German city of Gotha to strengthen cultural exchanges with China

This photo taken on Oct. 10, 2025 shows the Hall of Supreme Harmony (Taihe dian) of the Palace Museum in Beijing, capital of China. This year marks the 100th anniversary of the founding of the Palace Museum. (Xinhua/Jin Liangkuai)

Discussions are underway for an exhibition featuring artworks from the Palace Museum in Beijing, to be held in Gotha in 2027.

BERLIN, Oct. 27 (Xinhua) -- The Ducal Museum in thecentral German city of Gothaplans to deepen its cooperation with Chinese cultural institutions, theFriedenstein Foundation Gotha, which oversees the museum, announced on Monday.

According to the foundation, discussions are underway for an exhibition featuring artworks from the Palace Museum in Beijing, to be held in Gotha in 2027. A reciprocal exhibition showcasing treasures from Gotha's collections in Beijing could follow in 2028.

The planned cooperation builds on Gotha's ongoing partnership with the Xi'an Qujiang Museum of Fine Arts in northwest China's Shaanxi Province. Their joint exhibition,"China's Gold and Gotha's Treasures--A Unique Encounter,"is currently running at the Ducal Museum and will continue until January 2026.

This aerial photo taken on June 14, 2022 shows a view of the Qujiang New District in Xi'an, northwest China's Shaanxi Province. (Xinhua/Shao Rui)

Under a cooperation agreement between the two institutions, selected masterpieces from Gotha's collections will travel to Xi'an next year for a return exhibition, featuring valuable artifacts once owned by the dukes of Gotha.

Established on Oct. 10, 1925, the Palace Museum was founded on the grounds of the Forbidden City, the former imperial palaces of the Ming (1368-1644) and Qing (1644-1911) dynasties. It opened to the public for the first time later that year, showcasing its priceless imperial art collections.

In 2009, annual attendance at the museum surpassed 10 million for the first time, with visitor numbers exceeding 17.6 million in 2024.

This combo photo shows a turret of the Palace Museum in the early 20th century (L, provided by the Palace Museum) and on Oct. 10, 2025 (R, photo by Xinhua photographer Jin Liangkuai) in Beijing, capital of China. (Xinhua)