The Antiquarium of The Palace Museum

Welcome to the Antiquarium, better known to many visitors as the Treasure Gallery or Zhenbaoguan. Located in the northeastern section of the Forbidden City, within the Ningshou Gong (Palace of Tranquil Longevity) complex, this…

Before you even enter the main galleries, you are confronted by one of the most iconic structures in the Forbidden City: the Nine Dragon Screen. Built in 1772, this massive wall is over 29 meters long and is made of 270 glazed…

As we enter the first major gallery, the sheer quantity of gold and silver on display is staggering. Here you will find ceremonial vessels, incense burners, and tableware used during the great state banquets. …

Moving into the jewelry section, we find the personal ornaments of the empresses and consorts. This is perhaps the most dazzling part of the Antiquarium. …

Jade has always held a special place in Chinese culture, often valued more highly than gold. In the Antiquarium’s Jade Gallery, you can see why. …

We now enter the Leshoutang, or the Hall of Joyful Longevity, which was the main living area of the Qianlong Emperor’s retirement complex. The architecture here is a blend of the formal palace style and the more relaxed garden…

A unique highlight of the Antiquarium area is the collection of imperial clocks. During the 18th and 19th centuries, the Chinese emperors became fascinated by European mechanical clocks, which were brought as gifts by Jesuit…

Our tour of the Antiquarium concludes here. We have seen the most intimate and spectacular expressions of imperial wealth, from the massive glazed dragons of the spirit screen to the microscopic details of a kingfisher-feather…