Palace Museum to set up architectural institute

The Palace Museum. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

The Palace Museum in Beijing plans to establish a research institute on ancient architecture, it announced on Aug 13.

The institute will also be a key scientific research base under the State Administration of Cultural Heritage to protect and study royal construction from the Ming (1368-1644) and Qing (1644-1911) dynasties.

According to Shan Jixiang, director of the museum, the unit will be devoted to multiple fields, including the inheritance and development of traditional architectural skills, the adoption of modern technologies and training of relevant professionals.

Shan, who is also an architect, said the institute would help clear up the current chaotic situation and fill a void current academia on architecture in the Ming and Qing dynasties.

He said the museum will also be a crucial channel to cooperate with overseas academic institutions and will promote a shared database with a wide range.

The Palace Museum, also known as the Forbidden City, remains the biggest wooden architecture complex in the world.