Opening of the Forbidden City in Hong Kong｜The concert showcases Dunhuang culture and congratulates the President of the Forbidden City in Beijing on his return to Hong Kong

The Hong Kong Teana Dunhuang Orchestra and the Hong Kong Palace Museum will co-organize the "Dunhuang and Palace Museum Dialogue: Flying Over the Two Thousand Years of Culture" concert and cultural lecture next Tuesday (21st) to celebrate the 25th anniversary of Hong Kong's return to the motherland and the opening of the Hong Kong Palace Museum. The local ensemble played their own compositions, leading the audience to travel through the past and the present to experience the musical feast of Dunhuang frescoes and national treasures of the Forbidden City. There were also special speeches by Wang Xudong, director of the Palace Museum, and Wu Zhihua, director of the Hong Kong Palace Museum.

Wu Zhihua said that this time is the most important event before the opening of the Forbidden City in Hong Kong next Wednesday (22nd).

He also revealed that he is working with the Sichuan provincial authorities on the possibility of arranging the loan of cultural relics unearthed from the Sanxingdui site to Hong Kong for display.

▼The Forbidden City in Hong Kong opens on July 2 and will see some national first-class cultural relics and treasures▼

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Ji Wenfeng, director of event planning, creative and project, said that the event had been planned as early as a year ago, aiming to connect local young musicians and a group of cultural guardians. Due to the epidemic, the occupancy rate can only be limited to 70%. It is expected that about 800 spectators, including teachers and students, will participate. Tickets have been distributed free of charge by the group and the Xiqu Centre in the West Kowloon Cultural District.

She said that the highlights of the event will be edited and released online in late July or early August.

The event will be divided into two parts: a cross-media concert and a cultural lecture. The former lasts for 30 minutes. The repertoires are newly created by the Hong Kong Teana Dunhuang Orchestra resident composers Gan Shengxi and Zhu Qiyang. They travel through history and present, presenting the murals of the Mogao Grottoes in Dunhuang and the collection of the Palace Museum. Cultural heritage and architectural elements, and performed by the resident musicians.

The cultural lectures include Wang Xudong, Director of the Palace Museum, Zhao Shengliang, Secretary of the Party Committee of the Dunhuang Academy, and Wu Zhihua, Director of the Hong Kong Palace Museum as guest speakers, and chaired by Professor Li Zhuofen, Vice Chairman of the Hong Kong Palace Museum Board of Directors, sharing the cultural origin and protection of Dunhuang, the national treasures of the Palace Museum in Beijing Collection and conservation of ancient buildings in the Forbidden City, and the future direction of the Hong Kong Palace Museum.

Ji Wenfeng said that he visited Dunhuang under the guidance of Li Zhuofen in his early years. He was deeply moved by the spirit of the local cultural people to protect the world heritage throughout their lives. This event pays tribute to the guardians of culture.

She also mentioned that she had planned the 1997 return fireworks display, and this year is the 25th anniversary of the return Learn about Chinese culture.

Wu Zhihua said that this concert and cultural lecture was the most important event before the opening of the Forbidden City in Hong Kong, and the Forbidden City and Dunhuang were listed as World Heritage Sites in 1987, occupying an important place in the five thousand years of Chinese civilization, spanning 1,600 years. History is of great significance to Chinese culture.

When asked about the details of the opening ceremony next Wednesday (22nd), which will be hosted by the Hong Kong government and the Ministry of Culture and Tourism of the People's Republic of China, he pointed out that there will be speeches and media previews on that day.

He mentioned that July is the handover month, and there will be many celebrations in Hong Kong, so the opening ceremony will be held earlier, and there will be more time to prepare for the opening to the outside world.

He said that he is most looking forward to the response of the audience after the opening of the museum on July 2, "I hope they will have a satisfying and rich artistic experience."

He also revealed that there were cultural relics unearthed at the Sanxingdui site in Sichuan earlier, and he was negotiating with the Sichuan provincial authorities to study the possibility of loaning the cultural relics to Hong Kong for display. The other party's initial reaction was positive.

Wu also pointed out that the museum is planning a schedule for future special exhibitions.

As for whether the Dunhuang cultural exhibition has the opportunity to enter the Forbidden City in Hong Kong, he pointed out that if there is a "spark" between Dunhuang culture and the Forbidden City, the possibility of cooperation cannot be ruled out.

The Hong Kong Palace Museum will open to the public on July 2. The building is painted in beige and crimson colors, echoing the red walls and yellow tiles of the Forbidden City.

(File photo/Photo by Liang Pengwei)

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