details on “Ticket Information,” please refer to our official ticket and exhibition reservation channel: The Palace Museum’s official WeChat mini program. Alternatively, you can contact the customer service hotline on 400-950-1925. The Palace Museum October 24, 2023

On September 29, “When the Great Way Prevails: Special Exhibition of Confucian Culture” opened at the Palace Museum. Sun Chunlan, former vice premier of the State Council and president of the International Confucian Association (ICA), attended the opening ceremony and declared the exhibition open. Zhang Zheng, deputy Party secretary and vice minister of the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, Ding Wei, executive vice president of the ICA, and Zheng Zhiheng, vice chairman of Chow Tai Fook Jewellery Group, attended and delivered speeches. Chow Tai Fook Jewellery Group is the exhibition’s joint promoter. The opening ceremony was also attended by Xia Yunhai, deputy director general of the International Promotion Bureau of the Publicity Department of the CPC Central Committee, Xin Qi, special consultant to the ICA, and officials from the departments, bureaus, and affiliated public institutions of the Ministry of Culture and Tourism and National Cultural Heritage Administration (NCHA). Additionally, representatives from China National Museum of Women and Children, component departments of the Beijing Municipal Government, foundations, associations, academic societies, as well as current and former leadership of the Palace Museum attended the event. Wang Xudong, a member of the CPC Leadership Group of the Ministry of Culture and Tourism and director of the Palace Museum, presided over the opening ceremony. 2024 marks the 2,575th anniversary of Confucius’s birth and the 30th anniversary of the founding of the ICA. To enhance the cohesion of the Chinese nation and the appeal of Chinese culture, and to promote the research and dissemination of Confucianism and fine traditional Chinese culture, the Palace Museum and the ICA jointly organized this exhibition. The exhibition, themed “When the Great Way Prevails,” is divided into three sections: “Tracing Back to the Ancients to Seek Confucianism,” “Shaping the World through Ethical Civilization,” and “A Teacher for All Ages.” It explores the historical development of Confucian culture through rich archaeological evidence, classic texts, and cultural relics collections, highlighting the core concepts of Confucian thought and its profound global impact. The exhibition runs from Oct. 1, 2024, to Jan. 5, 2025, at the exhibition hall of the Meridian Gate (Wu men). An online version will be available on the Palace Museum’s official website, and the exhibition will be promoted through various platforms such as the museum’s official Weibo, WeChat, and video channels. The exhibition features 380 items (or sets of items) from nearly 30 archaeological and cultural institutions at home and abroad, including items from the Palace Museum’s collection. These institutions include (in order of stroke count): Shandong University Museum, Shandong Museum, the Shanxi Institute of Cultural Relics and Archaeology, Shanxi Museum, China National Museum of Women and Children, Inner Mongolia Institute of Cultural Relics and Archaeology, Confucius Museum, Gansu Provincial Museum, Sanxingdui Museum in Guanghan city of Sichuan province, Chengdu Museum, Jiangxi Provincial Institute of Cultural Relics and Archaeology, Jiangxi Provincial Museum, Wuyi Museum, Zaozhuang Museum, Zhengzhou Municipal Institute of Cultural Relics and Archaeology, Henan Museum, Weibin District Museum in Baoji city, Zhouyuan Museum in Baoji city, Jingmen Museum, Jingzhou Museum, Nanchang Relic Museum for Haihun Principality of Han Dynasty, Zhejiang Provincial Institute of Cultural Relics and Archaeology, Hunan Institute of Cultural Relics and Archaeology, Hunan Museum, Hubei Provincial Museum, Osaka City Museum of Fine Arts in Japan, Tokyo National Museum in Japan, and National Folk Museum of Korea. Additionally, important visual materials for the exhibition were provided by the Shangqiu Municipal Bureau of Culture, Radio, Film and Television, Guo Shoujing Memorial Hall in Xintai city of Hebei province, Huangdao District Museum in Qingdao city, and Vietnam National Museum of History. Chow Tai Fook Jewellery Group, as the exhibition’s joint promotion partner, has also contributed to the event.

The exhibition “Timeless Beauties: Figure Paintings from Across the Ages in the Palace Museum Collection (Phase IV)” kicked off on September 4, 2024, in the Palace Museum. The opening ceremony was attended by Du Haijiang, Party secretary and deputy director of the Palace Museum, and Liu Hong, a member of the Party committee and vice president of the Agricultural Bank of China (ABC), who both delivered speeches. Other attendees included Li Xiaoliang, deputy director of the General Office of the Ministry of Culture and Tourism; Chang Jinguo, deputy director of the General Office of the National Cultural Heritage Administration; Feng Naien, director and Party secretary of the Prince Kung’s Palace Museum; Li Lizhong, director of the Mei Lanfang Memorial Museum; Su Dan, deputy director of the China National Arts and Crafts Museum (China Intangible Cultural Heritage Museum); and Zhang Bo, general manager of the Department of Corporate Culture of the ABC. Ren Wanping, deputy director of the Palace Museum, presided over the opening ceremony. In his speech, Du Haijiang noted that the Palace Museum adheres to Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era. The museum is committed to authentically protecting and responsibly inheriting the excellent traditional Chinese culture embodied by the museum. The “Timeless Beauties” exhibition is the fourth in a series called “Figure Paintings from Across the Ages in the Palace Museum Collection,” following “Exemplars of the Court,” “Elegance of the Literati,” and “Life in Its Many Forms.” He said that this exhibition reflects the changes in women’s social status and living conditions across different political regimes, customs, and trends through the ages. It tells touching stories of love from family and country that have been passed down through the ages. The Palace Museum and the ABC will work together to utilize cultural relics to better tell China’s stories and foster a deep connection with its heritage, contributing to the preservation and promotion of fine traditional Chinese culture, Du said. Liu Hong stated in his speech that the ABC is one of the major comprehensive financial service providers in China and the only large commercial bank with branches covering all county-level regions nationwide. He said that the bank has been committed to a people-centered approach, focusing on high-quality development. It aims to become a leading bank in rural revitalization and a primary bank in supporting the real economy. The ABC has always been rooted in fine traditional Chinese culture and worked actively to foster and practice a financial culture with Chinese characteristics, aiming to support the development of cultural undertakings and industries by leveraging financial resources. Since signing a strategic cooperation agreement with the Palace Museum in 2017, the bank has supported multiple high-level exhibitions. The exhibition “Timeless Beauties: Figure Paintings from Across the Ages in the Palace Museum Collection (Phase IV)” is jointly promoted by the ABC. The exhibition features 83 precious paintings with both artistic and historical value from the Palace Museum’s collection. It will be open until October 31, 2024. Visitors can make reservations through the official Palace Museum ticketing website.

Due to maintenance work, the “Glimpses of Splendor: Woodblock Printing from the Qing Imperial Palace” exhibition will be temporarily closed from August 5 to September 14, 2024. The exhibition is being held in the Woodblock Printing Gallery, located in the southeastern Chonglou and Chaofang inside the Gate of Supreme Harmony (Taihe men). We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause to your visit. The Palace Museum July 29, 2024

“Splendor on the Walls: Hanging Screens from the Qing Imperial Palace” is organized by the Palace Museum, with full support from the Hong Kong Jockey Club and exclusive sponsorship by the Institute of Philanthropy. The exhibition will be held at the exhibition hall of the Gate of Divine Prowess (Shenwu men) from July 6 to November 3, 2024. Hanging screens are often hung on interior walls to decorate and embellish vertical spaces. The craftsmanship and aesthetic value of Qing Dynasty hanging screens are unprecedented, and these screens were widely used in the halls and pavilions of the imperial court. The Palace Museum now houses over 900 hanging screens from the Qing imperial palace, the largest collection of its kind, highlighting their significant role in interior decoration at that time. These screens are exquisitely crafted and rich in detail, embodying the finest craftsmanship of the Qing Dynasty. They have retained their brilliance despite the passage of time and are now available for all to appreciate. The exhibition is divided into four sections, inviting visitors to closely observe and appreciate these masterpieces. The “Picturesque Landscapes” section features hanging screens that depict scenes from the emperor’s southern inspection tours. These artworks showcase rolling mountains that create an immersive experience for visitors, making them feel as though they were stepping into an idealized, poetic world. The “A Multitude of Lives” section includes hanging screens that portray various figures, from emperors to farmers, fishermen to scholars, foreign merchants to mythical immortals. Each figure is vividly depicted, evoking profound thoughts and imagination. The landscapes captured in time in the hanging screens may remain unchanged, but the real world is constantly evolving. However, the aspirations and pursuits conveyed through the screens are timeless and enduring. The two sections upstairs offer visitors an entirely new experience. The “Delightful Elegance” section contains hanging screens that convey emotions through detailed compositions of flowers and birds, filled with auspicious meanings. One of the hanging screens depicts birds feeding their young, subtly hinting at a deeper subtext. “The Elegance of Brush and Ink” section focuses on the artistic endeavors of emperors of the Qing Dynasty during their leisure time. Only the finest works of calligraphy and painting were selected to be crafted into hanging screens and displayed in the halls. These creations reflect the emperors’ unwavering dedication to state affairs. A pair of screens on display carry characters using the mother-of-pearl inlaying technique too document significant military and state matters, serving as an enduring historical artifact for future generations. This is the first exhibition themed on hanging screens from the Qing imperial palace. To help visitors better understand the artistic and cultural value of the Qing Dynasty hanging screens, the exhibition uses their themes as a thread and foregrounding their craftsmanship. It selects and displays over 60 representative hanging screens and related paintings and calligraphy. Highlights include the extraordinary “Gold-thread Woven Mountain Villa and Orchard,” a unique gold-thread kesi (silk tapestry) work, as well as the exquisitely crafted “Silver Inlaid Plum and Apricot” hanging screen. Reproductions of original paintings and calligraphy, such as the “Emperor Xuanzong of Tang Riding a Horse” and “Chicks Waiting to Be Fed,” reflect thoughts on preparing for danger in times of peace and on governing the country and its people. While primarily decorative, these screens also convey deeper meanings.  The design of the exhibition is distinctive, featuring an elegant, yet restrained style. Innovative spatial design and digital media technology have been used to highlight the artistic and historical significance of these hanging screens. In terms of spatial design, the first and second floors of the exhibition hall are designed with the themes of “Country” and “Family,” respectively. The design uses “mirror screens” and “partition walls” to transport visitors to both expansive natural scenes and culturally significant environments. Additionally, the unique double-layer display walls allow visitors to closely appreciate the hanging screens. Through doors and windows, visitors can view a recreation of how the hanging screens were originally displayed inside the rooms of the Qing imperial palace. There is also a specific exhibition space showcasing an immersive scene from the Hall of Mental Cultivation (Yangxin dian) using hanging screens. Multiple multimedia screens in the exhibition hall provide information on the origins, craftsmanship, and display contexts of the hanging screens. Interactive screens offer visitors an engaging experience, allowing them to explore the ancient hanging screens’ artistic and cultural significance. Throughout the exhibition, various “screen” elements, including hanging screens, multimedia screens, and mirror screens, are used to create an immersive experience. Standing in front of these screens is like looking through windows into the past. They allow visitors to feel as if they were conversing with people from ancient times. The exhibition aims to let everyone experience the charm of history through those exquisite ancient hanging screens.

With the 2024 summer vacation approaching, the Palace Museum has issued the following summer visit guidelines to provide a comfortable visiting experience and ensure the safety of the ancient buildings and our visitors. Ticket reservation 1. The official ticket reservation channels are the WeChat mini-program and multilingual website of the Palace Museum. Reservations can be made up to seven days in advance starting from 20:00. Annual pass holders need to register for their visits at least one day in advance.  2. Children aged 6 and under, or with a height of 1.2 meters or below, do not need a reservation but must be accompanied by an adult with a reserved ticket. Children above 6 years old still need to make a reservation. Children under 14 years old must be accompanied by an adult. Each adult visitor can take up to three children under 14 years old. Entry instructions 1. The Palace Museum opens at 8:30 and closes at 17:00. Ticket checks stop at 16:00. The museum is closed on Mondays (except on statutory holidays). During the summer vacation, the peak hours for entry are from 8:30 to 11:00. Expect longer wait times for security and ticket checks during these hours. Please plan your visit wisely, avoid peak hours if possible, and stay updated on weather forecasts for high temperatures and heavy rain. Stay cool and protect yourself from the heat. Customer service hotline: 400-950-1925. 2. The entrance is at the Meridian Gate (Wu men). You can reach it by walking from Tiananmen Gate to the Upright Gate (Duan men), Donghuamen Street to Quezuomen Gate, or Xihuamen Street to Queyoumen Gate. The Palace Museum Visitor Service Center is south of the Meridian Gate (Wu men), on the west side of Duanmen Square. It provides ticket inquiries (including senior tickets), luggage storage, convenience services, first aid kits, and other services. Security and ticket check channels are south of the Meridian Gate (Wu men). Please exit through the Gate of Divine Prowess (Shenwu men) or the East Prosperity Gate (Donghua men) after your visit. 3. Visitors with large luggage or items on the “Prohibited Items List” should first store their luggage and prohibited items at the Visitor Service Center on the west side of Duanmen Square before heading to the Meridian Gate (Wu men) for ticket checks. This prevents the need to queue twice. Visitors in wheelchairs or with strollers should use the barrier-free lane. Visitors aged 60 and above, or those with mobility problems, may use the special care lane. Visitors without bags may use the no-bag lane. Please use original ID card for ticket verification to ensure quick system recognition. Visitor services 1. The Palace Museum WeChat mini-program offers an electronic map with recommended quick tour routes, in-depth tour routes, summer tour routes, and barrier-free tour routes. It also features audio guides and information on exhibitions, guided tour services, audio guide device rentals, dining, cultural and creative products, bookstores, restrooms, broadcasting room, first aid, and the police station. 2. If you get separated from your group during the visit, you can ask for assistance from the nearest staff member. You can also call the broadcasting room (010-85007424) or the police station (010-85007494) for help. For lost items, please contact the police station (010-85007494). 3. In case of heatstroke or other physical symptoms, or in an emergency, seek help from nearby staff or call the Palace Museum’s first aid station (010-85007120). Visitor guidelines 1. Please protect the Palace Museum, one of the World Cultural Heritage sites in China. Smoking is prohibited throughout, as is climbing ancient buildings, displayed artifacts, rockeries, and ancient trees. Touching, carving, or defacing any of the ancient buildings, artifacts, or exhibits is also prohibited. 2. Please maintain order during your visit. Activities such as performances, promotions, interviews, conducting social surveys, engaging in religious activities, selling goods or services, and commercial photography are prohibited. Live streaming and recording activities by non-institutional content providers on social media platforms are not allowed in the exhibition halls. Eating, setting up easels, and using flash photography, selfie sticks, and tripod photography equipment in the exhibition halls are also prohibited. 3. Considering that the Palace Museum has many staircases, steep slopes, and uneven surfaces, please pay attention to warning signs. Do not linger under eaves, near trees, by rocks, or in narrow passages for extended periods. In case of emergencies, accidents, or extreme weather, please follow staff guidance or broadcast announcements, and leave the museum in an orderly manner. The Palace Museum July 1, 2024