The Centenary Exhibition of the Palace Museum: A Cultural Feast Not to Be Missed
The Palace Museum's Centennial Exhibition is Coming: A Cultural Feast You Can't Miss
When I saw this preview, I was crammed into the subway like a sardine. As soon as I looked at my phone, the title read, "Miss this once-in-a-century exhibition, and you'll have to wait until 2125 for the next one!" I almost lost my balance—2125? My grandson's grandson might not even get to see it! I immediately sent a screenshot to my besties' chat, and three seconds later, the chat exploded: "Get tickets!" "Take a day off!" "Book a hotel!"
Centennial Exhibition Preview: From the Forbidden City to the Palace Museum
The tentative name of this exhibition is "A Century of Guardianship: From the Forbidden City to the Palace Museum," and you can tell it's not just going to be some usual setup of "display a few artifacts and slap on a couple of descriptions." I attended the 90th-anniversary exhibition in 2015 and waited three hours in line at the Meridian Gate. The first thing I saw was the real "Along the River During the Qingming Festival," and I got chills—it was a shock that no photo could capture. For this 100th anniversary, the Palace Museum's already saying it will be "even more spectacular," and just scrolling through the expected list kept me up all night.
Exhibition Time and Place: Locking in Meridian Gate
Dates: From September 29 to December 31, 2025, a full three months, but don’t think that gives you breathing room—tickets for the last two weeks of the 90th-anniversary exhibition were resold for three times the original price. The venue is at the Meridian Gate Exhibition Hall, including the main hall, East Wing, and West Wing. The last time I went, the air conditioning in the West Wing was freezing, so remember to bring a jacket.
A Look Back at the 90th Anniversary Exhibition: My Mistakes
During the 2015 visit, I dashed to Meridian Gate at six in the morning, but the line had already wrapped around three times. The guy in front of me had brought a folding stool, a power bank, and three packs of spicy snacks, while I went empty-handed and almost passed out. Once inside, I rushed to see "A Thousand Li of Rivers and Mountains," but it was packed, and even with my phone held high, I couldn’t get a good shot of it. This time, I've learned my lesson: Go on a weekday! The museum's closed on Tuesdays, so head over on Wednesday morning. Half the crowd!
Artifact Protection and Heritage: Understanding the Exhibition's Hidden Line
This exhibition won’t just showcase artifacts; it will also tell the story of how the Palace Museum transformed from "the emperor's courtyard" into "the people's museum." Last time, I saw an old photo showing the first batch of Palace Museum employees fixing tiles in the snow after 1949, their hands turning bright red from the cold. After seeing that, walking out and looking at the red walls and yellow tiles felt completely different—I suggest exploring the exhibition first, then the rest of the museum; it will be a more coherent experience.
Predicted Treasures on Display: My Must-See List
Based on patterns from past exhibitions, the following 9 artifacts are highly likely to be shown, listed in my personal order of preference:
| Artifact Name | Dynasty | Reason to See | Last Displayed |
|---|---|---|---|
| "A Thousand Li of Rivers and Mountains" | Northern Song | Top-notch landscape painting | 2017 |
| "Along the River During the Qingming Festival" | Northern Song | The city's version of "Qingming, decoded" | 2015 |
| "Five Oxen" | Tang | Five bulls with five personalities | 2021 |
| "Mid-Autumn Scroll" | Jin (attributed) | Wang Xizhi's family "Mid-Autumn copy" | 2019 |
| "Letter from Boyuan" | Jin | The earliest surviving celebrity letter | 2019 |
| "Screen with Chess Players" | Five Dynasties | Ancient "in-painting" nesting doll | 2015 |
| "The Goddess of the Luo River" | Jin-Song copy | Literary illustration of Cao Zhi's unexpressed love | 2020 |
| "Night Banquet of Han Xizai" | Five Dynasties-Song copy | Ancient "CCTV footage" | 2015 |
| "Calm and Ease" | Jin | Lu Ji's "emo" social media post | 2011 |
Key Point: Scroll and painting artifacts will never be displayed for more than two months. For instance, "A Thousand Li of Rivers and Mountains" was only displayed for 42 days last time. If it debuts at the end of September, it might be gone by early November, so the sooner you go, the better!
Exhibition Layout: How to Navigate the Three Halls of Meridian Gate
The Meridian Gate Exhibition Hall is split into three sections: the main hall, East Wing, and West Wing. Last time, I wandered aimlessly and ended up seeing "Five Oxen" three times before I finally found "Along the River During the Qingming Festival." This time, my plan is:
- Head to the West Wing first: Usually where the heavy-hitting artworks are, and it's less crowded.
- Go to the main hall around noon: The lighting is best for photos.
- Hide out in the East Wing in the afternoon: It has air conditioning and interactive installations you can touch (fake ones).
Updates and Follow-Ups: My Strategy for Observation
The Palace Museum's official website updates faster than Weibo. They refresh ticket sales every Wednesday at 10 AM, so I’ve set three alarms. Plus, follow the "Micro Palace Museum" WeChat account—last time, they announced "Five Oxen" three days in advance, and that's how I snagged a ticket for Monday.
My Practical Strategy
Ticket Grab Calendar (using 2025 as an example):
| Time Point | Action Points |
|---|---|
| August 15 | Official booking opens, set 5 alarms |
| Every Wednesday at 10 AM | Refresh for next week's tickets, be quick to buy and back out |
| September 25 | Officially publish the final artifact list |
| October 8 | First wave of people leaks "less crowded times" |
Equipment List:
- Folding stool (can bring on the subway, great for sitting in Meridian Gate Square)
- Power bank (the rental point in the museum always has a line)
- Jacket (the West Wing’s AC will freeze you)
- Empty water bottle (there's drinkable water in the Meridian Gate Exhibition Hall)
Route Tip: After you finish the exhibition, don’t rush off; turn left when you exit Meridian Gate and walk along the city wall to the corner towers. Last time, I took a photo there with no one in the shot, which I used as my phone wallpaper for three years.
Recommended in the Same City
