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From silk murals to jade inlays: Forbidden City’s Qianlong Garden reopens after 25-year conservation project

The Qianlong Garden in Beijing's Palace Museum (Forbidden City) has reopened to the public after a 25-year, $20 million conservation project in partnership with the World Monuments Fund (WMF). The 1.6-hectare garden, built between 1771 and 1776, features 27 buildings with elaborate decorations including rare silk trompe l'oeil murals, jade inlays, and bamboo thread marquetry. The restoration began with the Juanqinzhai pavilion in 2002 and was completed in 2008, followed by work on three other structures. The project also involved recreating traditional materials and techniques that had fallen out of practice.

museum exhibitions schedule Oct 13, 2025 visibility 2 link 1 artist, 1 gallery

From silk murals to jade inlays: Forbidden City’s Qianlong Garden reopens after 25-year conservation project

The Qianlong Garden in Beijing's Palace Museum (Forbidden City) has reopened to the public after a 25-year, $20 million conservation project in partnership with the World Monuments Fund (WMF). The 1.6-hectare garden, built between 1771 and 1776, features 27 buildings with elaborate decorations including rare silk trompe l'oeil murals, jade inlays, and bamboo thread marquetry. Restoration began in 2002 with the Juanqinzhai pavilion and was completed in 2008, followed by work on structures such as Fuwangge, Zhuxiangguan, and Yucuixuan. The project also includes an exhibition on the garden's history and a larger show at the Meridian Gate Gallery marking 100 years since the Forbidden City opened to the public.

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