Palace Museum reopens indoor exhibition halls and galleries after months-long closure
Hong Yaobin

The Forbidden City, the world's most visited museum, has swept and sanitized its spacious rooms ahead of opening the doors again to history buffs, heritage enthusiasts and curious visitors.

The tourist site, also known as the Palace Museum, reopened its indoor exhibition spaces on Tuesday after closing them for 177 days because of the COVID-19 outbreak.

Chambers such as Treasures Gallery and Clocks & Watches Gallery will be welcoming crowds again amid strict anti-coronavirus measures, the museum said.

Outdoor areas have been accessible to the public since May, but indoor exhibition halls and galleries have been off-limits.

The venue has adopted social distancing guidelines and crowd management measures, such as online ticketing, crowd control and management of visitor flow during peak times.

Visitors walk in the Palace Museum in Beijing, China, May 5, 2020. /CFP

Visitors walk in the Palace Museum in Beijing, China, May 5, 2020. /CFP

The museum requires visitors to make online reservations in advance with their ID card or passport.

Temperature checks are conducted at the door and visitors must scan special QR codes to confirm their health status before entering the premises.

Face masks are mandatory, and guests must observe physical distancing of at least one meter in the indoor spaces.

Visitors take photos at the Palace Museum in Beijing, China, May 5, 2020. /CFP

Visitors take photos at the Palace Museum in Beijing, China, May 5, 2020. /CFP

The museum, which received a record-shattering 19 million visitors last year, has yet to announce the schedule for upcoming exhibitions.

2020 marks the 600th anniversary of the Forbidden City, which was home to 24 Chinese emperors and is now one of most iconic landmarks in Beijing.

The museum had planned to host a number of grand exhibitions to celebrate the occasion and display some of the most celebrated artistic works and national treasures, although it's now unclear whether the festivities still stand.

The Palace Museum has reopened its outdoor areas to the public since May 1. /CFP

The Palace Museum has reopened its outdoor areas to the public since May 1. /CFP

Museums across the Chinese capital have launched exhibitions after reopening to offer the public rich cultural feasts despite the coronavirus restrictions.

The National Museum of China, which is separated from the Palace Museum by a street, unveiled last week a special exhibition with a precious collection of ancient Chinese portrait paintings on display for the first time.

(Cover: Visitors walk in the Palace Museum in Beijing, China, May 5, 2020. /CFP)