UN releases Palace Museum centennial stamps

The United Nations celebrated the upcoming centennial of Beijing's Palace Museum with a stamp launch and exhibition opening at its New York headquarters on Monday, celebrating cultural exchange and the historic legacy of the former imperial palace.

The event, titled "Endless Vitality: UN Stamp Launch & Palace Museum Exhibition", was co-organized by the Palace Museum and the UN Chinese Book Club, with support from the Global Sustainable Development Goals and Leadership Development Center.

It featured a special stamp series issued by the UN Postal Administration to mark the museum's 100th anniversary and International Museum Day.

Geng Shuang, the charge d'affaires of China's permanent mission to the UN, highlighted the museum's global cultural significance during the opening ceremony.

"The UN Postal Administration is issuing a special event sheet of stamps of the Palace Museum, not only to honor the museum's cultural and historical significance, but also to showcase the enduring charm of Chinese culture to the world," Geng said.

The stamps feature 10 floral designs inspired by the museum's vast collection of artifacts, which include millions of Chinese and international relics reflecting centuries of cross-cultural exchange, he said.

The Palace Museum, once China's Forbidden City, served as the residence and administrative hub for 24 emperors during the Ming and Qing dynasties from the 15th century until the early 20th century.

"Displayed side by side, these artifacts of diverse origins and styles are quite a sight to behold," Geng said.

"They bear witness to the centuries of interaction and fusion between Eastern and Western cultures. They also remind later generations that only by embracing openness and inclusiveness, and seeking harmony without uniformity, can we foster peaceful coexistence and synergy among different civilizations."

Atul Khare, under-secretary-general for the UN Department of Operational Support, recounted his visit in 2007 to the Palace Museum while serving as head of peacekeeping operations in Timor-Leste.

Message of peace

"The museum in the last hundred years has been bringing Chinese culture and civilization to the world at large with the message of peace, prosperity, harmony and innovation. And therefore, we congratulate the museum on its hundredth anniversary," Khare told China Daily.

At Monday's ceremony, Khare welcomed Palace Museum delegates, emphasizing museums as "places where culture lives" and critical to achieving Sustainable Development Goals. "Museums make cities vibrant by being spaces where culture and community thrive," he said.

With more than 120 diplomats attending, the event opened with Celestial Melodies, a performance blending traditional Chinese instruments with electronic music. It concluded with a stamp unveiling and interactive cultural exchanges.

Wang Yuegong, deputy director of the Palace Museum, highlighted its global partnerships and innovations in cultural preservation.

"Our creative products, inspired by the museum's collections, promote green initiatives, accessibility, and rural revitalization," Wang said.

The museum has shared its sustainability practices at UN climate conferences and UNESCO forums, aiming to "contribute Chinese solutions to global heritage preservation", he said.

The Palace Museum, a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1987, will mark its 100th anniversary later this year. The exhibition will also tour Europe this year.