Building on its rich collections and commitment to openness and sharing, the Palace Museum opened its latest exhibition “Galloping Through Time: Digital Reimagination of Horse Art and Culture” at the Great Hall of Exalted Mystery (Dagaoxuan dian). The exhibition is now open for group bookings from primary, secondary, and university students. Organized by the Palace Museum and exclusively sponsored by the Institute of Philanthropy (IoP), the exhibition offers visitors an immersive digital experience. As an interactive platform for art appreciation and knowledge exploration it can help young audiences deepen their understanding of preserving and carrying forward fine traditional Chinese culture.

The opening ceremony was attended by Wang Xudong, a member of the Party Leadership Group of the Ministry of Culture and Tourism (MCT) and director of the Palace Museum; Lester Huang, IoP chairman and trustee of the Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust; and Winfried Engelbrecht-Bresges, IoP director and CEO of the Hong Kong Jockey Club. Other attendees included representatives from the MCT, the National Cultural Heritage Administration (NCHA), the China Soong Ching Ling Foundation, the Beijing Xicheng District People’s Government, the Office of the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region in Beijing, the Hong Kong Jockey Club, Tsinghua University, Beijing Normal University, and the Forbidden City Cultural Heritage Conservation Foundation. Lou Wei, executive deputy director of the Palace Museum, and IoP chairman Lester Huang delivered speeches on behalf of their respective organizations. Zhu Hongwen, deputy director of the Palace Museum, presided over the opening ceremony.

The Great Hall of Exalted Mystery is the Palace Museum’s second fully digital exhibition hall. The Palace Museum has created a real-time digital system that connects its storage, database, and exhibition space, allowing visitors to access and explore a vast collection of over 100,000 digitized artifacts. The exhibition hall is a versatile space that combines exhibition, research, and education. The exhibition “Galloping through Time: Digital Reimagination of Horse Art and Culture” highlights the symbolic significance of the horse and its close ties to human civilization. It features over 500 ultra-high-resolution images of horse-related artifacts from the Palace Museum’s collection. Advanced technologies including immersive projections, 3D interactions, and knowledge mapping help visitors experience these rare cultural relics in new ways.

In his speech, Lou Wei noted that in recent years, the Palace Museum has intensified efforts to complete archival imaging of nearly one million artifacts in its collection, making them publicly available through digital platforms such as the “Digital Cultural Relics Database” and “The Palace Museum’s Masterpieces.” As the Palace Museum’s “Version 3.0” digital exhibition space, the Great Hall of Exalted Mystery represents a major step forward in the museum’s efforts to digitally preserve and share cultural heritage. It not only brings out the rich value of digital artifacts but also plays an increasingly important role in academic research and youth education. He explained that the exhibition is part of the “Promotion of Chinese Culture and Arts Tech Talent Development in the Mainland and Hong Kong” initiative, supported by IoP. Guided by the principles of openness, innovation, and collaboration, both partners are committed to pushing for creative transformation and innovative development of fine Chinese traditional culture, Lou said.

Lester Huang said in his speech that the partnership between IoP and the Palace Museum aims to promote traditional Chinese culture, nurture talent in art and technology, and support Hong Kong’s development as a hub for international cultural exchange between China and the rest of the world. He noted that this horse-themed exhibition builds on the Palace Museum’s rich cultural legacy, and that the horse artifacts from various dynasties reflect the spirit of their eras and embody the deep cultural admiration the Chinese people have long held for the horse. He also expressed hope that through this exhibition, more young people will be inspired by the values of courage, perseverance, and diligence embodied by the horse — and will experience the power of cutting-edge digital technology.

The “Galloping through Time: Digital Reimagination of Horse Art and Culture” exhibition at the Great Hall of Exalted Mystery will begin accepting group reservations from primary, secondary, and university students starting June 4, 2025. Reservations can be made by calling 400-950-1925. Capacity is limited each day and available on a first-come, first-served basis. Visitors must present a valid ID and arrive on time according to their confirmed reservation.