The Hong Kong Palace Museum and the Palace Museum are pleased to jointly present the latest thematic exhibition, “Design for the Forbidden City: Imperial Workshops of the Qing Court” (“Design for the Forbidden City”), on view in Gallery 5 of the HKPM from 30 September 2026.

Featuring 157 treasures from the Palace Museum collection, including 14 grade-one national treasures, the exhibition celebrates the artistic ingenuity and supreme craftsmanship of the Qing dynasty (1644–1911). Through the lens of contemporary design, the exhibition offers rare and insightful perspectives on the operation and aesthetic codes of the Qing Imperial Workshops. Seamlessly bridging past and present, the exhibition embodies the Museum’s core vision of bringing history and cultural heritage vividly to life. By inviting Hong Kong designers and other creative talents to participate in the exhibition design, the exhibition presents court aesthetics from a fresh perspective and opens up a dialogue between Qing and contemporary life and design.

“Design for the Forbidden City” marks the first major exhibition to explore the history, organisational structure, use of materials, and production processes—as well as the artistic ingenuity and achievements—of the Imperial Workshops. The Imperial Workshops were entrusted with the vital task of supplying and maintaining the many objects used by and displayed for the emperors during the Qing dynasty. Within dozens of specialised workshops, skilled craftsmen from across China used the finest materials to produce everything from daily items to breathtaking masterpieces. The wide array of objects they created exemplifies the height of Qing court aesthetics and craftsmanship and forms a significant part of the Palace Museum’s vast collection today.