For the first time in public, a stunning collection of 154 works of art, furniture, ceremonial robes, personal objects and Buddhist artworks from Emperor Qianlong's private apartments in the Forbidden City in Beijing is on display at the world-famous Acropolis Museum in Athens.

The artifacts are showcased in a unique setting representing the buildings, colors and atmosphere of the Palaces of the Forbidden City. The exhibition at the Acropolis Museum consists of five sections, and reproduces the Palace of Many Splendors, where Qianlong lived prior to his accession to the throne and where, as he himself wrote, drew inspiration for his subsequent plans for the successful management of his vast country. 

Entire rooms come to life, like The Room of Fragrant Orchids, where visitors can admire the heated bed of the imperial couple along with ornaments of the Emperor's personal choice. The delicate porcelain tea sets used by the Emperor and his guests during poetry nights are put in showcases, along with the other precious artifacts and artworks, like a golden Buddha, the Empress' impressive ritual dress and theatrical costumes with embroidered clouds and dragons. 

Texts in Mandarin, Greek and English are placed throughout the exhibition, providing context, historical background and other information about the life of Emperor Qianlong at the Palace and the time of his rule. Twenty artworks and fabrics will be replaced by other items of the same historical and artistic value in mid-December because they are too sensitive to remain on display for more than three months.

The exhibition “from the forbidden city: imperial apartments of Qianlong” offers visitors a unique opportunity to learn about Chinese culture through the life of Emperor Qianlong (1711-1799), who ruled China for 60 years (1736-1795) and who is one of the most renowned emperors in Chinese history. He is the Emperor who reformed China, doubled its size and population, introduced Buddhism from Tibet and tended to the well-being of its citizens. But above all, he supported the arts and letters with passion. 

Emperor Qianlong (Qing Dynasty, 1644-1911, China's last imperial dynasty) was an excellent poet and calligrapher. He spent many hours of his day at his desk (which is on display at the Acropolis Museum, decorated with white jade plaques), writing texts about his country's beauties, human relationships and the proper exercise of royal powers.

The exhibition is the result of a long cooperation between the Palace Museum in Beijing and the Acropolis Museum in Athens. Delegations from both countries, headed by the two museums' presidents, visited the other country's museum several times before the artifacts came to Athens. Dimitris Pantermalis, president of the Acropolis Museum, says it is a significant gesture towards Greece that China chose the Acropolis Museum to present this collection to the world for the first time. 

In exchange and as part of the cultural program set forth between Greece and China in 2017, Greece has sent The Antikythera Shipwreck exhibition from its National Archaeological Museum in Athens for display at the Palace Museum in Beijing's Forbidden City until December 2018. 

The exhibition on Emperor Qianlong was inaugurated on Sept. 14 at the presence of the President of the Hellenic Republic, Prokopis Pavlopoulos, who noted that “today, for yet another time, two very ancient civilizations meet. It's not the first time and it won't be the last. But every time such civilizations meet and under such conditions, it is a big event we must honor.” “from the forbidden city: imperial apartments of Qianlong” will be open to the public at the Acropolis Museum until Feb. 14, 2019.