US Exhibition Unveils Lives of Chinese Empresses

Chinese empresses were once most the esteemed women in the country. However, the details of their lives have largely remained a mystery. An exhibition at the Peabody Essex Museum in Salem, Massachusetts is now bringing those women into the spotlight. Titled Empresses of China’s Forbidden City, the exhibition features more than 200 spectacular treasures from the Chinese court, which were carefully selected by Chinese and US experts to tell the little-known stories of the imperial women in the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911). Coming at a time when US-China diplomatic relationship is entering its 40th year, the exhibition highlights the cultural ties between the two countries. The exhibition will run at the PEM through Feb.10 before it goes to Smithsonian Institution in Washington for another half a year.

Video: Nancy Kong, Judy Zhu
Producer: Ji Tao, Calvin Zhou

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