Holding a small brush, Lam Hoi Ting, an architecture student from Hong Kong, carefully sweeps off dust to restore an ancient colored painting in a pavillon at the Forbidden City (Palace Museum).
Working at the architectural heritage department at the almost 600 years old palace, this is Lam's first internship since college. She focused on surveying, mapping and virtual restoration of ancient architecture.
This summer, the Forbidden City invited Lam and 47 other youngsters from Hong Kong and Macao to intern at various departments for six weeks.
Taught by museum experts, students participate in antique restoration, exhibition planning, collection management, educational activities and publicity events.
Home to the royal court between 1420 and 1912, the Forbidden City houses more than 1.8 million collections of cultural relics.
As a lover of the Forbidden City, Li Cho Wing, an accounting graduate from Hong Kong, was among the 48 interns.
Gathering materials, searching data and editing information, Li is happy that she has turned from frequent visitor to insider at the ancient palace.
"Every time I look at these beautiful cultural relics or pass by the wonderful architecture, I am touched in every way and very proud," said Li, who works for the publicity and education department.
She believes the internship lets her see a fresh and undisclosed side of the palace, making her feel closer to traditional culture.
With the knowledge learned from the internship, students, especially those who come from Hong Kong, are excited and interested in the Hong Kong Palace Museum that is being built, and will display collections of the Palace Museum from Beijing.
The interns have expressed their will to help with the Hong Kong Palace Museum to introduce traditional arts and culture to local visitors.
