An exhibition of the royal treasures of Emperor Wanli of the Ming Dynasty (1368 -1644) has opened at the National Museum of Classic Books.

The exhibition focuses on the reign of Emperor Wanli for nearly half a century during the Ming Dynasty. Around 140 items from various cultural and heritage institutions showcase the high level of cultural and artistic development during the Wanli period. Many of these items are on display for the first time.

Visitors can appreciate the aesthetic appeal of the Wanli period’s palace etiquette, daily life, overseas trade and cultural exchanges.

Highlights of the exhibitions are the items excavated from the tombs of the Imperial Family of the Ming Dynasty in the 1950s. It covers various cultural relics such as royal gold and silverware, jade, bamboo and wooden utensils, embroidery, calligraphy and painting, and porcelain.

A must-see exhibit is the gold crown belonging to Emperor Wanli. With finely-worked gold mesh designs, it is the only gold crown of an emperor ever found in China.

“The National Museum of Classic Books mainly displays classic ancient books, including the 'Yongle Encyclopedia', a great academic work from the Ming Dynasty. However, the 'Yongle Encyclopedia' is mainly in the form of text, which may not be intuitive enough for visitors,” said Gu Heng, Director of National Library of China’s exhibition department.

“This exhibition presents the precious cultural relics representing the essence of Ming culture, which echoes the content of the ancient books. So visitors can have a more concrete understanding of the development of the political, economic, cultural, and artistic aspects of the Ming Dynasty by looking at these exhibits,” he added.

Other highlights include the dining and wine utensils, as well as jewelry used by the emperor and empress.

The museum has created a fully immersive exhibition hall, offering visitors a journey back in time.

“We have selected a large number of Ming Dynasty patterns and decorative elements, as well as some unique elements of Ming Dynasty architecture to create the overall environment of the exhibition hall. When visitors enter the exhibition hall, they can immediately feel the artistic atmosphere of the Ming Dynasty. Such an immersive experience will help them better understand the connotations of the cultural relics on show,” said Gu.

Entertaining and informative activities and a variety of cultural and creative products can enrich the experiences for visitors in multiple dimensions.