Stories of High-Quality Development | Century-old Palace Museum's 'secret to vitality'

Narrator: Zhu Hongwen, Deputy Director of the Palace Museum

Ancient painting and calligraphy masterpieces displayed at the "A Century of Stewardship: From the Forbidden City to the Palace Museum" exhibition have drawn visitors from across the nation and beyond. The works include "Along the River During the Qingming Festival," "Five Oxen," and "Letter to Boyuan." Many, particularly annual pass holders, have returned repeatedly, expressing their genuine delight in this cultural feast.

Consisting of three chapters, the exhibition portrays the Palace Museum's magnificent century-long journey. Born from the powerful currents of modern China's social transformation and advancing in step with the nation's journey toward rejuvenation, the Palace Museum not only safeguards a profound historical legacy but also radiates a distinct contemporary brilliance. Its vitality endures, and its brilliance ascends.

We have always prioritized preservation. Over the past century, and particularly since the founding of the People’s Republic of China, under the strong guidance of the Party and government and with the support of all sectors of society, generations of Palace Museum professionals have devoted themselves to protecting the ancient architecture and priceless collections. They have worked with reverence, passion and unwavering dedication. Their work has ensured that this 600-year-old Forbidden City continues to embody solemnity and grandeur.

Public accessibility remains a key part of a museum. While safeguarding the Forbidden City and its cultural relics, we have continuously expanded public spaces and refined exhibitions — enabling visitors to see more and enjoy a richer intellectual and cultural experience. With the groundbreaking of the Palace Museum's northern branch at the end of 2022, future facilities will significantly enhance both conservation capabilities and exhibition conditions, better meeting the public's diverse needs for cultural appreciation and shared heritage.

Upholding heritage while embracing innovation, the Palace Museum sustains an unending vitality. The Palace Museum and its collections embody the continuity of Chinese civilization spanning over 5,000 years, serving as a vital vessel for the nation's fine traditional culture. Whether through deep integration of culture and technology or diverse cross-sector collaborations, we remain committed to innovating through inheritance and developing through innovation. The "Digital Heritage Repository" provides free public access to high-definition images of more than 150,000 cultural relics. The "Panoramic Palace Museum" enables virtual tours of the Forbidden City across all seasons from anywhere. Cultural works such as "Masters in Forbidden City," "Poetic Dance: The Journey of a Legendary Landscape Painting," and "The Cat God in the Palace Museum" have made the majestic imperial palace relatable, tangible and vibrantly alive.

Once the imperial Forbidden City, today the Palace Museum. Having weathered a century of change, it stands at a new historical starting point. We will continue to uphold faithful guardianship and masterful transmission, accelerating the development of a "safe, academic, digital and dynamic Palace Museum." This commitment drives the creative transformation and innovative development of fine traditional culture, translating its profound cultural heritage into an enduring engine for high-quality economic and social progress.