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CUHK Art Museum presents special exhibition “The Qianlong Emperor: A Legacy in Art, The Huaihaitang Collection”
Exploring art and rulership of Qing Dynasty through over 150 exquisite artefacts
The Art Museum of The Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK) presents a special exhibition, “The Qianlong Emperor: A Legacy in Art, The Huaihaitang Collection”, which runs until 18 October 2026.
The opening ceremony took place at the CUHK Art Museum today (15 June). Officiating guests included Professor Dennis Lo Yuk-ming, CUHK’s Vice-Chancellor and President; Professor Anthony Chan Tak-cheung, CUHK’s Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Alumni/Community Engagement and Institutional Advancement); Mr Anthony K.W. Cheung, Master of Huaihaitang and Chairman of the Advisory Committee of the CUHK Art Museum; Professor Peter Lam Yip-keung, Honorary Fellow, Institute of Chinese Studies, CUHK, and former Director of the CUHK Art Museum; Professor Josh Yiu Chun-chong, Director of the CUHK Art Museum; and Dr Sam Tong Yu, Associate Curator of the CUHK Art Museum.
At the event, Professor Lo said: “We are privileged to appreciate these treasures on the CUHK campus, an opportunity of profound significance for passing on the heritage. I would like to express my sincere gratitude to Mr Anthony Cheung for his generous support to CUHK, particularly to the Art Museum. Since 1996, Mr Cheung has donated more than 600 items to the University. Many of these gifts form coherent collections that have opened up new avenues of academic inquiry. In addition, Mr Cheung has established various funds to support the study of art history research. His selfless dedication to cultural heritage is truly inspiring, and we deeply admire his extraordinary generosity. Since its founding, CUHK has placed great emphasis on Chinese culture and humanistic values. Leveraging its rich collections, in-depth research, and diverse exhibitions, the Art Museum continues this tradition of bridging the past and present, while fostering local and international cultural exchange. On this special occasion, friends from across the cultural and artistic communities have gathered at CUHK to witness the fruits of the Museum’s dedicated efforts over the years, as well as the longstanding partnerships we have built with our esteemed collectors and donors.”
The 18th century was the golden age of Chinese court art. From the late Kangxi to the early Jiaqing period, imperial workshops produced a wide range of objects, including porcelain, jade, bronzes, lacquerware, textiles, scholars’ objects, books, rubbings, calligraphy and paintings. Characterised by refined materials, an opulent style and meticulous craftsmanship, these works exemplify a disciplined aesthetic known as “production to imperial standards” (「內廷恭造」). Artists experimented with and appropriated western techniques, such as painted enamel and copperplate engraving, while drawing on earlier traditions, particularly the forms and motifs of bronzes from the Three Dynasties. These works show how the Qianlong emperor projected his power to the world.
This exhibition features important donations from the Huaihaitang Collection to the CUHK Art Museum. Through six thematic sections, the exhibition explores Qing court art across diverse domains, encompassing imperial lineage, tribute systems, weaving, enamels, printing, and ritual protocols. Together, these sections reconstruct the production of Qing court art and highlight its exceptional historical value. Key exhibits include calligraphy by the imperial family presented to the Janggiya Hala, Hongwu portraying the Four Concepts (Si Xiang) of the Diamond Sutra, copperplate prints of Pacification of the Western Regions, a kesi scroll with imperial calligraphy on the subject of Jinsu paper, a carved red lacquer cabinet with a dragon and cloud design, a pair of green-ground vases with an auspicious “wandai ruyi” motif in yangcai enamel, a zun vase with dragons in gold red and iron red, and a copper wall plaque with “daji” characters in cloisonné enamel.
Exhibition details
The Qianlong Emperor: A Legacy in Art, The Huaihaitang Collection
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Period: |
Until 18 October 2026 |
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Venue: |
Harold and Christina Lee Gallery, Lo Kwee Seong Pavilion and Gallery IV, Art Museum, CUHK |
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Opening hours: |
Please visit the Art Museum’s website |
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Enquiries: |
3943 7417 |
Please download exhibition photos here
Officiating guests host a ribbon-cutting ceremony during the opening of the special exhibition “The Qianlong Emperor: A Legacy in Art, The Huaihaitang Collection” at the CUHK Art Museum.
Officiating guests at the opening ceremony of the special exhibition “The Qianlong Emperor: A Legacy in Art, The Huaihaitang Collection”
The special exhibition “The Qianlong Emperor: A Legacy in Art, The Huaihaitang Collection”
The special exhibition “The Qianlong Emperor: A Legacy in Art, The Huaihaitang Collection”
Poster for the special exhibition “The Qianlong Emperor: A Legacy in Art, The Huaihaitang Collection”
Calligraphy by the imperial family on fan leaves presented to the Janggiya Hala
Emperor Qianlong (1711-99), Emperor Jiaqing (1760-1820), Yongxing (1752-1823), Miankai (1795-1839) and Mianyi (1764-1815)
46th year of the Qianlong reign to the fifth year of the Daoguang reign (1781-1825)
Huaihaitang Collection
Calligraphy by the imperial family on fan leaves presented to the Janggiya Hala
Emperor Qianlong (1711-99), Emperor Jiaqing (1760-1820), Yongxing (1752-1823), Miankai (1795-1839) and Mianyi (1764-1815)
46th year of the Qianlong reign to the fifth year of the Daoguang reign (1781-1825)
Huaihaitang Collection
Hongwu portraying the Four Concepts (Si Xiang) of the Diamond Sutra
Hua Guan (1740-after 1822)
12th month, 56th year of the Qianlong reign (1791)
Huaihaitang Collection
Hongwu portraying the Four Concepts (Si Xiang) of the Diamond Sutra
Hua Guan (1740-after 1822)
12th month, 56th year of the Qianlong reign (1791)
Huaihaitang Collection
Pacification of the Western Regions
Sketched by Giuseppe Castiglione (1688-1766), Jean-Denis Attiret (1702-68), Ignatius Sichelbart (1708-80), Jean-Damascène Sallusti (d. 1781) et al
Supervised by Charles Nicolas Cochin (1715-90)
Engraved by Jacques-Philippe Le Bas (1707-83), Benoît Louis Prévost (1747-c.1804), Jacques Aliamet (1728-88), Pierre-Philippe Choffard (1730-1809), Augustin de Saint-Aubin (1736-1807), Nicolas de Launay (1739-92), Louis-Joseph Masquelier (1741-1811) and François Denis Née (1732-1818)
35th-42nd years of the Qianlong reign (1770-77)
Album leaf version
Huaihaitang Collection
Pacification of the Western Regions
Sketched by Giuseppe Castiglione (1688-1766), Jean-Denis Attiret (1702-68), Ignatius Sichelbart (1708-80), Jean-Damascène Sallusti (d. 1781) et al
Supervised by Charles Nicolas Cochin (1715-90)
Engraved by Jacques-Philippe Le Bas (1707-83), Benoît Louis Prévost (1747-c.1804), Jacques Aliamet (1728-88), Pierre-Philippe Choffard (1730-1809), Augustin de Saint-Aubin (1736-1807), Nicolas de Launay (1739-92), Louis-Joseph Masquelier (1741-1811) and François Denis Née (1732-1818)
35th-42nd years of the Qianlong reign (1770-77)
Album leaf version
Huaihaitang Collection
Kesi scroll with imperial calligraphy on the subject of Jinsu paper
After the 18th year of the Qianlong reign (1753)
Huaihaitang Collection
Carved red lacquer cabinet with dragon and cloud design
Qianlong period (1735-96)
Collection of the Art Museum, CUHK (new acquisition)
Gift of Mr Anthony K.W. Cheung
Carved red lacquer cabinet with dragon and cloud design
Qianlong period (1735-96)
Collection of the Art Museum, CUHK (new acquisition)
Gift of Mr Anthony K.W. Cheung
Pair of green-ground vases with auspicious “wandai ruyi” motif in yangcai enamel
Late Qianlong to early Jiaqing period, late 18th century
Mark: Qianlong reign
Collection of the Art Museum, CUHK (acc. no.: 2024.0490)
Gift of Mr Anthony K.W. Cheung
Pair of green-ground vases with auspicious “wandai ruyi” motif in yangcai enamel
Late Qianlong to early Jiaqing period, late 18th century
Mark: Qianlong reign
Collection of the Art Museum, CUHK (acc. no.: 2024.0490)
Gift of Mr Anthony K.W. Cheung
Zun vase with dragons in gold red and iron red
Late Qianlong period, late 18th century
Mark: Qianlong reign
Collection of the Art Museum, CUHK (new acquisition)
Gift of Mr Anthony K.W. Cheung
Zun vase with dragons in gold red and iron red
Late Qianlong period, late 18th century
Mark: Qianlong reign
Collection of the Art Museum, CUHK (new acquisition)
Gift of Mr Anthony K.W. Cheung
Zun vase with dragons in gold red and iron red
Late Qianlong period, late 18th century
Mark: Qianlong reign
Collection of the Art Museum, CUHK (new acquisition)
Gift of Mr Anthony K.W. Cheung
Copper wall plaque with “daji” characters in cloisonné enamel
After the 30th year of the Qianlong reign (1765)
Huaihaitang Collection
