Artifacts from Shenyang Palace Museum on display in Beijing

US universities offer local programs in China for study-abroad students who cannot travel

An exhibition featuring imperial treasures from the Qing Dynasty, as well as a replica of the Dazheng Palace from Shenyang's Palace Museum, is being held at the National Museum of China in Beijing.

Co-hosted by the Shenyang Palace Museum and the National Museum of China, the exhibition showcases imperial treasures from the Qing Dynasty, from the 17th to early 20th century.

Over 200 items are on display, including ritual objects, porcelain, calligraphy and sculptures. The pieces made of precious materials and featuring exquisite craftsmanship represent some of the highest levels of art at that time.

"We designed this booth by imitating the original settings from the Dazheng Palace at the Shenyang Palace Museum. The Dazheng Palace was the first building built by Emperor Nurhachi in 1625 on the location of the museum, and now it has become a landmark in Shenyang, which is very unique," said Luan Luan, staff member of the Shenyang Palace Museum.

The Shenyang Palace Museum is one of the two largest museums in China that have been set up in former imperial residences. It served as a palace in the early days of the Qing Dynasty and houses a rich collection of art works from that period.

This exhibition marks the first systematic display of the cultural relics of the Shenyang Palace Museum in Beijing, through which visitors can learn more about the imperial etiquette, living customs, art and culture, and religious beliefs during the Qing Dynasty.

"We skillfully integrated the exhibits with their historical contexts. The narrative mode of the exhibition will bring visitors a better experience," said Wang Zhiqiang, exhibition curator.

The exhibition provides a detailed history of certain aspects of the period, like the imperial dressing system and ritual etiquette.

American universities are creating international programs for Chinese students who were meant to study outside China, but who cannot due to the coronavirus pandemic. Yang Zhixin is a freshman at Cornell University, an Ivy League school located in New York. She was meant to study at the school starting in September last year, but COVID-19 made that impossible. Now, thanks to a cooperative program between Cornell and China's prestigious Peking University, she can live and take classes in person on the campus of the latter, while taking online classes with the former.

"It feels surreal. But it is also good since it is a different experience. If it was not due to the pandemic, I won't be able to experience the university life in Peking University," said Yang.

More foreign universities have launched similar programs for students who cannot fulfill their overseas study, according to industry insiders. Part of the lure is taking classes in person and experiencing dorm life compared to just taking classes online at home in the midst of the pandemic.

Still, overseas educational consultancies warn that remote classes cannot fully replace the benefits of in-person learning.

"Especially for those students majoring in business, they participate in group discussions, projects and presentations. So if the courses are converted to online classes, it will definitely impact the communications and social activities among students," said Liu Xiaowei, an expert of an overseas educational consultancy in Beijing.