The "Rejoicing in Woods and Springs: A Journey through Garden Cultures in China and the Wider World" exhibition targets to run in Hong Kong in 2026

"Rejoicing in Woods and Springs: A Journey through Garden Cultures in China and the Wider World" is an important element of the Memorandum of Cooperation titled "Promotion of Chinese Culture and Arts Tech Talent Development in the Mainland and Hong Kong"

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From left: Wen Dayan, Director-General of Communication and Cooperation of the National Cultural Heritage Administration; Li Rusheng, President of the Chinese Society of Landscape Architecture; Lester Huang, Chairman of the Institute of Philanthropy and Trustee of The Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust; Gu Yucai, President of the Chinese Society of Cultural Relics; Dr Wang Xudong, Director of the Palace Museum; James Rondeau, President and Eloise W. Martin Director of the Art Institute of Chicago; Liu Shuguang, President of ICOM China; Elisabeth Maisonnier, Chief Curator of The Palaces of Versailles; and Du Haijiang, Deputy Director of the Palace Museum, officiate at the opening ceremony of the “Rejoicing in Woods and Springs: A Journey through Garden Cultures in China and the Wider World” exhibition. (Photo credit: The Palace Museum)

Published: 10:01am, 16 May 2025

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The Hong Kong Jockey Club and Palace Museum have signed a landmark Memorandum of Cooperation titled “Promotion of Chinese Culture and Arts Tech Talent Development in the Mainland and Hong Kong”. The five-year collaboration aligns with the Central Government’s vision as outlined in the National 14th Five-Year Plan, which aims to position Hong Kong as an East-meets-West hub for international cultural exchange.

The initiative also aims to nurture arts technology and cultural talent, laying a solid foundation for innovation and creativity in this sector.

Through architectural models, detailed reconstructions and digitally immersive historical recreations, the exhibition vividly demonstrates the design philosophy behind the Forbidden City’s imperial gardens. Visitors can also explore classical Chinese gardens through this exhibition, such as Suzhou’s Dinghui Temple Garden; and Qianlong Garden; as well as foreign gardens including Pompeian villa gardens in Italy, the Versailles’ garden in France and Edo-period Japanese Gardens. (Photo credit: The Palace Museum)

Key initiatives

The Memorandum outlines several key initiatives aimed at achieving its ambitious goals. Among them is the restoration of the historic Chengqiangong at the Palace Museum and the subsequent creation of The Palace Museum Hong Kong Cultural Exchange Hub. This hub will serve as a vibrant platform for cultural interaction, featuring the thematic exhibitions on the role of horses in history and palace culture, and exchanges between emerging arts tech talents from Hong Kong and the Mainland.

The partnership also includes touring exhibitions in Beijing and Hong Kong, alongside educational activities that foster cross-cultural understanding. To engage younger audiences, digital exhibitions and pop-up events will present innovative ways to connect with Chinese history and culture. Mobile digital exhibitions will further extend outreach to schools across Hong Kong and the Mainland, instilling an appreciation of shared heritage and values among students.

Capacity building is another focus, with efforts to nurture emerging arts tech talents in Hong Kong and the Mainland, cultivating a skilled and dynamic community in the field. Knowledge dissemination and educational initiatives, such as forums, archaeological research, and documentaries, will also broaden the global reach of Chinese culture.

The partnership presents a transformative model for cultural exchange and talent development. By blending traditional values with modern innovation, the Club and Palace Museum are paving the way for a future of interconnectedness and mutual appreciation.

Among the 200 more artifacts on display are ancient Chinese calligraphies and paintings, cultural relics and antique furniture from the imperial palace of the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911), as well as exotic masterpieces such as Western oil paintings, sculptures, Japanese ukiyo-e prints, and Persian miniatures. (Photo credit: The Palace Museum)

World-class garden culture exhibition

The recently opened "Rejoicing in Woods and Springs: A Journey through Garden Cultures in China and the Wider World" exhibition celebrates garden landscape and cultural artistry across regions and eras. Exclusively sponsored by IoP, organised by the Palace Museum in Beijing and held in collaboration with the Art Institute of Chicago, the exhibition is currently underway at the Tower Gallery and East and West Wing Galleries of the Meridian Gate in the Forbidden City. Running in Beijing until June 29, 2025, the exhibition will then plan to tour the Suzhou Museum and Ningbo Museum before culminating at the Hong Kong Museum of Art in 2026.

This world-class exhibition will offer Hong Kong audiences a rare opportunity to admire over 200 significant artefacts curated from China and various countries.

Monet’s Water Lilies is one of the garden-themed Western painting masterpieces on showcase. (Photo credit: The Palace Museum)

IoP chairman and trustee of The Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust, Lester Huang described the exhibition as a meaningful celebration of the Club’s 140th anniversary and the Palace Museum’s centenary. Highlighting the use of interactive digital technology, Huang noted the exhibition’s captivating insights into Chinese garden cultures. Looking ahead to its arrival in Hong Kong next year, he expressed hope that it would enhance public understanding of national history and culture, while supporting Hong Kong’s development as an East-meets-West hub for international cultural exchange.

The exhibition is part of the Palace Museum’s centenary celebrations and a highlight of the Club’s “With You. Then. Now. Always.” campaign, which commemorates its 140th anniversary. With support from prominent international institutions, including the Art Institute of Chicago, the Metropolitan Museum of Art and the Yale Center for British Art in the United States, as well as France’s Palace of Versailles, the exhibition also showcases artefacts from the National Museum of China and the Tianjin Museum.

Exploring six activities historically associated with the Imperial Garden of the Forbidden City – gatherings with friends, art appreciation, sightseeing, meditation, flower viewing and music-making – the exhibition delves into how human interactions have shaped garden landscapes across different geographies and eras. It contrasts traditional Chinese gardening philosophies with Western approaches, offering visitors a comparative perspective on these cultural traditions.

Alongside its physical displays, the exhibition incorporates digital content to make its horticultural treasures accessible to a global online audience at a later stage, further amplifying its reach and impact.

Established in September 2023 through a HK$6.8 billion strategic seed grant from the Club and its Charities Trust, IoP plays a pivotal role in advancing philanthropic thought leadership at local, regional, and international levels. As a leading “think-fund-do” tank for China and Asia, IoP provides a globally connected platform rooted in Eastern values to foster collaboration and promote societal betterment.

Recent key projects in the Memorandum:

1. Restoration and conservation of the historic Chengqiangong

Protecting Chengqiangong, one of the six eastern palaces of the Forbidden City, which holds significant architectural heritage value
Providing opportunities for knowledge exchange and internships during the preservation and restoration process
Drawing on Tai Kwun’s conservation management approach and revitalisation practices to carry out architectural preservation, environmental governance, and exhibition hall renovation
After the preservation and restoration of Chengqiangong, "The Palace Museum Hong Kong Cultural Exchange Hub" will be established to host exhibitions and educational activities, promoting the development of art, technology, and cultural education

2. “FLASH! The Palace Museum–A Pop-Up Digital Experience”

Held from 17 to 31 January 2025 at Tai Kwun
Powered by interactive multimedia technology, the exhibition vividly introduced the architecture and artefacts of the former palace

3. “Rejoicing in Woods and Springs: A Journey through Garden Cultures in China and the Wider World”

Held from 1 April to 29 June 2025 at Palace Museum in Beijing, after which it plans to tour Suzhou Museum and Ningbo Museum
The Hong Kong Museum of Art will host the exhibition in 2026
Over 200 Chinese and international artefacts are on display at the exhibition, which incorporates interactive digital technology to present fascinating garden cultures in China and the world.

4. "The Ways in Patterns: An Immersive Digital Exhibition from the Palace Museum”

Held from 14 May to 13 October 2025.
The thematic exhibition showcases traditional patterns from the Palace Museum through cutting-edge digital technology.