Forbidden City meets Monet: A cultural feast in Ningbo

This winter, Ningbo Museum will stage a remarkable East-West encounter through two blockbuster exhibitions opening on Dec 5 and running until March 8, 2026.

The first, The Glorious Past, the Forbidden City: A New Year's Exhibition of Palace Treasures from the Qing Dynasty in Ningbo, will present 185 treasures in the Qing Dynasty (1644–1911) from the Palace Museum, Tianjin Museum, and Shenyang Imperial Palace Museum.

Through four themed sections – embroidered garments, festive utensils, refined furnishings, and ritual objects, the exhibition will recreate the grandeur of Qing court life, guiding visitors through the artistry of clothing, food, living spaces, and belief.

Running in parallel, Monet's Poetry: A Dialogue between Eastern and Western Aesthetics from Chicago to the Three Rivers Estuary will bring over 60 masterpieces from the Ningbo Museum and the Art Institute of Chicago into dialogue.

Chinese ceramics, Buddhist statues, and calligraphy will be juxtaposed with European glassware, sculpture, and prints, creating a cross‑civilizational conversation.

The centerpiece is the first appearance in Ningbo of Monet's originals – Water Lily Pond and Water Lilies. These iconic works, part of Monet's celebrated series, capture shimmering light and fleeting beauty with Impressionist brilliance. A 1922 portrait of Monet – Claude Monet by Albert Andre will further anchor the exhibition, portraying the artist in his beloved Giverny garden.

Together, the twin shows invite audiences to step into imperial China and Impressionist France, celebrating shared creativity across cultures and centuries.

A poster of The Glorious Past, the Forbidden City: A New Year's Exhibition of Palace Treasures from the Qing Dynasty in Ningbo. [Photo/cnnb.com.cn]

A poster of Monet's Poetry: A Dialogue between Eastern and Western Aesthetics from Chicago to the Three Rivers Estuary. [Photo/cnnb.com.cn]