Recently, Shenyang's Palace Museum formally released a detailed plan of the Chinese New Year celebration in the Imperial Palace. The event will take place on the day of "small year" (February 1) as well as from the first to the sixteenth day of the new lunar year (February 9 to 24). This would be the first time that the Palace Museum will hold such an extensive holiday celebration during Chinese New Year since its establishment 79 years ago.
From the small year until the New Year, the Palace Museum will look elegant and splendid with decorations of lanterns, streamers, New Year couplets and door gods, in an auspicious, joyous atmosphere that would resonate with the imperial-style holiday celebration more than 300 years ago.
In the past, museum tour guides and security guards wore Manchu-style clothes only in the summer. However, more than ten sets of winter clothes were made for this special occasion, using a design identical to the Manchu winter clothes stored in the Palace Museum.
On the "small year", the Palace Museum will hold the opening ceremony for its new exhibitions: Books and Paintings of Qing Dynasty, including the handwriting of Kang Xi and Qianlong and paintings of courtesans and ministers; Spring Festival Couplets and Door Gods in the Qing Dynasty, in an attempt to place the door gods and Spring Festival couplets in their correct positions according to historical records; Lucky Historical Relics of the Rooster Year, such as calligraphy, paintings, porcelain and jade articles related to rooster; Manchu Pedigree Exhibition, which provides opportunities for visitors to trace their roots; and A Gift Collection of Western Timepieces, featuring Qing emperors' gifts presented by western missionaries. Most exhibits will be open to the public for the first time.
During the event, the East Road Square of the Museum will hold two performances of "New Year Celebration" every day, reproducing the joyous scene of the Spring Festival celebration in the Imperial Palace of Qing Dynasty.
(Chinanews.cn January 14, 2005)
