The Story
Built between 1406 and 1420 by Emperor Yongle of the Ming Dynasty, the Forbidden City was both the political nerve center and cultural warehouse of imperial China for over 500 years. Its 9,999 rooms accumulated centuries of tribute: Song Dynasty Ru ware treasured by Qianlong, calligraphy scrolls passed down since the Tang, jade carvings spanning millennia, and the nine-dragon walls and golden thrones that symbolized cosmic authority. Under the Qing, Emperor Qianlong (r. 1735–1796) became Chinese history's most obsessive collector, acquiring and cataloguing objects on a scale never seen before. The Palace Museum, established in 1925 after the last emperor's expulsion, opened this treasury to the public. Today it is the world's most visited museum (17+ million visitors per year), and its artifacts — from Ru ware lotus bowls to the Nine-Dragon Wall — anchor the global understanding of Chinese material culture.
Artifacts in This Theme
Sculpture
Nine-Dragon Wall of the Forbidden City
A monumental wall of 270 glazed tiles depicting nine writhing dragons amid clouds and waves — one of only three surviving nine-dragon walls in China and the most visited architectural artwork in the Forbidden City.
Ceramics
Ru Ware Sky-Blue Lotus Bowl
A nearly flawless example of Ru ware — the rarest and most prized ceramic type in all of Chinese art. Fewer than 90 pieces survive worldwide.
Painting
Along the River During the Qingming Festival
One of the most celebrated paintings in the entire history of Chinese art — a panoramic masterpiece capturing daily life along the Bian River during the Qingming Festival in the Song Dynasty capital of Kaifeng.
Ceramics
Blue-and-White Porcelain Plum Vase (Xiao He Chases Han Xin)
The crown jewel of Yuan Dynasty porcelain — a meiping vase depicting the dramatic story of Xiao He's midnight chase to retrieve the brilliant general Han Xin.
Where to See Them
The Palace Museum (Forbidden City)
The Palace Museum
In Popular Culture
2018 · Huanyu Film / iQiyi
Story of Yanxi Palace
With over 15 billion views on iQiyi alone, Story of Yanxi Palace became the most-Googled TV show worldwide in 2018 — a Qing Dynasty drama praised for its obsessively accurate reproduction of Forbidden City material culture.
4 artifacts →
2011 · Ruyi Xinxin / Dragon TV
Empresses in the Palace
A 76-episode Qing Dynasty palace drama that became one of the most-watched Chinese television shows of all time and a global cultural phenomenon on Netflix.
3 artifacts →
Frequently Asked
What is the "The Forbidden City & Imperial Collections" theme about?
The Forbidden City held the imperial throne for 24 emperors across two dynasties and today houses 1.8 million artifacts — the most comprehensive collection of Chinese art and the world's most visited museum.
Which artifacts are part of "The Forbidden City & Imperial Collections"?
This theme groups 4 artifacts, including Nine-Dragon Wall of the Forbidden City, Ru Ware Sky-Blue Lotus Bowl, Along the River During the Qingming Festival, Blue-and-White Porcelain Plum Vase (Xiao He Chases Han Xin). Each entry on this page links to the artifact's full record with provenance, dating, and museum source.
Where can I see the artifacts in this theme in person?
The pieces in this theme are currently held by The Palace Museum (Forbidden City), The Palace Museum, and Nanjing Museum. Some institutions rotate their displays, so we recommend checking the museum's website before visiting.
Is this theme based on academic sources?
Yes — every claim links to a primary or scholarly source, including Wikipedia — Forbidden City, Palace Museum Official Site. The full list of references is shown in the sidebar of this page.
Why is "Nine-Dragon Wall of the Forbidden City" considered iconic for this theme?
A monumental wall of 270 glazed tiles depicting nine writhing dragons amid clouds and waves — one of only three surviving nine-dragon walls in China and the most visited architectural artwork in the Forbidden City.