THE Palace Museum, housed in the Forbidden City in Beijing, will be closed to the public every Monday for renovation and maintenance starting in June, the museum announced Thursday.

However, it will be open on public holidays, the museum added.

The former imperial palace had been closed on Monday afternoons since January 2013. The closure was extended to all day Monday from January 2014, except for public holidays and Mondays during July and August, the holiday season for schools.

Based on previous closure policies, the new decision was made to better protect cultural relics, renovate ancient architecture, and to improve exhibitions.

(Xinhua)