Exhibition of ancient mythical animals kicks off in Liangjiang

The exhibition is underway in Liangjiang New Area and will last until Oct 7. [Photo by Song Danlei/liangjiang.gov.cn]

An exhibition of mythical animals from the Imperial Palace opened in Liangjiang New Area, Southwest China's Chongqing municipality, on June 28. The exhibition will be open every day from 10 am to 9 pm except Mondays, and will last until Oct 7.

Based on the Qing Dynasty's (1644-1911) book Shoupu (a record of animals) housed at the Palace Museum, the exhibition employs advanced technologies like digital projection and real-time interaction to showcase China's ancient mythical animals.

The exhibition is divided into eight sections – heaven, earth, wind, thunder, water, fire, river, and mountain, with each section guarded by the mythical creatures Longma, Qilin, Luduan, Kui, Xiezhi, Tuoji, Pingyi, and the nine-tailed fox, respectively.

Curated by museum curators, historians, ancient calligraphy and painting experts, and digital multimedia teams, the exhibition examines the historical and cultural contexts of Shoupu, integrating ancient animal imagery from paintings and decorative arts, as well as information about astronomy, geography, medicine, and supernatural literature.

Having previously been held in cities like Shenzhen, Shanghai, and Hangzhou, this exhibition in Chongqing marks its seventh stop.

It not only presents the Palace Museum's intellectual property, but also revitalizes outstanding traditional culture from Shoupu through modern digital technologies, enabling a deeper appreciation of traditional culture among a broader audience.