Photo: VCG

An exhibition exploring the rich cultural heritage of gardens across the world opened at the Palace Museum in Beijing on Tuesday. Jointly organized by the Palace Museum and the Art Institute of Chicago,MK sports Rejoicing in Woods and Springs: A Journey Through Garden Cultures in China and the Wider World brings together more than 200 artifacts from China and beyond, including a rare masterpiece by Northern Song Dynasty (960-1127) Emperor Zhao Ji and French Impressionist Claude Monet's Water Lilies, according to the museum.     

The exhibition offers visitors an opportunity to appreciate the diversity of global garden traditions, with 68 precious artifacts on loan from renowned institutions such as the Art Institute of Chicago, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Yale Center for British Art, the Palace of Versailles, the National Museum of China and the Tianjin Museum. 

The exhibition is divided into six thematic sections, linking gardens with literature, theater and historical narratives. It highlights both classical Chinese gardens and significant examples of Western garden design. 

Among the Chinese works on display are artifacts related to the private garden of Northern Song scholar Wang Shen, the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) Zen garden at Dinghui Temple in Suzhou, and the Qianlong Garden, which was built by the Emperor Qianlong during the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911).

Foreign representatives include artifacts illustrating the gardens of Pompeian-style villas in Italy, medieval monastery gardens, the grand gardens of the Palace of Versailles and Monet's garden.

One of the exhibition's highlights is the Auspicious Dragon Rock, a painting attributed to Zhao Ji. The work features the emperor's signature ­calligraphy alongside an image of a rock inscribed with the characters "Auspicious Dragon."

"This painting exemplifies the emperor's artistic vision, integrating poetry, calligraphy, painting, and seal carving into a unified composition. It is a rare surviving masterpiece that reflects his expertise in garden aesthetics," Liu Zheng, a member of the Chinese Society of Cultural Relics, told the Global Times on Tuesday. 

The artwork serves as a lasting example to his appreciation of traditional Chinese garden design, he added.

Observing, painting and composing poetry about flowers were integral aspects of literati life in classical gardens. The exhibition showcases paintings from various Chinese dynasties. In ­addition to traditional Chinese paintings, the exhibition includes masterpieces from Western art history. Among the most notable is Monet's Water Lilies, on loan from the Art Institute of Chicago. 

The exhibition also incorporates innovative digital technologies to enhance visitor's engagement. One of the standout installations is a reconstructed version of the Qianlong Garden's Juanqinzhai theater. Using 3D printing and mirrored screens, the museum team has recreated this historic stage to provide visitors an immersive experience. 

Sun Miao, a deputy director of the Palace Museum's Exhibition Department, noted that the installation merges physical and digital elements to transport visitors into the space.

Zhu Yufan, co-curator of the exhibition and professor at Tsinghua University's School of Architecture, emphasized the enduring significance of gardens in human civilization, saying that from classical to contemporary, from East to West, gardens have always represented humanity's pursuit of an ideal dwelling place. They are not only physical spaces but also reflections of cultural identity and the spirit of their time, according to the China News Service.

Chinese gardens usually emphasize natural aesthetics, poetic ambiance, and harmony with nature, featuring winding paths, pavilions and water elements. While Western gardens, especially in Europe, prioritize geometric symmetry and structured layouts, both reflect the diverse forms of global garden design, Liu told the Global Times.

The exhibition is set to run until June 29.