“Historic Encounters: Interaction Between China and West Asia,” “The Glory of Ancient Persia,” and “Al Ula, Wonder of Arabia” Navigate the course of civilizational progress through exchanges and mutual learning

The “AlUla, Wonder of Arabia” exhibition opened at the West Wing of the Tower Gallery, Meridian Gate (Wu men) on January 6, and will run through March 22. Co-organized by the Royal Commission for AlUla and the Palace Museum, with support from the French Agency for AlUla Development, the exhibition features over 230 exhibits that immerse visitors in the grandeur of AlUla’s desert landscapes, river valleys, and oases, alongside its rich historical and cultural legacy. On the morning of January 5, the exhibition’s opening ceremony was held at the West Wing of the Tower Gallery in the Meridian Gate (Wu men) of the Palace Museum. The ceremony was presided over by Wang Yuegong, deputy director of the Palace Museum. Abdulrahman Altrairi, chief of communications and PR of the Royal Commission for AlUla, Simond de Galbert, first counselor at the French Embassy in China, and Lou Wei, executive deputy director of the Palace Museum, delivered speeches. The exhibition was officially opened by Wang Xudong, director of the Palace Museum, Xie Bing, deputy director of the National Cultural Heritage Administration, Abdulrahman Altrairi, and Simond de Galbert. Guests included Ambassador Li Lianhe from the Department of West Asian and North African Affairs at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Xie Bing, deputy director of the National Cultural Heritage Administration, Xu Rong, deputy director of the Bureau of International Exchange and Cooperation of the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, and Du Haijiang, Party secretary and deputy director of the Palace Museum. Ambassadors and diplomatic representatives from Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Oman, Palestine, Bahrain, Qatar, and Kuwait, as well as the French Ambassador to Saudi Arabia, representatives from the Royal Commission for AlUla and the French Agency for AlUla Development, and representatives from museums and the cultural circle in Beijing, also attended the opening ceremony. China and Saudi Arabia sit at opposite ends of Asia. For a long time, West Asian civilization and East Asia civilization have played significant roles in shaping the world. The Silk Road, which connected Asia, Africa, and Europe, was forged by the combined efforts of the people of East Asia and West Asia, facilitating cultural exchanges across the region and even between Asia, Africa and Europe. The exhibition “AlUla, Wonder of Arabia” tells the 7,000-year-old story of human settlement in AlUla, a city in the northwest of Saudi Arabia. Located 1,100 kilometers northwest of the capital city Riyadh, AlUla is a valley oasis in a vast desert. Its abundant water resources and extensive farmlands made it a haven for human life. AlUla was not only an important stop on the Arabian Peninsula’s Spice Route but also a key passage for pilgrims traveling to Mecca and Medina. The site contains numerous archaeological sites dating back to 5200 BC, including the Neolithic period’s Mustatil, a rectangular structure, the ancient kingdoms of Dadan and Lihyan of northern Arabia, the city of Hegra during the Nabataean Kingdom and the Roman empire period, the Umayyad site of Qurh, and the old town of AlUla. Today, AlUla remains vibrant and open to visitors worldwide. The exhibition is divided into four sections: “From Prehistory to the Bronze Age,” “Northern Arabian Kingdoms,” “Script and Language,” and “Modern AlUla,” illustrating how humans have adapted and transformed this harsh environment to create wonders. The Palace Museum’s mission is to foster cross-cultural understanding and dialogue by showcasing ancient cultures and histories. This exhibition allows Chinese people and visitors from around the world to learn more about Saudi Arabia, strengthening friendship between the two nations. It also contributes to promoting the Belt and Road Initiative and building a global community of shared future.

The Palace Museum and China Siyuan Foundation reached a framework agreement on December 21 to enhance cooperation on traditional Chinese culture. The signing ceremony was attended by Wang Xudong, director of the Palace Museum; Zhu Hongwen, deputy director of the Palace Museum; Wang Yuegong, deputy director of the Palace Museum; Li Xiaolin, vice chairman and secretary-general of China Siyuan Foundation; Xu Hongying, a member of the Party Leadership Group and deputy director of the Liaoning Provincial Department of Culture and Tourism; Chen Yaodong, deputy secretary-general of the Liaoning Provincial Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, full-time vice chairman of the Liaoning Provincial Committee of the China National Democratic Construction Association (CNDCA), and chairman of the Work Committee for Department Directly Under the Liaoning Provincial Committee of the CNDCA; Chen Xizhe, full-time deputy secretary of the Committee on Education of the Jilin Provincial Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC) and a member of the Party Leadership Group of the Jilin Provincial Department of Education; Wang Lu, head of the Border Villages Work Team in Jilin Province, and other officials and guests. Yan Hongbin, president of the Palace Museum Institute, presided over the ceremony. In her speech, Zhu Hongwen lauded the Palace Museum’s commitment to cultural education, which has inspired young people to celebrate fine traditional Chinese culture. The Palace Museum and China Siyuan Foundation will cooperate to address a shortage of traditional cultural resources available to primary and secondary schools in underdeveloped areas. Their collaboration involves the facilitation of high-quality traditional cultural education courses that integrate the features of the Palace Museum, teacher training, and opportunities for young people to learn at the Palace Museum. This initiative will contribute to the rural revitalization drive, while boosting cultural confidence, promoting cultural prosperity, and enhancing cultural development. (Zhu Hongwen, deputy director of the Palace Museum, delivers a speech at the signing ceremony of the framework agreement between the Palace Museum and China Siyuan Foundation in Beijing, Dec. 21, 2023.) Li Xiaolin highlighted that over the years, China Siyuan Foundation has been actively collaborating with various sectors of society, including the Palace Museum, to inherit, protect, and promote fine traditional Chinese culture. A series of public welfare projects have been implemented, such as the provision of books about the Palace Museum for rural school children, introducing lessons on intangible cultural heritage and calligraphy into schools, and carrying out cultural relic protection plans. All have achieved significant results. Furthermore, in response to the demand for traditional cultural education in primary and secondary schools, China Siyuan Foundation has strengthened its efforts to promote the balanced and high-quality development of traditional cultural education. By cooperating with the Palace Museum, China Siyuan Foundation aims to fully integrate fine traditional Chinese culture into education. The goal is to help students in underdeveloped areas access fine traditional Chinese culture, nurture souls and cultivate minds, and foster a sense of national pride and identity. (Li Xiaolin, vice chairman and secretary-general of China Siyuan Foundation, delivers a speech at the signing ceremony of the framework agreement between the Palace Museum and China Siyuan Foundation in Beijing, Dec. 21, 2023.) Chen Xizhe, representing the beneficiary regions, expressed gratitude for the donation from the Palace Museum and China Siyuan Foundation, highlighting its significance in showing care for children in border areas and supporting educational and social undertakings in remote and ethnic minority regions. The donation includes educational programs aimed at aiding schools to inspire students to pursue their dreams. Going forward, relevant parties will strictly adhere to regulations and management practices to ensure the proper use of these resources. The aim is to effectively promote traditional Chinese culture in schools, and contribute to the high-quality development of education in Jilin province. (Chen Xizhe, full-time deputy secretary of the Committee on Education of the CPC Jilin Provincial Committee and a member of the Party Leadership Group of the Jilin Provincial Department of Education, delivers a speech at the signing ceremony of the framework agreement between the Palace Museum and China Siyuan Foundation in Beijing, Dec. 21, 2023.) Also on behalf of the beneficiary regions, Liu Chuanlu, deputy mayor of Xiuyan county in Anshan city, Liaoning province said in his speech that the donation injected new vitality into the educational development of Xiuyan. He emphasized that all schools should organize and make thoughtful use of the provided courses, and summarize and accumulate teaching experience. This effort will help to develop an education system to equip students with an all-round moral, intellectual, physical, and aesthetic grounding, thereby contributing to their future development. (Liu Chuanlu, deputy mayor of Xiuyan county of Anshan city in Liaoning province, delivers a speech at the signing ceremony of the framework agreement between the Palace Museum and China Siyuan Foundation in Beijing, Dec. 21, 2023.) Under the agreement, both parties commit to the principles of mutual benefit, long-term cooperation, and leveraging complementary strengths. They will jointly undertake public welfare projects to enhance cultural education resources to help students improve their cultural knowledge and  develop their skills. Through immersive and exploratory learning, their collaboration aims to enhance the teaching environment, enrich educational resources and educate young people to appreciate and spread fine traditional Chinese culture in regions lacking traditional cultural education resources and facing difficulties in implementing the policy to promote fine traditional Chinese culture into schools.

The launch ceremony for a Yuhua Pavilion research-based protection project was held Friday at the Studio of Esteemed Excellence (Jingsheng zhai) at the Palace Museum. The event also saw the signing of a memorandum of cooperation between the Palace Museum and the GS Charity Foundation regarding the cultural inheritance work of the Hong Kong Palace Museum (HKPM). Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor, former chief executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR); Wang Xudong, a member of the Party Leadership Group of the Ministry of Culture and Tourism and director of the Palace Museum; Yang Xun, vice chairman and general manager of Glorious Sun Group; and Louis Ng Chi-wa, director of the HKPM, delivered speeches at the event. Betty Fung Ching Suk-yee, CEO of the West Kowloon Cultural District Authority of the HKSAR, and Lou Wei, executive deputy director of the Palace Museum, were also present. Zhu Hongwen, deputy director of the Palace Museum, presided over the ceremony. In the presence of Carrie Lam and Wang Xudong, the memorandum was signed by Lou Wei, Yang Xun, and Louis Ng Chi-wa. Over the next five years, with support from the Palace Museum and the GS Charity Foundation, the HKPM plans to organize large thematic exhibitions on deepening cultural exchange and promoting mutual learning among civilizations. It will also hold a series of cultural exchange activities, such as the GS Visiting Fellows Programme at the HKPM, the Hong Kong and Mainland Youth Internship Programme at the Palace Museum, and the Hong Kong Students’ Chinese Cultural Experience Programme. Additionally, collaborative efforts will be made to develop high-quality educational resources. Wang Xudong spoke of the historic mission undertaken by the Palace Museum to jointly preserve and promote fine traditional Chinese culture alongside the HKPM. The signing of this memorandum represents a significant milestone in their collaboration. He expressed gratitude to the GS Charity Foundation for its support in the Yuhua Pavilion research-based protection project and the cultural inheritance work of the HKPM. He also thanked Carrie Lam for facilitating support from various enterprises in Hong Kong for Palace Museum projects. Additionally, he acknowledged the contributions of people from all walks of life who were concerned about the Palace Museum's development. Carrie Lam reviewed the challenging journey of establishing and opening the HKPM and reflected on its notable achievements. She voiced hope that the HKPM would leverage its unique advantage and use its strategic position as a bridge between China and the rest of the world to further promote Chinese culture and enhance the sense of identity and cultural confidence of the people of Hong Kong. She also highlighted the historic mission of the HKPM to facilitate exchange and dialogue between the East and the West, as well as the significance of cultural heritage inheritance. Yang Xun said that since its establishment, Glorious Sun Group has been dedicated to making contributions to society through public welfare and charitable activities, as well as fulfilling its social responsibilities. The group has been committed to upholding fine traditional Chinese culture while pursuing innovative development, developing China's cultural sector, and enhancing mutual learning and understanding among civilizations. He also noted that the group stands ready to work together with the Palace Museum and the HKPM to enhance cultural exchange between the people of Hong Kong and the Chinese mainland, especially the younger generation, and to foster a sense of confidence in Chinese culture. Louis Ng Chi-wa expressed his appreciation for the donation from Glorious Sun Group and extended thanks to Carrie Lam, Wang Xudong, and colleagues from the Palace Museum for their support in the development of the HKPM. He said the HKPM would seize historic opportunities and strengthen cooperation with the Palace Museum to promote fine traditional Chinese culture. Efforts will also be made to bolster cultural confidence among the youth, facilitate international exchanges, foster mutual learning among civilizations, and build modern Chinese civilization. Following the event, Carrie Lam, Wang Xudong and other guests visited the Yuhua Pavilion to conduct on-site inspections of the building and cultural relics. The Yuhua Pavilion research-based protection project aims to continuously foster a team of experts from different fields and institutions and build a research platform, and improve its academic research regarding the cultural significance and value of the Yuhua Pavilion. The project also seeks to enhance the cultural confidence of the Chinese people and to better tell China’s stories to the world.

The “Inheritances Converge: The 40th Anniversary of the Forbidden City Publishing House Exhibition” opened at the Hall of Literary Brilliance of the Palace Museum on December 8. Eminent figures including Du Haijiang, Party secretary and deputy director of the Palace Museum; Zheng Xinmiao, former deputy minister of culture and former director of the Palace Museum; Yan Xiaohong, former deputy chief of the State Administration of Press, Publication, Radio, Film and Television; Wang Yamin, former executive deputy director of the Palace Museum and former president of the Forbidden City Publishing House; Li Wenru, former deputy director of the Palace Museum and former president of the Forbidden City Publishing House; Zhang Zicheng, president of the Cultural Relics Press; and Yang Zhishui, a renowned scholar and representative author of the Forbidden City Publishing House, attended and addressed the exhibition’s opening ceremony. Additionally, Guo Ruihong, a second-level inspector of the Publishing Bureau of the Publicity Department of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee; Ren Wanping, deputy director of the Palace Museum; and Li Jun, secretary of the discipline inspection commission of the museum’s Party committee, attended the event. The ceremony, hosted by Zhang Hongwei, president of the Forbidden City Publishing House, was attended by over a hundred experts, authors, and representatives from 25 domestic and international media outlets. Established in 1983, the Forbidden City Publishing House is the only publishing house affiliated to a museum in China. It has garnered acclaim for its beautifully crafted books featuring cultural relics, characterized by their exquisite imagery, elegant design, and premium printing quality. The publishing house serves as a platform for showcasing the museum’s artifacts, disseminating the latest research findings, and promoting traditional Chinese culture. During the opening ceremony, Du Haijiang acknowledged the significant role the Forbidden City Publishing House has played over the past 40 years in disseminating and promoting the excellent traditional culture represented by the Palace Museum. The growth of the publishing house has been closely tied with the development of the museum. In recent years, in response to the national call to accelerate the development of the digital economy and its deep integration with the real economy, the Forbidden City Publishing House has adopted digital approaches into its publishing efforts. This initiative includes the launch of innovative projects that align with the national strategy for cultural digitization, aiming to foster a deeper integration of culture and tourism in line with contemporary developmental needs. Over the years, the Forbidden City Publishing House has consistently focused on public benefits, publishing almost 2,600 books, and earning the prestigious China Government Award for Publishing (also known as the Advanced Publishing Unit Award). Among its notable publications are The Complete Collection of the Palace Museum, Classics of the Forbidden City, Ceramics Classics, The Complete Collection of Ming and Qing Furniture in the Palace Museum, and Xu Bangda’s Collection. Its "Forbidden City Calendar" series has been particularly popular, selling nearly 6 million copies and sparking a trend in calendar publishing. The interactive puzzle book Mystery Palace: The Ruyi Linlang Picture Book set a world record in the publishing sector, with an initial print of 170,000 copies and a crowdfunding achievement of 20.2 million yuan (US$2.82 million). The anniversary exhibition chronicles 40 years of the publishing house’s journey through five themed sections: “Creation – Establishment of the Forbidden City Publishing House,” “Molding – Building the Brand,” “Gathering – Showcasing Museum Treasures,” “Leading – Direction in Cultural and Museum Books,” and “Innovation – Digital Integration and Creative Culture.” This exhibition, for the first time, adopts a “Books + Artifacts” format, featuring a majestic “Forbidden City Book Mountain” and “Imperial Book City” formed by thousands of exquisite books. Meanwhile, 22 precious artifacts are on display, including prized porcelain from the five famous Song Dynasty kilns and a rare Qing Dynasty Qianlong-era jade dragon seal. Open to the public from December 9, 2023 to February 25, 2024, the exhibition offers a unique opportunity to experience cultural publishing and historical artifacts.

An exhibition on guqin culture opened on November 27 at the Palace of Accumulated Purity (Zhongcui gong) of the Palace Museum in Beijing. The guqin, a traditional Chinese stringed instrument, is a celebrated and iconic cultural heritage item of the Chinese nation. The exhibition aims to display this quintessential element of Chinese civilization and nurture inspiration for creative and innovative development of Chinese culture. The exhibition’s opening ceremony was attended by distinguished guests, including Wang Xudong, a member of the Party Leadership Group of the Ministry of Culture and Tourism and director of the Palace Museum; Du Haijiang, Party secretary and deputy director of the Palace Museum; Zhao Cong, president of the China National Traditional Orchestra; Wang Yuegong, deputy director of the Palace Museum; Luo Xianliang, deputy Party secretary and deputy director of the Palace Museum; Chao Gejin, a member of the Academic Divisions of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (CASS) and folklorist; Yang Zhishui, a researcher at the Institute of Literature of CASS; Mao Peiqi, a professor at Renmin University of China, and other experts and scholars. The opening ceremony was presided over by Wang Yuegong, at which Wang Xudong announced the opening of the exhibition. Du Haijiang and Zhao Cong delivered speeches. Du Haijiang noted the profound historical connection that the Palace Museum has with the guqin. During the Ming (1368-1644) and Qing (1644-1911) dynasties, the imperial palace of the Forbidden City was filled with the enchanting sounds of the guqin. Notable guqins were also displayed at the Palace Museum. In the nearly 100 years since the Palace Museum was established, the Museum has added guqins and related cultural relics to its collection, including pieces from the National Cultural Heritage Administration, thereby, preserving ancient guqins from the imperial collection. Generations of guqin experts have made significant contributions to the tradition. Guan Pinghu, a renowned guqin master, restored and repaired two Tang Dnasty (618-907) guqins – “Da Sheng Yi Yin Qin” and “Fei Quan Qin”. Zheng Minzhong, a disciple of Guan, has achieved fruitful results in the study of guqin at the Palace Museum. His publication “Classics of the Forbidden City: Guqin in the Collection of The Palace Museum,” was celebrated within the field. In the new era, the Palace Museum remains committed to preserving, restoring, and exhibiting guqins in a way that resonates with contemporary audiences. In 2019, an exhibition on guqin culture was held at the Palace of Accumulated Purity. This year's exhibition marks the second phase and introduces new elements showcasing the rich heritage of the guqin at the Palace Museum. Zhao Cong called the exhibition a significant initiative led by the Palace Museum to preserve and revive the excellent Chinese traditional culture. Both the China National Traditional Orchestra and the Palace Museum share the same vision and goal of preserving and developing Chinese civilization. The two organizations signed a strategic cooperation agreement as early as 2020, and their collaborative musical cultural project, “The Sound of the Palace Museum,” will be unveiled next year. Sun Zhaohua, the chief curator of the exhibition and deputy director of the Institute of Court Opera, explained that the exhibition displays 55 cultural relics from the Palace Museum’s collection, including nine guqins. The Museum’s guqin collection spans pieces from the “Fei Quan Qin” made by the Lei family in the late Tang Dynasty to the “Hai Yue Qing Hui Qin” made in the Southern Song Dynasty (1127-1279). The exhibition also features related cultural relics, such as chimes with golden clouds and dragon patterns from the reign of Emperor Kangxi of the Qing Dynasty, as well as a red agate seal from the Qianlong period of the Qing Dynasty. These artifacts highlight the function and cultural value of the guqin, which serves both as a musical instrument for national ceremonial music and as a tool for scholars to cultivate their character, express their feelings, and pursue their aspirations. In addition, a special area of the exhibition is dedicated to the Palace Museum’s collection of guqin tablature called “Qiu Hong (Wild Geese in Autumn)” from the early Ming Dynasty. This tablature consists of four volumes, each with a drawing before the tablature, creating a combination of drawings and scores. This precious artifact integrates guqin, calligraphy, painting, seal carving, and court mounting art. The tablature has been transcribed and restored with the help of artists from the China National Traditional Orchestra. A press conference was also held during the opening ceremony. Yang Zhijian, who is the co-curator of the “Qiu Hong” section of the exhibition, gave a live performance based on the tablature. Yang is also a guqin player from the China National Traditional Orchestra and a national first-class performer. The video recording of this musical performance will be played in the exhibition hall throughout the duration of the exhibition. The exhibition is now open to the public at the Palace of Accumulated Purity (Zhongcui gong) of the Palace Museum, starting from November 28.