Hong Kong Palace Museum | Hong Kong Palace Museum Celebrates Fourth Anniversary with Limited-Edition Commemorative Ticket on 3 July

The museum experience is enriched by new Palace Museum treasures displayed across five galleries, alongside the new launched blind boxes inspired by Emperor Qianlong’s favourite steeds.

Located in the West Kowloon Cultural District (WestK), the Hong Kong Palace Museum (HKPM or the Museum) celebrates its fourth anniversary this year with two new initiatives: a limited-edition commemorative ticket designed by a local designer and the launch of the “Humans of HKPM” photography project. These campaigns demonstrate the Museum’s efforts to connect cultural heritage with contemporary living.

Revitalising traditional culture with a Hong Kong graphic designer

To celebrate its fourth anniversary, the HKPM will distribute a limited-edition commemorative ticket to all valid ticket holders, including HKPM Patrons and “HKPM Friends”, on 3 July 2026. Designed by local Hong Kong graphic designer Sunny Wong and his team, the commemorative tickets draw inspiration from auspicious bird and animal motifs found on traditional Chinese silks. This compact keepsake adorned with historic patterns extends the lineage of Chinese culture, serving as both a heartfelt blessing and a unique collectible. Tickets are limited and available while stocks last.

This collaboration also reflects the Museum’s connection with the local creative community, demonstrating that history thrives as a living source of inspiration for today’s creators.

“Humans of HKPM”: Celebrating the team who brings history to life

Since opening on 3 July 2022, the HKPM has achieved remarkable milestones, made possible with the dedication and support of its staff, docents, and volunteers. Launched to mark this anniversary, the “Humans of HKPM” photography project turns the spotlight on these incredible individuals behind the scenes.

Through stylish, contemporary visual storytelling, this project captures the youthful, professional, and dynamic energy of the HKPM team. Through their everyday work, these “Humans of HKPM” embody the connection between heritage and contemporary living, illustrating that the HKPM is not only a museum showcasing treasured artefacts, but a vibrant cultural platform where history meets the present. These stories will be rolled out progressively across the Museum’s social media platforms, documenting a human-centric cultural journey leading to its fifth anniversary.

Second rotation of “Heavenly Horses” spotlights new paintings

The HKPM has been working closely with the Palace Museum to present the history and culture of the Forbidden City through its five thematic galleries. A phased refresh for the five galleries is currently underway, with new displays debuting sequentially throughout this year. Among them, “Heavenly Horses: Masterpieces from the Palace Museum” (“Heavenly Horses”, Gallery 4), which opened in March this year, is Hong Kong’s first large-scale exhibition dedicated to Chinese classical horse paintings across dynasties. “Heavenly Horses” has entered its second rotation, featuring 24 new exhibits since mid-June. Highlights include:

• The Superb Steed “Jinyun”: This scroll depicts the 74-year-old Qianlong Emperor (r. 1736–1795) killing two deer with a single arrow at a royal hunting expedition. “Shooting two deer with a single arrow” was regarded as an auspicious omen at the time, as deer symbolise longevity, wealth, and other blessings of good fortune. In this painting, the horse was rendered by the French missionary Louis Antoine de Poirot (1735–1813), while the emperor and the background were painted by Chinese artists. The horse is named Superb Steed “Jinyun”.
• Gazing at Wild Geese from a Frosty Cliff: This work by Ren Yi (courtesy name Bonian, 1840–1896) is a grade-one national treasure. It depicts a lone scholar astride a fine horse before a cliff. The scholar looks up at wild geese in the distant sky. During the late Qing period in the 19th century, a group of artists settled in the Shanghai area, where they drew inspiration from European and Japanese painting styles and experimented with elements of folk art. This group of artists came to be known as the “Shanghai School”, with Ren Yi as one of the leading figures. Their works appealed to both refined and popular tastes.
• Travelling in Snowy Mountains: In this work from the Ming dynasty (1368–1644), painter Wen Boren (1502–1575), by situating the figures and the horses amidst the bleak, snow-covered mountains, creates a visual atmosphere that is both ethereal and profoundly serene. In the majestic peaks that ascend to the scroll’s upper edge, the influence of the “monumental landscape” painting style of the Northern Song (960–1127) is evident. The compact, forceful strokes that define the branches, together with the spaces deliberately left blank to represent snow, recall the wintry forests and snowy landscapes so quintessential in Song-dynasty pictorial language.

“Heavenly Horses” is jointly organised by the HKPM and the Palace Museum, exclusively sponsored by the Institute of Philanthropy (IoP) and is one of the highlights in The Hong Kong Jockey Club’s Year of the Horse campaign. The exhibition is divided into four rotations, each lasting approximately three months. The second rotation runs from 17 June to 14 September.

New blind box series: Qianlong Emperor’s beloved horses reimagined as everyday accessories and collectibles

Besides, the HKPM has launched a new cultural product—a blind box series of Horse Plush Bag Charms^# (HK$128 each). The designs are inspired by four of the Qianlong Emperor’s most beloved steeds, which he personally named: “Chihuaying”, “Jade Lion”, “Ruyicong”, and “Hongyuzuo”. The Italian missionary Giuseppe Castiglione (1688–1766), who served in the Chinese court, captured the horses’ distinctive features in paintings, immortalising their majestic forms through his brushwork. Infused with contemporary creativity, the Museum reimagines these legendary horses as wearable, stylish plush charms. Available exclusively at ‘ART EXPRESS by Commercial Press’, this blind box collection invites visitors to integrate art into daily life and carry forward the enduring bond between humans and horses.

Refreshed thematic exhibitions co-organised with the Palace Museum showcasing traditional Chinese art and culture

Opened in early June, “The Hong Kong Jockey Club Series: The Forbidden City and the World—Cultural Encounters” (“The Forbidden City and the World”, Gallery 1) is another exhibition co-organised by the HKPM and the Palace Museum. Serving as the HKPM’s introductory gallery featuring the Palace Museum’s collection, this exhibition presents the Forbidden City as a vital platform for dialogue between China, other parts of Asia, and Europe, and weaves a rich tapestry of interactions in diplomacy, trade, science and technology, philosophy, and craftsmanship. Some exhibits are on display for only three months, until 7 September, including a grade-one national treasure—a mounting fabric with patterns of cranes, deer, and persimmon pedicels, in which the colour patterns were woven —as well as a folio from the Album of Beasts labelled as a bandi gou, which denotes the kind of beaver (Castor fiber) now found in the Brenta River region in Italy. “The Forbidden City and the World” is jointly organised by the HKPM and the Palace Museum, and solely sponsored by The Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust.

Moreover, “Brilliance: Ming Dynasty Ceramic Treasures from the Palace Museum, 1368–1644” (Gallery 3), which highlights the crowning artistic achievements of the Ming dynasty, will re-open to the public on 1 July. The exhibition explores the development and the outstanding achievements of ceramic production in the early, mid-, and late Ming dynasty. Highlights include a bowl with mandarin ducks on a lotus pond and a Chenghua reign mark, and a dish with floral sprays and fruits.

Following the summer season, the Museum will unveil two additional thematic exhibitions co-organised with the Palace Museum to complete this year’s lineup. In September, a new exhibition in Gallery 5 will spotlight the imperial workshops of the Qing dynasty (1644–1911) that specialised in the production and repair of objects and furnishings for the court. In November, another new exhibition in Gallery 2 will centre on the theme four seasons, inviting visitors to explore the rhythms of court life across spring, summer, autumn, and winter. The HKPM will continue to bring history to life and foster cultural exchange among world civilisations through its diverse and captivating exhibition lineup.

Tickets are now available for sale or reservation through the West Kowloon Cultural District’s online ticketing platforms and ticketing partners, as well as the WestK Ticketing WeChat mini programme. General Admission Tickets provide access to the thematic exhibitions (Galleries 1 to 7) at HK$70, with concession^## at HK$35. For details on different ticket types, please refer to the HKPM website.

^# Each blind box contains one randomly selected plush bag charm. Please note that exchanges or requests for specific items cannot be accommodated.
^## Concessions are available to children aged 7 to 11, full-time students, seniors aged 60 and above, persons with disabilities (with one companion), and CSSA recipients. Free entry for children aged 6 and under.

The Hong Kong Palace Museum’s Exhibitions Schedule from June to August 2026*

The Museum has nine galleries. Five (Galleries 1-5) host thematic exhibitions, which introduce aspects of the fascinating history and culture of the Palace Museum through exceptional works from its collection. Two other galleries feature art collections from Hong Kong (Gallery 6) and multimedia projects (Gallery 7). The final two galleries (Galleries 8 and 9) are devoted to special exhibitions organised by the Museum or presented in partnership with other institutions. The museum also utilises the Museum Plaza to host free outdoor public art exhibitions, bringing art into the public realm and enhancing the visitor experience.
* Note: the names, content and duration of the exhibitions are subject to change.

Remarks

About the Hong Kong Palace Museum
Through innovative curatorial approaches, the Hong Kong Palace Museum presents priceless treasures from the Palace Museum along with the finest collections from other world-renowned institutions. The Museum is also in the process of building its own world-class collection. Opened in 2022, the Museum is a leading institution for the study and appreciation of Chinese art and culture and the promotion of dialogue among world civilisations. The Museum is a collaborative project between the West Kowloon Cultural District Authority and the Palace Museum. The Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust made a donation of HK$3.5 billion for its establishment, as well as some of the annual exhibitions and education programmes in 2023–2032.

Through research, exhibitions, publications, and educational and professional exchange programmes, the Museum builds international partnerships and positions Hong Kong as a global hub for art and culture. A resource that belongs to the local community, the Museum inspires community engagement, fosters dialogue, and promotes creativity and interdisciplinary collaboration.

About the West Kowloon Cultural District (WestK)
WestK is one of the largest and most ambitious cultural hubs in the world and Hong Kong’s new cultural tourism landmark, spanning 40 hectares alongside Victoria Harbour. WestK comprises a mix of landmark arts and cultural facilities, including world-class museums M+ and the Hong Kong Palace Museum, intricately designed performing arts venues the Xiqu Centre and Freespace, the 11-hectare Art Park with a waterfront promenade, and the upcoming WestK Performing Arts Centre.

Hosting over 1,000 exhibitions, performances, programmes, and events each year, WestK provides a vital platform for both emerging and established artists. WestK welcomes more than 10 million visitors each year, evolving as the international cultural brand of Hong Kong and strengthening the city’s strategic role as an East-meets-West centre for international cultural exchange.
https://www.westk.hk