A photo of the Palace Museum in Beijing, Oct 3, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua]
From a former imperial garden to a people's museum today, every brick and tile at the Palace Museum whispers tales of bygone eras.
Since its establishment on Oct 10, 1925, the Palace Museum has journeyed through twists and turns over a century. From arduous steps to confident strides, from exploration to innovation, it has come a long way.
Thanks to journalists, the evolving expressions of the Palace Museum, a place once exclusive to the imperial family, can now be shared and appreciated by the general public.
A snow-covered view of the Palace Museum is seen from Jingshan Park in Beijing, Dec 11, 2023. [Photo/Xinhua]
The impeccably preserved UNESCO World Heritage site nurtures the cultural legacy of people across China. Here, spring sees dancing crabapple flowers, summer showcases the "Nine Dragons Spouting Water", while autumn paints the ginkgo leaves gold and winter dons a serene coat of snow. Through lenses, the four seasons of the Palace Museum are more than just a display of natural beauty - they are a poetic journey across time.
A photo of a roof of a complex in the Palace Museum, taken in 2024. [Photo/Xinhua]
From the grandeur of the Hall of Supreme Harmony to the elegance of the Imperial Garden, from the striking contrast of red walls against yellow tiles to the marvel of mortise-and-tenon structures, an enduring echo of the past resonates with all who cherish its history and heritage.
A photo of the marble ramp ( danbi) at the Hall of Supreme Harmony in the Palace Museum, taken in September, 1987. [Photo/Xinhua]
Look down, and there are stones that chronicle history; Look up, and there is a tale of romance sung by the moon and stars. The Palace Museum represents not only the pinnacle of ancient Chinese architecture but also the grace and continuity of a civilization.
The 2026 Palace Museum Calendar is pictured at the Jianfu Palace Garden in the Palace Museum, Sept 15, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua]
In the modern world, the ancient Palace Museum is growing ever younger. Cultural products inspired by the Palace Museum have received thousands of rave reviews, with items like luggage tags featuring an "Imperial Order" becoming a must-have for young travelers. The annual Palace Museum Calendar, bringing treasured paintings and calligraphy to one's fingertips, has also found its way onto the desks of the younger generation.
Tourists pose for photos at the Palace Museum on Sept 10, 2020. [Photo/Xinhua]
Today, as young visitors make up the majority of visitors to this ancient palace complex, it is living proof that a hundred years is not a process of aging, but a process of renewal.
Let us look forward, together, as the story of Chinese civilization continues to unfold.
Happy 100th birthday to the Palace Museum.
Editor:Cai Xiaohui
