The Royal Thai Embassy, Beijing, is pleased to announce that an exhibition entitled “Golden Friendship, Shared Brilliance: A Special Exhibition Celebrating the 50 th Anniversary of Thai-Chinese Diplomatic relations” (金邻共曜—庆祝中泰建交50周年文物特展)is now on display at the Hall of Literary Brilliance (文华殿), the Palace Museum (also known as the Forbidden City), Beijing, from now until 24 February 2026. Visitors to the Palace Museum can view this special exhibition without extra cost. The Palace Museum opens from 8.30 – 16.30 hrs every day, except Monday.

The Exhibition presents a millennium-old friendship between Thailand and China in aspects of history, religions, art, culture, and social values. The content of the exhibition is told in 4 sections, displaying 249 significant and elegant Thai and Chinese artefacts and objets d’art, 171 entries from collection of the Office of National Museums of Thailand, joined by 78 entries from collection of the Palace Museum.
Section 1 “A Cherished Friendship” features artefacts outlining ancient contacts between Thailand and China. Highlights are a royal letter, carved on gold leaf, from the Siamese king to the Chinese emperor, two sets of painted porcelain telling the stories of “Journey to the West” and “Phra Aphai Mani”, and the Qing-Dynasty Thai-Chinese dictionary.
Section 2 “Sacred Buddhist Art” reveals commonalties between the Thai and Chinese Buddhist Arts through exquisite artefacts such as an Ayutthaya-Period buddha statue adorned with royal regalia, gold offerings excavated from the crypt of Ratchaburana Temple in Ayutthaya, and a Qianlong-Era altar set with eight auspicious symbols motifs.
Section 3 “Exquisite Craftsmanship” presents selected masterpieces of art objects in the Siamese royal court and Chinese imperial court, for example: a Siamese royal throne with curved backrest, sandal wood screen embroidered with gold thread into dragon motifs, and royal coronet from the Ayutthaya Kingdom.
Section 4 “Enduring Artistic Tradition” showcases contemporary works, which include a model of the Royal Barge Suphannahong, double-tier pedestal tray decorated with mother-of-pearl inlays, and Khon masks, all created by the Office of the Traditional Arts, Department of Fine Arts, Ministry of Culture of Thailand.

This special exhibition is the most significant display of cultural relics from Thailand in China in history of the Thai-Chinese relations, and also of the highest standard. It is a result of collaboration between the Fine Arts Department, Ministry of Culture of Thailand, and the Palace Museum, Beijing, initiated and coordinated by the Royal Thai Embassy,

Beijing. The Thailand Foundation sponsored the cost of transportation and insurance of these invaluable artefacts.
Their Majesties the King and Queen of Thailand graciously visited the special exhibition on 17 November 2025 for an inaugural viewing, as part of the State Visit to the People’s Republic of China. All parties involved in the preparation of the exhibition are utmost grateful for their royal presences.

Photo Credit: The Palace Museum’s Official WeChat Account