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The New Exhibition “A History of China in Silk: The Chris Hall Collection at the Hong Kong Palace Museum” Opens on 1 October 2025 to Celebrate the National Day

Highlighting art, technology, and cultural exchange along the Silk Roads,this major exhibition weaves a rich tapestry of Chinese history in silk The Hong Kong Palace Museum (HKPM or the Museum) will present a new thematic exhibition, “A History of China in Silk: The Chris Hall Collection at the Hong Kong Palace Museum” (“A History of China in Silk”) in Gallery 6 from 1 October 2025 to 6 April 2026. Drawing on the Chris Hall Collection at the Hong Kong Palace Museum (“the Collection”), a promised gift to the Museum, this major exhibitionfeatures over 100 spectacular Chinese textile treasures dating from the Warring States period (475–221 BCE) to the early 20th century. Placing the development of silk within the broader context of Chinese history, the exhibition celebrates China’s technological and artistic achievements as well as its interactions with the rest of the world over the past three millennia. In December 2024, the renowned Hong Kong-based art collector, Mr Chris Hall, offered a promised gift to the HKPM: the Chris Hall Collection at the Hong Kong Palace Museum, which will be formally donated to the Museum in 10 years, that is 2034. The Collection includes nearly 3,000 works, some of which have been transferred to the Museum since 2024. Internationally recognised for its breadth and depth, the Collection stands among the world’s most comprehensive and significant collections of historical Chinese textiles. Leo Kung, Chairman of the HKPM Board, said, “Silk is not only a luxurious material used for garments but is also integrated into almost every aspect of Chinese life, including the economy, technology, religious rituals, and art. As a treasured commodity in international trade and through silk road, silk has connected China to the wider world for millennia. Therefore, understanding Chinese silk is the key to unlocking deeper insights into Chinese culture. Surviving examples of ancient Chinese textiles are exceedingly rare, and we are profoundly grateful for Chris Hall’s commitment to donate his collection of silk clothing and other objects to the museum, making this important exhibition possible. Through exhibitions, scholarly research and educational initiatives, the HKPM remains committed to advancing the study of historical Chinese textiles and to fostering cultural exchanges on a global scale.” Chris Hall, an esteemed Hong Kong collector of Chinese textiles, said, “I love China and Chinese textiles. For four decades, I have been collecting and preserving precious Chinese textiles with the hope of returning them to their birthplace for study and display. I am delighted that this collection will be on view and eventually find its home at the Hong Kong Palace Museum. Beyond showcasing the breathtaking beauty of these works, the exhibition will make a significant contribution to the still underexplored field of Chinese textile studies. Through its accompanying publication and international symposium, this exhibition will help inspire new scholarship and young scholars. I am grateful to the talented and dedicated HKPM team.”   Charting the rich history of Chinese silk with stunning works Strong yet soft, silk is woven from the fibre produced by silkworms, with a distinctive natural lustre that adds to its appeal. China, long revered as Serica (State of Silk), is not only the birthplace of silk but also remains the world’s largest producer today. Through the Silk Road and the Maritime Silk Road, Chinese silk was transported to Asia, Europe, and other parts of the world, serving as a vital medium for cultural exchange between the East and the West in ancient times. For more than 5,000 years, silk has composed an illustrious chapter in the history of Chinese civilisation and global cultural interaction. The exhibition “A History of China in Silk” weaves a rich and colourful tapestry of China, its society, clothing culture, and interactions with the world across the ages. “A History of China in Silk” unfolds chronologically in five sections. The opening section spans from the late Neolithic period to the Northern and Southern dynasties (ca. 3000 BCE–589 CE) and introduces the development of silk production techniques and cultural exchanges along the Silk Roads. The second section presents the flourishing silk arts of the Sui and the Tang dynasties (581–907), highlighting the fusion of the Chinese and foreign elements in technique and decoration. The third section examines silk weaving and decorative techniques in a variety of regions from the Song to the Yuan dynasties (960–1368), including the rise and development of silk tapestry and motifs such as landscapes and animals from northern China, while also highlighting the close ties with West Asia and Europe. The fourth section explores the magnificent religious and court textiles of the Ming dynasty (1368–1644). The final section focuses on textile production in China’s last imperial dynasty, the Qing (1644–1911), when court wardrobe management was perfected and China’s silk export trade boomed. Highlights from this exhibition include the earliest textile among the exhibits—a piece with facing dragons and phoenixes, and geometric decorations from the Warring States period; a robe with pairs of facing lions in pearl roundels from the Tang dynasty (618–907); a coat with ox-horn dragons from the Ming dynasty; and a large group of Ming and Qing rank badges.   Innovative and diverse educational offerings and scholarly programmes “A History of China in Silk” features innovative and engaging multimedia installations that deepen visitors’ appreciation of the beauty and significance of silk. A highlight of this exhibition, the Daoist ritual robe with the Three Officials of Heaven, Earth, and Water (Ming dynasty, probably Jiajing period 1522–1566), is accompanied by an interactive display that utilises high-resolution imaging to reveal details and decipher the Daoist universe that is exquisitely embroidered on the robe. Rank badges with woven or embroidered images of birds or animals signified the rank and status of their wearers during the Ming and Qing dynasties. Visitors can appreciate these badges up close and choose their own personalised digital rank badges through a nearby interactive installation, which also sheds light on the Qing bureaucratic system and the symbolism of the birds and animals depicted. In conjunction with the exhibition, the Museum will offer a number of public and scholarly programmes and publish an exhibition publication featuring essays by an international team of scholars and curators on the history of Chinese textiles. In 2024, the HKPM and the Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) jointly established “The Hong Kong Palace Museum – The Hong Kong Polytechnic University Joint Chinese Textile Centre” (“the Centre”). The Centre is planning a major international symposium on Chinese textiles in 2026, and to organise special study visits to this exhibition and to the Chris Hall Collection at the Hong Kong Palace Museum for PolyU students and faculty, with the aim of facilitating teaching and inspiring new research and design ideas. “A History of China in Silk: The Chris Hall Collection at the Hong Kong Palace Museum” is open to the public from 1 October 2025 to 6 April 2026 in Gallery 6 of the HKPM. Visitors can access the exhibition with a General Admission ticket (access to Galleries 1 to 7, HK$70 for adults, HK$35 for concessions) or any Special Exhibition ticket (access to Galleries 1 to 7, as well as Gallery 8 and/or 9). Tickets are now available for sale or reservation through the West Kowloon Cultural District’s online ticketing platforms and its ticketing partners. Please refer to the HKPM website for more information.

Signing Ceremony of the Promised Gifts of Chinese Textile from Mr Chris Hall to the Hong Kong Palace Museum

Mr. CHRIS HALL He was born on 12 March 1952 and after leaving the College went to Pembroke College, Cambridge, which gave the land on which the College was built. After leaving university he qualified as a chartered accountant in London and in 1978 went to live in Hong Kong where he lives to this day. He wrote most of the catalogue entries in the book "Heavens' Embroidered Cloths - One Thousand Years of Chinese Textiles". This was the catalogue of a Chinese textile exhibition, which he organised at the Hong Kong Museum of Art in 1995. It was the first major exhibition of Chinese textiles to take place anywhere in the world and included pieces from collections all over the world including the Liaoning Museum, which has the best collection of Chinese textiles in mainland China, his own collection and a major US collection. He has recently received the Heritage Award from the Asian Civilizations Museum in Singapore. In June 2006 he visited the College and gave a talk on Chinese Textiles. Not content with amassing, over many years, one of the best collections of Chinese textiles in the World.In December 2024 he decided to donate his entire Chinese Silk Collection to the Hong Kong Palace Museum. It is valued in the donation agreement at over US$60 million. Below is the speech given by the Director of the Museum during the signing ceremony.

Joint Chinese Textile Centre established by The Hong Kong Palace Museum and The Hong Kong Polytechnic University

The Hong Kong Palace Museum (HKPM or the Museum) and The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) are pleased to announce the establishment of The Hong Kong Palace Museum – The Hong Kong Polytechnic University Joint Chinese Textile Centre (“the Centre”). Drawing on the unparalleled strength of the nearly 3,000 items from the Chris Hall Collection at the HKPM (“the Collection”), the promised gifts from the esteemed art collector Mr Chris HALL to the Museum, the Centre is committed to advancing global understanding and innovative application of Chinese historical textiles from different perspectives, ranging from art, history to science and technology, through research, teaching, training, public education, and publication projects.The Signing Ceremony of the collaborative agreement for The Hong Kong Palace Museum – The Hong Kong Polytechnic University Joint Chinese Textile Centre was held at the HKPM today. Witnessed by Mr Leo KUNG, Chairman of the HKPM Board; Dr LAM Tai-fai, PolyU Council Chairman; Prof. Jin-Guang TENG, PolyU President; and Mrs Betty FUNG, Chief Executive Officer of the West Kowloon Cultural District Authority, the Agreement was signed by Dr Louis NG, Museum Director of the HKPM and Prof. Ben YOUNG, PolyU Vice President (Student and Global Affairs).Combining the expertise and research capacity of HKPM in Chinese history, arts and culture, and that of PolyU in textiles, fashion and design, the Centre is well-positioned to lead and promote research, education, publication, and creative projects related to historical Chinese textiles. The Centre’s key focuses include the history of Chinese textiles, Chinese textile archaeology, and Chinese costume, as well as textile scientific research, textile technology, and the Silk Road.The Centre will provide PolyU with valuable resources for teaching, research, and outreach initiatives of its Faculty of Humanities, School of Fashion and Textiles, School of Design, and other faculties/departments as well as opportunities for PolyU faculty members and students to study the Collection. PolyU will also develop teaching materials and offer courses specialising in the history of Chinese textiles and silk by leveraging the Collection. Through the Centre, PolyU and HKPM will jointly organise academic activities focusing on historical Chinese textiles, including courses, seminars, workshops, and publications.Mr Leo Kung, Chairman of the HKPM Board, said, “The Hong Kong Palace Museum – The Hong Kong Polytechnic University Joint Chinese Textile Centre, established through the collaboration between two important institutions, provides an important platform to promote the study and appreciation of Chinese textiles culture globally. It also allows students and the public alike to explore the history and cultural heritage of Chinese textiles with the two institutions’ shared vision and mission of preserving and bringing forward Chinese culture. We extend our deepest gratitude to Mr Chris Hall for his generous promised gifts to the HKPM, which are one of the world’s most comprehensive and significant collections of historical Chinese textiles. With this collection, the HKPM is poised to play a leading role in the study and display of Chinese textiles and promote international exchange through exhibition, research, and education programmes.”Dr Lam Tai-fai, PolyU Council Chairman, said, “The establishment of the Joint Chinese Textile Centre marks a significant advancement for PolyU and the Hong Kong Palace Museum in promoting research, education, and the inheritance and innovation of Chinese textiles. As an innovative world-class university, PolyU has earned international acclaim for its academic and research achievements in textiles and design over the years. This collaboration will harness the strengths of both institutions to amplify the impact of this world-class Collection in research, teaching, contemporary fashion, and design. It aims to enhance global awareness and appreciation of Chinese textile art, while preserving the rich traditional Chinese culture and solidifying Hong Kong’s position as an East-meets-West centre for international cultural exchange.”A major exhibition featuring the Chris Hall Collection at the Hong Kong Palace Museum will be presented at the Museum next yearThe renowned Hong Kong-based Chinese textile collector, Mr Chris Hall, has offered the HKPM his promised gifts as “The Chris Hall Collection at the Hong Kong Palace Museum”. This collection includes nearly 3,000 works spanning from the Warring States period (475– 221 BCE) to the 21st century. It encompasses examples of all major categories in Chinese textiles with unique strength in areas, such as rank badges from the Ming and Qing dynasties and religious textiles. Accompanied by extensive research materials that include textile sample books, this collection will provide a key resource for the study of Chinese textiles.Mr Chris Hall will formally donate the Chris Hall Collection at the Hong Kong Palace Museum to HKPM in 2034. Starting from December 2024, part of the Collection will be transferred to the Museum’s premises as promised gifts, making HKPM the repository of one of the world’s most comprehensive collections of historical Chinese textiles. Featuring the Collection, the HKPM will present a large-scale survey exhibition in the second half of 2025 with the themes of the history of Chinese silk culture and the cross-cultural exchanges exemplified through textiles. The HKPM will lead the documentation and digitilisation projects for the Collection.Mr Chris Hall said, “My promised gifts to the Hong Kong Palace Museum are the fruition of my art collecting efforts over the past few decades. They testify to nearly three thousand years of history in China, its splendid culture, and the Chinese people’s pursuit of beauty. I am pleased to have the Hong Kong Palace Museum as the home of this Collection. I believe that the Centre will offer an interdisciplinary and international research and creative platform that brings together many exceptional experts in the fields of curation, research, education, and publication. The Centre will make the Collection more accessible and impactful, serving as a research resource for many students and scholars, and a source of inspiration for artists and designers. I hope that the Centre will help increase our historical and cultural knowledge and encourage the appreciation of the beauty of Chinese textiles by the general public.”Details of the Centre and the major exhibition featuring The Chris Hall Collection at the HKPM will be announced on the HKPM website in due course.