Spreading its wings

The ongoing exhibition at Kulangsu gallery in Xiamen, the Palace Museum's first satellite gallery, showcases many artifacts ranging from antique clocks and scientific instruments to enamel pieces and porcelain. The artifacts are mainly gifts from Western missionaries and diplomats to Chinese kings from the 16th century to the early 20th century. Photos by Jiang Dong/China Daily

Fujian province now houses treasures from the Palace Museum, thanks to the opening of the Kulangsu gallery. Wang Kaihao reports.

A three-story neoclassical building on Kulangsu, a 1.88 square kilometer island off the coast of Xiamen, in Fujian province, has been given a three-year makeover. The building, built by American missionary and medical practitioner John Abraham Ottel in 1898, was called Hope Hospital and was the first modern hospital in the southern part of Fujian. But despite its refurbishment it will not be used to treat patients.

Instead, it will be used to showcase treasures from the Palace Museum in Beijing.

The maze-like 2,800 square meter exhibition space, which comprises former wards will be filled with royal artifacts.

The Kulangsu Gallery of Foreign Artifacts from the Palace Museum Collections opened to the public on May 14.

The ongoing exhibition, which is scheduled to run for a year, showcases 219 artifacts ranging from antique clocks and scientific instruments to enamel pieces and porcelain. The artifacts come from more than 10 countries, and span a period from the 16th century to the early 20th century.

According to Shan Jixiang, director of the Palace Museum, or the Forbidden City as the museum is referred to, this is the museum's first satellite gallery outside Beijing.