On the evening of December 3, Deshou Palace Museum is transformed into a vibrant stage through a captivating light show Bring Artifacts to Life & Second Exhibition of Outstanding Works from the My Story with Museums Project. The Sword of the King of the Yue state, a symbol of the ancient state’s glory and power, gleamed in the darkness. The Grand Canal, a lifeline of the Sui and Tang Dynasties, seemed to whisper tales of ancient trade and culture. And the star map of the Wuyue State, a testament to ancient China’s contribution to astronomy, unfolded across the night sky. 

The courtyard of Cifu Palace provided a perfect backdrop for this visual feast. Fifteen precious artifacts, including jade objects from Liangzhu civilization and a lamp from a canoe discovered at the Kuahuqiao site, were brought to life with cutting-edge lighting technology. transporting viewers through time and space. These treasures, on loan from various museums in Hangzhou, transported visitors through time and space, inviting them to immerse themselves in the city’s rich cultural heritage.

A highlight of the evening was the immersive performance, Deshou Palace Banquet. This live performance recreated a lavish Song Dynasty court banquet, where historical figures like Emperor Gaozong, Emperor Xiaozong, the scholar-official Shi Hao, and the painter Ma Hezhi gathered to celebrate wine, poetry, and art. The talented actors really brought history to life, transporting the audience the elegant and refined world of the South Song Dynasty.

Inspired by Deshou Palace Museum’s collection of Song-time artifacts, documents, and paintings, the performance was created in collaboration with experts on Song Dynasty clothing, utensils, rituals, and music to ensure an authentic experience. Zhou Ji, director of the museum, explained that the performance draws inspiration from Old Stories of Wulin, including stories of Emperor Gaozong and Emperor Xiaozong dining with the scholar-official Shi Hao, as well as Emperor Gaozong and the painter Ma Hezhi co-creating paintings based on The Shijing. It also references historical documents by court organizations that provided catering services to the Song Dynasty nobility, as well as Song Dynasty paintings such as Literary Gathering by Zhao Ji (Emperor Huizong) and Banquet by Lantern Light by Ma Yuan.

Deshou Palace Banquet will be occasionally staged at the museum. The light show will run daily from December 3 to 8, every 30 minutes from 6:30 PM to 9:00 PM.