Heritage

Written by Grace Pow
It was noon when Helen and I arrived at Hong Kong Palace Museum. Standing in the wide, open space in front of the Chinese-Western style architecture, we had forgotten about the scorching sun. The exterior colours, mainly dark brown and scarlet, give the 7-storey edifice a simple but grand look. We were deeply touched.
 
Though it was a working day, there were a lot of visitors. Fortunately, we did not have to queue up for a long time. Once we were inside, the high ceiling and moderate light made us feel cooler. The 9 galleries are located on four floors, each has a different theme.
 
Situated on the ground floor, the 1^st gallery features mainly the treasures and culture of the Forbidden City in Beijing. The most impressive exhibits must be the glittering Emperor’s robe, finely carved Emperor’s chair, multifarious imperial jade seals, exquisite tea sets as well as the phoenix crown hat and accessories of the Empress. The use of multi-media has brought all the palaces to life on a big screen.  There are also Chinese and English subtitles to explain their functions.
 
When we arrived at the entrance of the 2^nd gallery, its theme, From Dawn to Dusk: Life in the Forbidden City, on the illuminated display board attracted our attention. The crowd in the gallery were busy taking photos of the wide range of exhibits. Helen and I were so engaged in reading the brief descriptions about the daily life of the emperors and their difficulties in ruling the country. We have also learnt about the relationships between the emperors and the ministers, the court theatre and a lot more. There was also a video broadcast showing how an emperor put on his dragon robe and accessories. Exhibits also included Qianlong Emperor’s birthday gifts for Empress Dowager Chongqing, such as his handwritten Buddhist scriptures.
 
After spending 1.5 hours on the first two galleries, we felt quite tired. Suddenly, we saw some unique chairs in the atrium. Without a second thought, we sat down immediately.  After 15 minutes, Helen and I went to the 2^nd floor. Though the three galleries are smaller, they have a rich array of exhibits. Take the ceramics artefacts as an example. There are different pots, jars and plates. I was enchanted by a 12-dish chrysanthemum set, each with a different colour. After a short while, a headrest in the shape of a sleeping boy stole my heart. Other exhibits included a wide selection of vases, brush containers, bowls, cups and the famous blue-and-white porcelains from the Yuan dynasty.
 
Once we entered the 4^th gallery, we were fascinated by the portraits of the emperors and empresses. There was a large photo of a colourful dragon robe with detailed description about its symbolic features. Some visitors made use of advanced technology to take photos in designated booths. Without getting changed, they saw themselves in traditional costumes. Outside the gallery, several visitors were also taking photos at the viewing deck while a few were enjoying the panoramic view of the West Kowloon Cultural District and Victoria Harbour. Stretching to the boundless sea, the blue sky had created a breathtaking view.

The 6th and 7th galleries focus on the history of Chinese art collections in Hong Kong and the artworks of six local interdisciplinary artists. The exhibits are also very unique. Three hours passed very quickly. The excursion to the Hong Kong Palace Museum has given us a precious opportunity to understand more about the Chinese history and culture. It was indeed a profound experience. I look forward to coming back again to visit the special exhibitions.