The Hong Kong Palace Museum (HKPM) and the Palace Museum have opened a new exhibition examining the Forbidden City’s role as a centre of cultural exchange between China and the wider world.
The Hong Kong Jockey Club Series: The Forbidden City and the World—Cultural Encounters opened on June 3, 2026, in Gallery 1 at HKPM and features more than 130 artefacts from the Palace Museum in Beijing, HKPM and the Museum of Islamic Art in Doha.
Spanning the Yuan, Ming and Qing dynasties, the exhibition explores diplomacy, trade, science, technology, philosophy and craftsmanship through objects including paintings, calligraphy, jewellery, ceramics, textiles, furniture and timepieces – 18 grade-one national treasures are included in the display.
The exhibition is organised into four sections covering the Silk Routes and maritime trade, imported treasures and court art, artistic and scientific exchanges between China and Europe, and the role of the Canton Customs in shaping cultural connections during the Qing dynasty.
Highlights include a Ming dynasty textile linked to the voyages of Zheng He, a rare jadeite ruyi sceptre, a geometric model reflecting the Kangxi Emperor’s interest in mathematics, and objects connected to the tea trade between China and Europe.
The exhibition also features multimedia installations, interactive displays and educational programmes, including guided tours, workshops and public talks.
Presented by HKPM and the Palace Museum, the exhibition is solely sponsored by The Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust.
For more information, visit Hong Kong Palace Museum.
