Palace Museum, Tencent team up for digital exhibition

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Bringing the old and new together, one of the most well-known symbols of China's past – the Palace Museum, also known as the Forbidden City – and one of the biggest drivers of modern innovation – Internet giant Tencent – have joined forces to stage a new digital exhibition in the Forbidden City.

The project uses new technology to present traditional Chinese culture, providing an immersive experience for visitors.

For example, one can take a selfie and see how it would look dressed in Qing-dynasty costumes on an LED screen.

Or one can see pictures coming to life in animations by scanning the images with the cellphone.

Animation created by scanning the picture. /CGTN P

Using a VR helmet, one can enter a room decorated in the ancient style or try one's hand at "Touhu", a game popular in the Tang Dynasty (618-907).

The Palace Museum has worked intensively to promote traditional Chinese culture through modern technologies in recent years, hoping to keep up with the times and attract a younger generation of visitors.

"The Palace Museum is currently promoting a diverse, open museum experience for visitors through modern technology. This exhibition is one of our explorations. I believe we can promote traditional culture in a creative way and foster the young generation's passion for traditional culture," Yu Zhuang, head of the museum's new media team said.

Making an emoji with his cellphone. /CGTN Photo

In 2015, the Palace Museum and Tencent organized a design competition. The aim was to get young Chinese designers to develop emojis, games and other culturally creative items inspired by elements of the Forbidden City.

And some of the winning items are presented at this show.

The exhibition also displays achievements made by domestic and overseas institutions, such as Google Arts and Culture and Japan-based digital art group, teamLab.

Su Yijun from the National Architects Group said, "Our team members are all architects. We are passionate about traditional Chinese architecture and new technology. Since the Palace Museum is the best representative, we created a 3D-printed model of the Forbidden City."

Working at the 3D-printed model of the Forbidden City. /China Culture Daily Photo

The exhibition was featured at the Culture + Tech International Forum presented by the Palace Museum and Tencent.

The two also launched a joint innovation lab to explore creative ways to protect, promote and revitalize traditional Chinese culture by using new technologies.

Li Ming, deputy general manager of Marketing and PR at Tencent said, "Tencent's Internet resources and new technology plus the Palace Museum's rich cultural resources, I believe we can do much more in the future to make Chinese culture more accessible to the world."

The digital exhibition – "Traditional Culture and Future Imagination" – runs until December 8.

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