China reopens part of the Palace Museum inside the Forbidden City in Beijing
An important part of China’s Palace Museum, located within Beijing’s Forbidden City, reopened to the public on December 26, 2025 after nearly a decade of meticulous conservation and restoration.
The Hall of Mental Cultivation, first built in 1537 during the Ming Dynasty, later became the residence and administrative center for several Qing Dynasty emperors, who used the space to conduct daily state affairs. Over the past ten years, the historic hall and its collections have undergone an extensive, research-driven preservation effort aimed at maintaining their original character.
The reopened hall now displays 1,020 artifacts, according to Wen Ming, deputy director of the Palace Museum’s palace history department in an interview with China official news agency Xinhua. With the exception of light-sensitive objects such as silk textiles, calligraphy, paintings, and inscribed plaques and couplets, all items on view are original relics.
Much of the hall’s historical importance centers on the Western Warmth Chamber, where Qing emperors met officials and reviewed imperial reports. Equally compelling for visitors is a small adjoining study known as the Hall of Three Rarities, once home to three renowned calligraphy scrolls dating back about 1,600 years.
Digital exhibition to complement Palace Museum’s visit
Museum officials say the current exhibition closely follows the hall’s documented historical layout. Visitors can see Emperor Yongzheng’s calligraphy on a plaque above the central throne, restored couplets in a western room, and a recreation of the Hall of Three Rarities based on records from more than two centuries ago.
The conservation project, launched in 2015, prioritized thorough research before any physical intervention, setting a benchmark for future restoration work at the Palace Museum. “We adhere to the principles of preserving the original state and minimizing intervention,” said Zhao Peng, head of the museum’s ancient architecture department to Xinhua.
Most of the hall’s painted decorations were preserved, with only limited reinforcement and careful retouching where damage was severe.
Alongside the reopening, the museum will launch a digital exhibition allowing visitors to virtually experience traditional court ceremonies and observe how an emperor once wrote prayers for peace.
(Source: Xinhua)
Related News Stories: North Korea reopens for tour groups Cambodia-Thailand cease fire does not reopen land borders to ... Cambodia Tourism Chief on fresh promotion plans after Thailand ... What's new in Washington DC North Korea to open beach resort Laos hostel behind poisoning set to reopen Indonesia to pull the plug on Kertajati airport near Bandung What's New in Fort Myers Palawan private island resort unveils transformation Air travel to Thailand banned for Cambodians amid tensions
newadmin
Vegas’s Billion-Dollar Secrets – What They Don’t Want Tourists to Know
Visit Florida’s New CEO Bryan Griffin Shares His Vision for State Tourism with Graham
Chicago’s Tourism Renaissance: Graham Interviews Kristin Reynolds of Choose Chicago
Graham Talks with Cassandra McCauley of MMGY NextFactor About the Latest Industry Research
Destination International’s Andreas Weissenborn: Research, Advocacy, and Destination Impact
Graham and Don Welsh Discuss the Success of Destinations International’s Annual Conference
Graham and CEO Andre Kiwitz on Ventura Travel’s UK Move and Recruitment for the Role
Brett Laiken and Graham Discuss Florida’s Tourism Momentum and Global Appeal
Graham and Elliot Ferguson on Positioning DC as a Cultural and Inclusive Global Destination
Graham Talks to Fraser Last About His England-to-Ireland Trek for Mental Health Awareness
Kathy Nelson Tells Graham About the Honour of Hosting the World Cup and Kansas City’s Future
Graham McKenzie on Sir Richie Richardson’s Dual Passion for Golf and His Homeland, Antigua
ADS PRO 
TAP Air Portugal to operate 29 flights due to strike on December 11
Qatar Airways offers flexible payment options for European travellers
Airlines suspend Madagascar services following unrest and army revolt
Digital Travel Reporter of the Mirror totally seduced by HotelPlanner AI Travel Agent
Strike action set to cause travel chaos at Brussels airports