A NEW smartphone app enables visitors to appreciate the 400 pieces of ceramics stored at the Imperial Palace Ceramics Museum more closely in their own hands, literally, according to China Daily. The app, released by the Palace Museum last week, is the latest move by the museum to attract visitors through modern technology.

    Last year, the museum made headlines after launching several creative products in its Taobao store. Animated flash images of Emperor Yongzheng of the Qing Dynasty (reigned 1678-1735) developed by the museum also drew a large number of followers to its Wechat account.

    With the app “The Palace Museum,” visitors can obtain more information about certain items through scanning a QR code on the display cases. They can also access exquisite pictures and voice guides for the item.

    The 400 ceramics, most from the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911), were chosen from over 350,000 items stored in the Palace Museum. The items, all authenticated by experts, range from grey pottery to celadon, from white porcelain to vitreous enamel. The museum is offering 360-degree unhindered views for eight selected pieces in the collection.

    Visitors can also catch a glimpse of these ceramics by following the public Wechat messaging account of “Wei Gu Gong” (Micro Imperial Palace). Followers can click on pictures of certain ceramics to learn more about them.

    Wenhua Dian (Hall of Literary Glory), where the ceramics were being exhibited, used to be a place where imperial examinations were graded. Now, it has become one of the most important and most famous exhibition halls within the Palace Museum. (SD-Agencies)