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Emperor's leisure

Of the emperors and empresses in Chinese history, Qing Dynasty (1644-1911) ruler Qianlong sealed his name as one of the longest reigning and most accomplished. He was an avid art collector and sponsor, enthusiastically trying his hand at painting and writing. The works of art he treasured often bear poems he composed and dozens of impressions of seals he ordered for engraving. He led a rich cultural life both during his reign and in retirement. Emperor Qianlong's Elegant Life, a long-term exhibition at Nanjing Museum, Jiangsu province, brings together nearly 70 objects of different categories from the museum's collection, offering a glimpse into Qianlong's taste in art and philosophical take on life. The first part displays artifacts that present the emperor's poetic compositions. A pair of porcelain teacups, with a poem by Qianlong titled San Qing Cha ("three-clear tea"), is shown. This type of tea was prepared with plum blossoms, citron fruit and pine nuts, and made with snow water, indicating "integrity, luck and longevity". It is said that Qianlong offered the tea to senior officials in his court at feasts. The second part focuses on Qianlong's six inspection tours of Jiangnan, where he left samples of his writing and painted scenic areas he stayed in. The third part shows works by politicians who served Qianlong and whose cultural and artistic approaches impressed him.

9 am-5 pm, closed on Mondays. 321 Zhongshan Donglu, Xuanwu district, Nanjing, Jiangsu province.025-8480-7923.