Forbidden City's stolen reputation

PREVIOUS THEFTS

These thefts at the Palace Museum have been reported since 1959.

Aug 15, 1959

Staff workers found a large piece of broken glass when they opened the door to the Hall of Mental Cultivation. Eight gold imperial edicts conferring titles of nobility, five knives with jade handles and gold sheaths, and an ancient gold coin had been stolen. Wu Qinghui, 18, was arrested on a train and was carrying cash and the stolen items. He was sentenced to life in prison.

April 16, 1962

Sun Guofan, 36, hid in a dark passage behind the restroom outside the Hall of Treasures. He stepped onto a scaffold and climbed over the wall and into the hall, and stole two large seals made of gold and 24 kilograms of gold dishes. Police were waiting for him when he climbed out. The museum's security office had been alerted by anti-theft alarms. Sun was sentenced to death.

Feb 1, 1980

Chen Yinhua, 25, entered a restroom outside the Treasure Hall at closing time and later stole the gold seal of Imperial Consort Zhen, who was the most beloved concubine of Qing Emperor Guangxu (1871-1908). He was caught before getting out of the Palace Museum and sentenced to life imprisonment.

June 24, 1987

Han Jilin, 22, hid in a small passageway and attempted to steal the seal of Imperial Consort Zhen. He was caught by security guards right after he used a stone to break the glass door to the Hall of Mental Cultivation. He was sentenced to death.

July 6, 1987

During a visit to the museum, 21-year-old Xiang Deqiang decided to steal a dagger used by Qing Emperor Qianlong (1711-1799). He hid in a corner of the museum and climbed into the courtyard of the Hall of Mental Cultivation as evening fell, but was caught by guards before he was able to enter the hall. Xiang was sentenced to life imprisonment.

Sept 10, 1991

Five seals were stolen from the Hall of Treasures. The case remains unsolved.

Sources: Beijing News, a newspaper,and People's Police, a magazine