Palace Museum culture comes to Hengqin New Area

Zijin Academy opened a branch on May 24 at Xiangzhou Port Culture Block of Hengqin New Area, promoting the world's largest ancient palatial complex in central Beijing -- the Forbidden City.

The academy will display publications of the Palace Museum along with cultural and creative products. It will also hold art exhibitions and organize highly interactive lectures.

The Forbidden City (Zijin Cheng), also known as Gùgōng and the Palace Museum, is the largest and best-preserved collection of ancient buildings in China. For about five hundred years, during the Ming and Qing Dynasties (1368-1911), emperors and their families had lived in the palace's wooden buildings.

Opening ceremony

Zijin Academy is an art space designated by the Palace Museum to spread broader awareness of traditional Chinese culture. Other academy branches are found in Suzhou, Xi'an, and Shanghai.

According to a spokesperson, the academy found that it could fit snugly into the 93,803-sq-m (23-acre) Xiangzhou Port Culture Block located in the middle of Hengqin Island. The large theme cultural tourist project featuring Chinese traditional folk arts and crafts has 136 Siheyuan (quadrangle courtyards) integrating various classic architectural styles in a mood of serenity and elegance.

Shan Jixiang, curator of the Palace Museum, lectured on opening day about the history and development of the world's fifth museum.

Looking down on Xiangzhou Port Culture Block

Inside look

Collection of artwork [Photos courtesy nanfangplus]