The opening ceremony of the “Gandhara Heritage along the Silk Road: A Pakistan-China Joint Exhibition” was held at the Hall of Literary Brilliance (Wenhua dian) in the Palace Museum on March 15, 2023. Chinese Minister of Culture and Tourism Hu Heping announced the opening of the exhibition. Moin ul Haque, Pakistani ambassador to China, Fareena Mazhar, federal secretary of the National Heritage and Culture Division of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, Wang Xudong, director of the Palace Museum, and Yang Xun, vice chairman and general manager of Glorious Sun Group and chairman of Jeanswest International (Hong Kong) Limited, addressed the opening ceremony. Du Haijiang, Party secretary and deputy director of the Palace Museum, presided over the event. In addition, about 200 guests were invited to the opening ceremony of the exhibition, including Nong Rong, China’s assistant minister of foreign affairs, Du Zhanyuan, president of China International Communications Group, Xie Bing, deputy director of the National Cultural Heritage Administration, Sha Zukang, former United Nations Under-Secretary-General, Jia Deyong, secretary-general of the International Confucian Association, Zheng Xinmiao, former vice minister of culture and tourism and former director of the Palace Museum, as well as foreign diplomats to China, officials from ministries and commissions of the State Council, scholars and experts in the fields of culture, diplomacy and museum, exhibition staff, and representatives from over 30 domestic and foreign media outlets. The Gandhara art exhibition was jointly organized by the Palace Museum and the Department of Archaeology and Museums of the National Heritage and Culture Division of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, which is so far the largest of its kind held within China. The exhibition, which began preparations in 2019, underwent the test of the COVID-19 pandemic and had to postpone its opening several times. The project was included twice in the Joint Statement between the People's Republic of China and the Islamic Republic of Pakistan on February 6 and November 2, 2022, respectively, and was endorsed by the leaders of both countries. The Palace Museum worked in coordination with the Department of Archaeology and Museums of the National Heritage and Culture Division of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan and all supporting museums to ensure the successful opening of the exhibition. The aim of the exhibition is to promote mutual understanding between China and Pakistan, with a emphasis on allowing the Chinese people to grasp the profound significance of the Gandhara culture. The exhibition features a total of 203 artifacts, including 173 items from Pakistan and 30 from the Palace Museum. The Pakistani artifacts are from seven museums, namely the National Museum of Pakistan, Taxila Museum, Peshawar Museum, Islamabad Museum, Dir Museum, Swat Museum, and Hund Museum. These artifacts, dating back to the period between the 2nd century BCE and the 10th century CE, were mostly unearthed through archaeological excavations. The exhibition displays an array of well-known Gandhara stone carvings, such as early Buddhist bodhisattva sculptures, Buddha stories, Jataka tales, and stupa architectural components, alongside gold and silver ware and jewelry, fully demonstrating the diverse styles and unique charm of Gandhara art and the historical context of multicultural integration. The 30 artifacts from the Palace Museum were primarily introduced from ancient Gandhara region into the west of China's Tibet Autonomous Region via art centers along the Silk Road on the plateau, such as Swat and Kashmir. These artifacts exerted a significant influence on the gold and copper sculpture styles and art of the ancient Guge Kingdom, providing a testament to the history of extensive cultural and art exchanges between China and Pakistan. The ancient Gandhara archaeological sites are predominantly situated at the southern end of the Hindu Kush and Karakoram Mountains, which served as a vital hub connecting the South Asian subcontinent with the Silk Road. This region was a melting pot of Mediterranean, Iranian, Central Asian steppe, and Indian civilizations, where diverse cultures intersected and formed rich and colorful civilizations. The exhibition is divided into three sections: “Land of Fragrance: The Birth of Gandhara Civilization under Multiculturalism”, “The Splendor of Gandhara Art” and “The Echoes of Gandhara Art”. From the perspective of the development of ancient Gandhara civilization, the exhibition showcases the artistic charm and influence of Gandhara culture. “Gandhara Heritage along the Silk Road: A Pakistan-China Joint Exhibition” is now on at the Hall of Literary Brilliance (Wenhua dian) in the Palace Museum. It will run until June 15, 2023. The exhibition is free of charge for visitors with the Palace Museum tickets. Visitors should make a real-name reservation through the WeChat mini-program of the Palace Museum. This exhibition is supported by Jeanswest International (Hong Kong) Limited.

“A Literary Legacy: Joint Exhibition on Jinshi Culture and Arts Through the Ages” opened at the Palace Museum’s Wumen Exhibition Hall in Beijing on Jan. 16, 2023. The exhibition was organized by the Palace Museum, Beijing Cultural Relics Exchange Center, the Confucian Temple, and Guozijian Museum, in partnership with CCTV.com, and jointly promoted by China Construction Bank and the organizers. The opening ceremony of “A Literary Legacy: Joint Exhibition on Jinshi Culture and Arts Through the Ages” in Beijing, Jan. 16, 2023 Wang Xudong, director of the Palace Museum, announces the opening of “A Literary Legacy: Joint Exhibition on Jinshi Culture and Arts Through the Ages” in Beijing, Jan. 16, 2023. Distinguished guests invited to the opening ceremony of the exhibition included 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; Wang Chenyang, director of the Department of Intangible Cultural Heritage under the Ministry of Culture and Tourism; Zheng Shaoliang, deputy director of the General Office of the National Cultural Heritage Administration; Chen Mingjie, Party secretary and director of Beijing Municipal Cultural Heritage Bureau; Hu Changmiao, secretary to the board of directors of China Construction Bank; Wang Bingsong, deputy secretary of the Party committee and general manager of CCTV.com; and Xu Zhe, general manager of Beijing Cultural Investment Development Group. Participants also included other leaders of the Palace Museum. “A Literary Legacy: Joint Exhibition on Jinshi Culture and Arts Through the Ages” showcases fine traditional Chinese culture and Chinese traditional virtues. It features 179 works by ancient scholars who were awarded the title of Jinshi (successful candidates in the highest imperial examination) since the Tang dynasty (618-907). The show demonstrates the remarkable achievements of those outstanding figures in philosophy, Chinese classical studies, history, literature, and arts, and pays homage to their contributions to the development of Chinese civilization. It is divided into three sections, namely, “The Path to Jinshi,” “Erudite Scholars,” and “Artworks of Scholars.”  Du Haijiang, Party secretary and deputy director of the Palace Museum, delivers a speech at the opening ceremony of “A Literary Legacy: Joint Exhibition on Jinshi Culture and Arts Through the Ages” in Beijing, Jan. 16, 2023.  Du Haijiang noted that the cultural relics on display, which tell  stories reflecting ancient scholars’ patriotic feelings and family values, encourage visitors to contemplate the connections between “cultivating oneself, governing the family and country, and promoting stability and peace in the world.” As such, the exhibition shines a light on the Chinese people's patriotism and their responsibility to stay informed about world events. In recent years, the Palace Museum has implemented the guiding principles outlined in General Secretary Xi Jinping’s speeches on cultural relics and cultural work, as well as the new development philosophy, which emphasizes innovative, coordinated, green and open development for all. The Palace Museum is committed to pursuing innovation and has worked with various institutions to bring cultural relics to life. The museum is also at the forefront of efforts to promote the creative transformation and innovative development of fine traditional Chinese culture and Beijing’s transformation into a capital of culture and a city of museums. Chen Mingjie, Party secretary and director of Beijing Municipal Cultural Heritage Bureau, delivers a speech at the opening ceremony of “A Literary Legacy: Joint Exhibition on Jinshi Culture and Arts Through the Ages” in Beijing, Jan. 16, 2023. Chen Mingjie said that the CPC Central Committee with Xi Jinping at its core highly values preserving and promoting fine traditional Chinese culture and cultural heritage. Following Xi’s fundamental guide for cultural heritage work in the capital in the new era, Beijing Municipal Cultural Heritage Bureau has prioritized the protection and utilization of cultural relics, and promoted their value. To activate Beijing’s cultural resources, great efforts have been made to protect, manage, and utilize those resources across the capital. Accordingly, the exhibition offers the public a rich cultural experience, taps into cultural potential, promotes cultural exchange and cooperation, makes a significant contribution to Beijing’s cultural and museum industry, and supports the city’s vision of building a national cultural center. Hu Changmiao, secretary to the board of directors of China Construction Bank, delivers a speech at the opening ceremony of “A Literary Legacy: Joint Exhibition on Jinshi Culture and Arts Through the Ages” in Beijing, Jan. 16, 2023. Hu Changmiao reaffirmed China Construction Bank’s commitment to standing on the side of the people, serving national development, supporting the real economy and helping improve people’s lives. Since 2019, China Construction Bank has collaborated with the Palace Museum on exhibitions such as “Xumi Fushou,” “Everlasting Splendor,” and “The Making of Zhongguo, and launched the “Forbidden City Auspicious Beasts” brand for precious metal cultural and creative products. With the exhibition “A Literary Legacy,” China Construction Bank will continue to promote the creative transformation and innovative development of China’s traditional culture by leveraging new finance, and will work with partners to contribute to the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation. Wang Bingsong, deputy secretary of the Party committee and general manager of CCTV.com, delivers a speech at the opening ceremony of “A Literary Legacy: Joint Exhibition on Jinshi Culture and Arts Through the Ages” in Beijing, Jan. 16, 2023. In his speech, Wang Bingsong reflected on the close strategic partnership between China Media Group (CMG) and the Palace Museum. To showcase the cultural relics' charm, CCTV.com under CMG will use its multi-terminal broadcasting platform to livestream and promote the exhibition. Moreover, it is supporting the “CMG Meta Museum” project. Taking advantage of the opportunities afforded by the exhibition, CCTV.com continues to strive to integrate ideas, art and technology and draw upon its strengths in content, technology, and platform to jointly cultivate the brand “A Literary Legacy.” It is also deepening strategic cooperation with the Palace Museum in areas such as online exhibitions, cultural and creative products, content production, and program cooperation.  “A Literary Legacy: Joint Exhibition on Jinshi Culture and Arts Through the Ages” is now on at the Meridian Gate Gallery (Wumen) and East Wing Gallery in the Forbidden City, as well as the Confucian Temple and Guozijian Museum. It will run from Jan. 17 to Apr. 2, 2023.

On August 29, the opening ceremony of an exhibition titled “Mirroring the Heart of Heaven and Earth—Ideals and Images in the Chinese Study” was held in the Palace Museum. Wang Xudong, a member of the Party Leadership Group of the Ministry of Culture and Tourism and director of the Palace Museum, Wang Chunfa, director of the National Museum of China, Zheng Xinmiao, former Chinese Vice Minister of Culture and former director of the Palace Museum, Du Haijiang, Party secretary and deputy director of the Palace Museum, Wang Dongbo, deputy director of the National Library of China, Feng Nai’en, director of Prince Kung’s Mansion Museum under the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, Su Dan, deputy director of China National Arts and Crafts Museum under the Chinese National Academy of Arts, Peng Gang, vice president of Tsinghua University, Liu Chen, deputy dean of the School of Arts at Peking University, Wu Hongliang, president of Beijing Fine Art Academy, Li Tianliang, editor-in-chief of Tencent News, and other leadership members of the Palace Museum attended the event. Lou Wei, executive deputy director of the Palace Museum, presided over the opening ceremony.

The exhibition “Life in Its Many Forms: Figure Paintings from Across the Ages in the Palace Museum Collection (Phase Ⅲ)” opened at the Hall of Literary Brilliance (Wenhua dian) in the Palace Museum on August 30 and will continue until October 30, 2022.

(22 June 2022, Hong Kong) Located in the West Kowloon Cultural District, Hong Kong's newest arts and cultural landmark, the Hong Kong Palace Museum (HKPM), held its opening ceremony today. The ceremony was co-organised by the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) and the Ministry of Culture and Tourism. A collaborative project between the West Kowloon Cultural District Authority (WKCDA) and the Palace Museum, the HKPM aims to promote the study and appreciation of Chinese art and culture as well as to foster dialogue between world civilisations. The opening of the museum marks a new chapter in the advancement of Chinese arts and culture in Hong Kong and signifies an important milestone for Hong Kong and the West Kowloon Cultural District in developing Hong Kong into an East-meets-West Centre for International Cultural Exchange as outlined in the National 14th Five-Year Plan.