Qing emperor's secret garden exhibition to open in HK

Hong Kong (CNS) -- The exhibition 'Secret Garden of Emperor Qianlong' at the Hong Kong Museum of Art (HKMA) will be open to visitors in late June, a collaboration between the Leisure and Cultural Services Department of the SAR government and the Beijing Palace Museum.

The secret garden lies in the northeast corner of the Forbidden City, a delicately designed recreational resort of Qing (1644–1911) Emperor Qianlong's which has never before been opened to the public.

The HKMA is the first Asian museum to host an exhibition of about 77 sets of the 95 restored national treasures preserved in the untouched garden. The items include calligraphy works, paintings, furniture, wallpapers, architectural features, and Buddhist artworks, altogether reflecting Qianlong's pursuit of seclusion, longevity and religious inspiration.

The exhibition will last from June 22 to October 14, expected to enrich the celebration of the 15th anniversary of Hong Kong's return to the motherland.