Hong Kong Palace Museum | Collection

The Hong Kong Palace Museum benefited from the generous donations by local collectors during its preparatory phase, laying an important foundation for the development of a collection distinguished by both cultural significance and global perspective. Through ongoing donations, research, and collection of development initiatives, the Museum has gradually established a collection of considerable scale and character. Its holdings cover a wide range of categories, including ancient gold and silver objects, textiles, ceramics, furniture, paintings, and calligraphy, reflecting artistic achievement, craftsmanship, and cultural exchange across different periods in China and beyond.

Highlights of the collection include ancient gold and silver objects spanning more than 3,000 years, comprising personal ornaments, horse trappings, vehicle fittings, and funerary objects associated with the Eurasian Steppes, the Central Plains, and the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau. These works provide valuable material for the study of ancient material culture and intercultural exchange. The collection also includes imperial porcelains from the Ming and Qing dynasties, Ming-dynasty furniture, and modern and contemporary paintings and calligraphy, showcasing the depth and diversity of Chinese culture.

In addition, in 2024, Mr Chris Hall, a renowned Hong Kong collector, pledged his collection of Chinese textiles to the Museum as a promised gift. The collection comprises nearly 3,000 objects dating from the Warring States period (475-221 BCE) to the 21st century. Accompanied by extensive research materials, including textile samples, it will serve as an invaluable resource for the study of the history of Chinese textiles and their collecting history. The collection will further enhance the Museum's standing as one of the foremost institutions for the collection and study of ancient Chinese textiles.

The Hong Kong Palace Museum is committed to building a world-class collection of Chinese art. We welcome donations from both local and overseas donors.

If you would like to donate an object to us, please provide your name, contact number, contact email, address, short description of the object (including its name, material, condition, dimensions, and provenance), together with images of the object and email us at [email protected].

Please note that for security and accountability reasons, we only accept written offers for object donations. We are unable to accept objects brought directly to the Museum without prior arrangement with the Museum.

The collection is currently being digitised and will be made available to the public through the Museum’s website.

The Hong Kong Palace Museum respects intellectual property rights and makes every effort to obtain permission from copyright holders before publishing images and other media on its website. The reproduction, adaptation, distribution, dissemination, or making available of any copyrighted material is prohibited unless prior authorisation has been obtained from the Museum or the relevant rights holders.

The Museum welcomes image requests, which should be submitted to [email protected] by email. Image requests should include the following:

• contact details
• list of requested images or other media
• description of how the images will be used
• overview of your organisation or institution, if any

The Hong Kong Palace Museum is committed to promoting cultural exchange through collaboration with organisations around the world. This includes granting loans from the Museum’s collection for the purposes of exhibitions, research, and educational programmes.

The Museum welcomes loan requests, which should be submitted by post or email. Loan requests should include the following:

• contact details
• list of requested loans
• proposal that explains how the loans will be used
• overview of your organisation or institution

The Hong Kong Palace Museum Collection Management Policy provides a framework for the Museum’s collecting principles, defines responsibilities, and establishes procedures for acquisitions, accessioning, loans, conservation, risk management, deaccessioning, and other aspects of collection management.