Palace Museum to open 'hospital' to the public next month

A craftsman dismantles a timepiece before repairing it in their office in the Palace Museum in Beijing, April 7, 2016. [Photo/Xinhua]

From next month, visitors to the Palace Museum in Beijing will be able to see at first hand the restoration of some of the Palace antiques, museum director Shan Jixiang said on Thursday.

Already dubbed "the antiques hospital," the museum's repair and restoration workshop is reaching the end of two years of its own reconstruction and renovation, and is due to re-open to public on Dec 26.

Visitors will then have the chance to watch the repair of museum exhibits such as paintings and calligraphy, bronze, porcelain and furniture.

"We would like to treat the objects in the same way patients are treated in hospital," Shan said. "Before repairs begin, we need a thorough diagnosis, making clear such details as the date, material, and the problems."

The center boasts world-class talent and the most advanced equipment, including a CT machine and microscopic observation facility.

By restoring these objects to their past glory, the museum will be able to offer a better visitor experience, he said.

Also known as the Forbidden City, the Palace Museum has a collection of over 1.8 million historical objects.