The opening ceremony of the educational exhibition “What If Colors Could Speak?” was held at the Palace Museum on December 30, 2025. It is a special immersive learning experience offered by the Museum to young audiences.

The event was attended by Wang Xudong, member of the Party Leadership Group of the Ministry of Culture and Tourism and director of the Palace Museum; Liu Huabin, director of the China National Museum of Women and Children; Zhu Hongwen, deputy director of the Palace Museum; Zhang Yan, deputy director of the Dongcheng District Education Commission of Beijing; Wu Wei, deputy director of the Secretariat of the Beijing Students’ Jinfan Painting and Calligraphy Association; Wang Yue, director of the Dongcheng District Children’s Palace; Wang Lei, Party secretary and president of the Beijing No. 5 High School Education Group‌; Song Haihong, principal of Beijing No. 65 Middle School; He Haiying, Party secretary and principal of Donghuamen Kindergarten and Beijing No. 3 Kindergarten; Bi Shan, vice principal of Guangqumen Middle School; Gao Wa, director of the Beijing No.1 Kindergarten Party and Administrative Office; as well as school leaders, teachers, and student representatives from partner institutions.

The program opened with a song-and-dance performance by children from Beijing No. 3 Kindergarten. Their original piece, “The Palace Museum: A Home of Colors,” presented the exhibition’s core idea from a child’s perspective, highlighting color as the most direct and vivid language through which children understand the Palace Museum.

Students from Beijing No. 3 Kindergarten perform at the opening ceremony of an exhibition “What if Colors Could Speak?” in Beijing, Dec. 30, 2025.

In her remarks, Zhu Hongwen said that the exhibition, introduced at the turn of the year during the Palace Museum’s centennial celebrations, reflects the museum’s efforts to advance educational innovation and build a more dynamic institution. She noted that the exhibition uses color to explore themes such as heritage protection, craftsmanship, cultural exchange, and sustainable development through interactive and experiential formats. She expressed hope that the exhibition would encourage young visitors to develop a closer understanding of cultural heritage and take part in its future preservation.

Zhu Hongwen, deputy director of the Palace Museum, speaks at the opening ceremony of the exhibition “What if Colors Could Speak?” in Beijing, Dec. 30, 2025.

Representatives of the curatorial team then introduced the exhibition’s concept and themes. The exhibition was developed in response to the practical question of how to present the stories behind the Palace Museum’s artifacts and architecture in ways that are clear, engaging, and suitable for young audiences. Color was chosen as the main interpretive framework because it is easy to understand for all age groups. Using the “three primary colors” system well-known by young people as a scientific and visual reference, the exhibition is organized into six thematic sections: Color Palette, Red, Yellow, Blue, Green, and White. Each section focuses on a specific theme. The Color Palette section presents vibrant color combinations of the Palace Museum through the eyes of young visitors. Red highlights long-term efforts in heritage protection; Yellow focuses on cultural vitality and continuity; Blue addresses cross-border exchange and mutual learning; Green introduces ideas related to sustainability and future development; and the White section emphasizes the shared responsibility of continuing the legacy, inviting visitors to take part in protecting the Palace Museum. Through these six color-based sections, the exhibition builds a coherent narrative framework that guides visitors from an initial focus on artifacts and historic architecture to a broader understanding of the people, stories, values, and future they represent.

A member of the curatorial team introduces the concept and themes of the exhibition “What if Colors Could Speak?” in Beijing, Dec. 30, 2025.

Students from Beijing No. 65 Middle School recited “The Palace Museum in Color,” an original poem describing the key visual elements of the Palace Museum, including its solemn red walls, brilliant yellow glazed tiles, the clear blue sky, and the lush greenery. Their performance offered a youth perspective on the architectural features of the site. Student representatives from the Dongcheng District Children’s Palace also shared their impressions after visiting the exhibition, saying it helped them better understand the role of color in the Palace Museum and made historical content easier to grasp through interactive design.

Students from Beijing No. 65 Middle School perform a poetry recitation during the opening ceremony of the exhibition “What If Colors Could Speak?” in Beijing, Dec. 30, 2025.

Students from the Dongcheng District Children’s Palace speak at the opening ceremony of the exhibition “What If Colors Could Speak?” in Beijing, Dec. 30, 2025.

At the close of the ceremony, guests placed colored balls into an interactive installation named “Continuing the Legacy Together,” symbolizing their commitment to preserve the heritage of the Palace Museum. As the balls rolled together, the exhibition officially opened.

After the ceremony, guests, teachers, and students toured the exhibition with members of the curatorial team. Across the six themed sections, visitors engaged with interactive installations and narrative displays focused on heritage protection, cultural continuity, exchange, and sustainability, immersing themselves in activities and discovery with childlike wonder.

Guests, teachers, and students visit the exhibition “What if Colors Could Speak?” in Beijing, Dec. 30, 2025.

The exhibition “What If Colors Could Speak?”, presented during the Palace Museum’s centennial year, reflects the museum’s continued efforts to “bring cultural relics to life” and demonstrates how the best of traditional Chinese culture can be reinterpreted through innovation. By using color as a shared visual language, the exhibition connects young audiences with history and the future and underscores the Palace Museum’s educational role. The exhibition runs from December 31, 2025, to March 31, 2026, at the Palace Museum Education Center, spanning the 2026 winter vacation.