The Hong Kong Palace Museum (HKPM) and the Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) jointly organised the Stories of China Lecture on “Dunhuang and the Palace Museum: The Fruits of Exchange and Mutual Learning among Cultures” at the Jockey Club Auditorium, PolyU on 11 December. Dr Wang Xudong, Director of the Palace Museum, was invited to speak at the lecture and shed light on the protection and inheritance of Dunhuang and the Forbidden City. Approximately 600 guests, PolyU staff, students, alumni and members of the public joined the event to gain a deeper understanding of Chinese culture.
The lecture was attended by Ms Winnie Tam Wan-chi, Chairman of the HKPM Board; Prof Lee Chack-fan, Vice Chairman of the HKPM Board; Dr Louis Ng, Museum Director of the HKPM; Dr Lam Tai-fai, Council Chairman of PolyU; and Prof Jin-Guang Teng, President of PolyU. Joined by Prof Han Xiaorong, Head of the Department of Chinese History and Culture, PolyU as a moderator, Dr Wang also engaged in discussion with two PolyU postgraduate students on the continuity and dissemination of Chinese culture.
In his lecture, Dr Wang discussed the formation, development and preservation of Dunhuang and the Palace Museum, and inspired the audience to embrace their cultural heritage with confidence. By fostering a more open-minded and inclusive appreciation of the outstanding achievements of human civilisation, it is hoped to cultivate a nation with strong cultural influence, safeguard humanity’s precious cultural heritage and strive towards building a community with a shared future for mankind.
Dr Wang served consecutively as the Deputy Director, Executive Deputy Director and Director of the Dunhuang Academy. He is now a Party Member of the Ministry of Culture and Tourism and Director of the Palace Museum. Dr Wang’s work focuses primarily on the conservation of caves, ancient mural paintings and earthen sites, as well as research into monitoring and early warning systems and preventive conservation of cultural heritage. He has presided over sixty conservation projects at nationally protected key cultural heritage sites, published more than thirty academic papers and six monographs as primary author, and has been granted numerous titles and awards.
Remarks
About the Hong Kong Palace Museum
The Hong Kong Palace Museum aspires to become a leading institution in the study and appreciation of Chinese art and culture while advancing dialogue among world civilisations. The Hong Kong Palace Museum is a collaborative project between the West Kowloon Cultural District Authority and the Palace Museum and is funded by The Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust with a donation of HK$3.5 billion for its establishment, as well as some of the annual exhibitions and educational programmes in 2023–2031.
Embracing new curatorial approaches, the Museum combines a Hong Kong perspective with a global vision to present precious artefacts from the Palace Museum and other important cultural institutions around the world. Through research, exhibitions, and educational and professional exchange programmes, the Museum aims to build international partnerships and position Hong Kong as a global hub for art and culture. At heart a resource that belongs to the local community, the Museum strives to inspire community engagement, foster dialogue, and promote creativity and interdisciplinary collaboration.
About the West Kowloon Cultural District
The West Kowloon Cultural District is one of the largest and most ambitious cultural projects in the world. Its vision is to create a vibrant new cultural quarter for Hong Kong on 40 hectares of reclaimed land located alongside Victoria Harbour. With a varied mix of theatres, performance spaces, and museums, the West Kowloon Cultural District will produce and host world-class exhibitions, performances, and cultural events, providing 23 hectares of public open space, including a two-kilometre waterfront promenade.
https://www.westkowloon.hk/
About The Hong Kong Polytechnic University
The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) aspires to be an innovative world-class university with a strong sense of social responsibility, driven by its motto, “To learn and to apply, for the benefit of mankind”. The University provides the best holistic education to nurture socially responsible “leaders of tomorrow” who possess a strong sense of national identity and a global perspective, and pursues impactful innovation and interdisciplinary research to address the world’s most pressing challenges. A robust culture of knowledge transfer and entrepreneurship is a cornerstone of the University, ensuring PolyU’s technologies are transformed into practical real-world applications. The University's unwavering commitment to excellence has earned it international recognition, with PolyU consistently ranking among the top 100 universities worldwide. Based on this solid foundation, the University will continue to make positive contributions in collaboration with its strategic partners for the betterment of Hong Kong, the Nation, and the world.
https://www.polyu.edu.hk/
