The Palace Museum Of Beijing Becomes An Example Of Conservation Of Sustainable History Heritage

Located in the heart of the Forbidden City area, Beijing, The Palace Museum is one of the largest and oldest palace museums in the world. Founded in 1925, this museum occupied the former complex of the imperial palace which became the center of Chinese rule for more than five centuries, from the Ming Dynasty to the Qing Dynasty.

Its magnificent architecture, extraordinary collections, and continued conservation efforts make it an example of life from how cultural heritage can be maintained without losing its historical essence.

With an area of more than 72 hectares and nearly 1,000 buildings, the museum houses more than 1.8 million historical objects ranging from classic paintings, calligraphies, ceramic artifacts, imperial textiles to important archives.

Behind its physical splendor, The Palace Museum is also known for its modern management system and educational approaches, making it a cultural magnet visited by more than 17 million people every year. This year, the museum celebrated a century of its founding, confirming its position as one of the most influential cultural centers in the world.

Seeing this achievement, the Minister of Culture of Indonesia, Fadli Zon, called The Palace Museum an ideal example of preserving a sustainable historical heritage, both in terms of physical, collection, and presentation of narratives to the public.

Forbidden City shows how conservation can run continuously, with repeated renovations but still maintaining historical value. At the same time, they provide a strong educational experience for visitors," he said.

During a cultural visit to the People's Republic of China, Fadli Zon held a direct dialogue with the Director of The Palace Museum, Wang Xudong, and directly inspected the management of the museum which is now a global reference. One of the important agendas is to discuss the continuation of the collaboration between The Palace Museum and museums in Indonesia.

One form of cooperation is a partnership with the Indonesian National Museum. According to Fadli, Indonesia needs to open itself up to international-scale museum management practices so that Indonesia's cultural heritage can be presented in a relevant and trans-generational attractive manner.

"We want to build long-term collaborations, both in the preservation of collections, museum management, and the development of professional capacity," he explained.

Responding to this, Wang Xudong welcomed Indonesia's initiative and encouraged professional exchange programs, including academics and researchers. He even invited Indonesia to send museum experts to carry out direct identification at The Palace Museum, as a form of learning the best practices in managing world-class museums.

This visit not only strengthens cultural relations between countries, but also becomes a reflection for Indonesia to continue to encourage museums as a learning space for history, cultural centers, and a reflection of the nation's identity.