An exhibition entitled “The Treasures of Chinese Emperors from the Forbidden City” has opened Russia's Year of China Moscow's Kremlin Palace. The show features the personal belongings of Chinese Emperors from the last Qing dynasty.

The inner life of the Forbidden City in Beijing, which was mystery for the rest of the world for many years, is now on display and available for mere mortals.

“These things on display represent the Golden Era of Chinese Culture – the Era of the Qing Dynasty. Most of them used to belong to Qianlong Emperor who was a famous patron of art and collector. He was also the first to make a catalogue of the Imperial collection,” explains Ekaterina Scherbina, the Curator of this exhibition. 

The Imperial seals were the symbols of overwhelming power but at the same time the Empress and the Emperor's mistresses could also have their own seals. 

Chinese Emperors were very intelligent and educated. Each of them had their own sets of tools for writing and painting.

At the moment there are more than a million items at the Imperial Palace Museum.

There could be more, but in 1949 the army of Chiang Kai-shek took many of the Imperial treasures to Taiwan. The continuing dispute between China and Taiwan prevents their return. 

“We all hope that someday the exhibits will be returned to our Museum but now it's hard to predict anything,” says the Director of Imperial Palace Museum Mr Li Ji. 

Part of the Imperial Treasures will be on display at the Kremlin until June.