11 July 2026 - The Forbidden City and the World - Guided Tour with Dr Nicole Chiang
Date: Saturday, 11 July 2026 Registration: 10:45 – 11:00am Guided viewing: 11:00am – 12:00pm Place: Gallery 1, Hong Kong Palace Museum
Members*: $250 Non-members*: $300 Please register here
The Oriental Ceramic Society is delighted to announce an exclusive guided viewing of the newly opened exhibition “The Forbidden City and the World: Cultural Encounters” at the Hong Kong Palace Museum, with curator Dr Nicole Chiang. Over the millennia, Chinese civilisation has been shaped by a long tradition of cultural openness and dynamism. The Ming (1368–1644) and Qing (1644–1911) dynasties inherited these traditions both in their systems of governance and moral lineages. Through diplomacy and trade, the Forbidden City not only served as the centre of political power but also provided a platform for interactions between China and the wider world. Its architecture, artefacts, and stories carry the imprint of more than five centuries of cross-cultural encounters, exchanges that inspired creativity and transformed civilizations around the world. The exhibition showcases over 130 precious artefacts, including 18 grade-one national treasures, from the Yuan, Ming and Qing dynasties.
Dr Nicole Chiang is a Curator at the Hong Kong Palace Museum and the author of Emperor Qianlong’s Hidden Treasure: Reconsidering the Collection of the Qing Imperial Household. She began her career at the National Palace Museum in Taipei and subsequently served at the Fitzwilliam Museum in Cambridge and the Museum of East Asian Art in Bath. She has contributed to two British Museum exhibitions and taught at The School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London (SOAS) where she received her PhD. Her research interests include Qing imperial art and the history and theories of collecting. Please note that all visitors will receive individual ticket for entry to the exhibition. Pre-registration is required. Drop-ins will not be entertained. * The prices include entry ticket to the museum and ticketholders can visit other exhibitions at Gallery 1-7 after the tour. ** Please note that guided tour reservation will be closed on 8 July 2026 at 23:59.
*** A table of 12 will be reserved at cost-split basis. Please kindly email us ahead to reserve a seat for lunch.
Image courtesy of Hong Kong Palace Museum
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