To commemorate the centenary of the Palace Museum, Zuni has created a children’s musical The Kangxi Emperor Dream-walking the Imperial Palace, blending Arts Tech and immersive stage effects to introduce the architectural wonders of the Imperial Palace. This engaging performance helps young audiences explore Chinese concepts of space and time through the unique design of the Imperial Palace.
The story follows eight-year-old Kangxi, who, according to legend, had a dream on the night he ascended the throne. In his dream, he encounters a mystical creature—part cat, part dog—who reveals itself as the magical spirit and designer of the Imperial Palace. With a wave of a wand, the spirit transports Kangxi back to the first day of the Imperial Palace’s inauguration in the Ming Dynasty in 1420. Together, they travel through time and space, singing as they explore: sunrise to sunset, the Round Heaven and Square Earth, the principles of Yin-Yang and the Five Elements, counting the twelve Earthly Branches and two-hour periods, and tracing the meridian from south to north along the central axis of the Imperial Palace. Through song and discovery, they unlock the spatial and temporal secrets of the Imperial Palace celebrating reverence for heaven and ancestors and the enlightened principles of governance.
Artistic Director and Chief Curator: Mathias Woo
Assistant Artistic Director: Cedric Chan
Senior Researcher / Editor: Theresa Leung
General Manager (Programme): Doris Kan
Senior Manager (Programme): Bowie Chow
Senior Manager (Production and Technical): Chow Chun-yin
Project Manager / Editor: Katrina Leung
Project Officer: Ricky Cheng
Director & Arts Tech Designer: Mathias Woo
Music Director: Yu Yat-yiu
Lyrics: Cedric Chan
Illustration: Lai Tat-wing
Creation/Arts Guides: Ray Tang, Luka Wong, Zachary Pink Yung
Creative Assistant: Chloe Li
Arts Guide / Hoop Instructor: Grace Hui
Technical Consultant and Lighting Design: Mak Kwok-fai
Sound Design: Soloan Chung
Costume Design: Sing Lo
Video, Tracking, Server Control: Johnny Sze
Image and Animation Assistant: Tang Shuting
Stage Manager: Megan Hung
Deputy Stage Manager: Canaan Fong
Assistant Stage Manager: Onki Chan
Wardrobe: Bonnie Chan
Make-up: Betty Wan
Stage crew: Kenneth Keung, Chung Yiu-chan
Arts Tech Installation: Mathias Woo
Production Manager: Carmen Cheng, Wayne Wong
Installation Executive Design: Yanki Lau
Installation Production Partner: Art Floor Production Limited, Jkbrothers Engineering Company Limited, Petros Consulting Engineers Limited, Show Start Limited
Kinetic Winch System Programmer: Mousey Tse@Lightmaniac Studio
Graphic Design Executive: Pollux Kwok, Liu Si
Guided Tour Content Editing: Carson Chung
Event Assistants: Victor Cheung, Melody Kwok, Hidy Lam, Esther Lau, Song Leung, Bonnie Yeung
Curator: Mathias Woo
Arts Guide: Sobi So, Ray Tang, Zachary Pink Yung, Luka Wong
Research / Advisors: Theresa Leung, David Yeung^
Technical Operators: Onki Chan, Megan Hung
Workshop Helpers: Victor Cheung, Esther Lau
Theatre / Arts Tech Instructors: Chan Wing-kit, Chow Chun-yin, Soloan Chung, Ko Man-kit, Lai Tat-wing, Kinphen Leung, Johnny Sze, Tso Chi-yan, Yu Yat-yiu
Producer: Wong Yuewai
General Manager (Administration and Finance): Jacky Chan
Administration Manager: Colin Cheng
Programme and Promotion Manager: Momoko Ng
Programme Assistant: Niki Luk
Coordinator / Copywriter: Topaz Chiu
Front of House Assistants: Chuk Yin-man
“Palace Museum 36500” Logo Design: Clement Yick
Ticketing & Digital Marketing: Ho Yin-hei
English Translation (Promotion): Mona Chu
Photography: Vic Shing, Apple Lai, Xia Dong
Photography (Exhibition): Ebohom Liga, Xu Liang Leon
Video Documentation: Lin Kar-ming
Au Chim-fei, Chan Wai-yan, Cheng Hiu-ching*, Cheung Tim-yan, Hui Yan-ying, Winky Kwok*, Lam Sze-ling, Lam Sin-ho, Law Yik-hin, Lee Suet-ying, Leung Ho-kan, Liu Jiaruixi, Lo Siu-kwan, Man Po-yin Selina, Pao Tsz-ching, Sim Lok-yan Venesse, Siu Ying-tung, Wong Chik-hei, Xiao Ruting, Yim Tsz-lam, Zhao Hao-lin*, Zhu Anqi
Design Advisor: Mathias Woo
Research and Editor-in-chief : Theresa Leung
Illustration and Graphic Design: Lai Tat-wing
Graphic Design Executive: Pollux Kwok
Executive Editor: Katrina Leung
Website Design: Carol Mak
Website Programming: Jesse Lee
Animation: Vanilla Guo
Translation: Mona Chu
Interns: Xiao Ruting (Animation), Pao Tsz-ching (Proofreading)
For the General Public: Register online via the ZUNI TICKETING platform
For School Groups and HKCSS Agency Member Service Targets: Please complete the application form and email it to zuni@zuni.org.hk to apply
Tickets are free of charge; $10 handling fee per ticket.
Each person can register up to 4 adult tickets and 4 child tickets.
Limited availability, first-come, first-served.
・Running time approximately 45 minutes with no intermission.
・Chinese surtitles will be provided.
・Best for ages 6 and above.
・One ticket per person is required for entry.
・No latecomers will be admitted, until a suitable break in the performance.
・Eating, drinking, and the use of flash photography, tripods, and selfie sticks are prohibited inside the venue to avoid disturbing other participants.
・Please do not bring large luggage or any items that may inconvenience others; otherwise, the staff reserves the right to deny entry.
・If the performance is canceled due to adverse weather conditions, any fees already paid, including handling charges, are non-refundable.
To commemorate the centenary of the Palace Museum, Zuni presents the Palace Museum 36500: Space-Time installation at the Hong Kong Cultural Centre Foyer. Integrating Arts Tech with modular architectural design, the exhibition constructs a three-dimensional “Nine Palaces” space — an embodiment of Chinese wisdom — offering a vivid, immersive experience of the inseparable relationship between time and space. Just like the Imperial Palace itself, the installation is oriented north-south, inviting visitors to step inside and explore the meridian axis of the Imperial Palace.
Within the installation, visitors interact with the 365 days of the year, the twelve Earthly Branches, the twelve double-hour periods, and the twelve Zodiac animals—experiencing the dynamic interplay of time and space through the unique spatial design of the Imperial Palace.
📍 Foyer, Hong Kong Cultural Centre
🗓️ 2025.8.28 – 2025.9.7
2025 marks the 100th anniversary of the Palace Museum. Over the past 36,500 days since its establishment in 1925, the Palace Museum has transformed from an imperial palace into a cultural treasure trove, housing millions of precious artifacts from the Ming and Qing dynasties. Its architectural design and spatial layout are imbued with the Chinese scholarly wisdom of the Heavenly Stems and Earthly Branches, the Yin-Yang Five Elements, and the 24 Solar Terms.
The 12 Earthly Branches – Zi, Chou, Yin, Mao, Chen, Si, Wu, Wei, Shen, You, Xu, and Hai – are not only used to chronicle years but also mark the 12 (two-hour) periods of a day, the 12 months of a year, and 12 Chinese compass points, reflecting the traditional Chinese understanding of space and time.
Under the theme Palace Museum 36500, this year’s project will be integrated with Arts Tech to explore the Palace Museum as the largest and best-preserved wooden quadrangle architectural complex in China. Through a series of activities including Community Workshops, Exhibitions, Children Creative Arts Tech Camp, and the development of Chinese Culture “Play + Learn” Learning Kits, we aim to introduce people from every walk of life to the concepts of Day and Night, Yin and Yang, the 12 Earthly Branches, the harmony of humanity and nature, the ancient geographical concept of Round Sky and Square Earth, and the spatial and temporal principles of quadrangle architecture.
The Palace Museum, located within Beijing’s Forbidden City, officially opened on October 10, 1925. Its extensive collection originates from the cultural heritage of the Ming and Qing dynasties’ imperial palace.
A prime example of classical Chinese architecture, the Forbidden City’s palace complex showcases the architectural features of the traditional Chinese courtyard (siheyuan). Its symmetrical layout, intricate courtyard arrangements, and meticulous spatial organization reflect Chinese culture‘s profound cultural understanding of space and time.
Funded by The Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust, and organised by Zuni, a series of theatre and art programmes on Chinese culture is in the making.
Through arts-tech theatre performances and activities, music and installations, community workshops and internships, the programme engages people from every walk of life to get closer to Chinese culture and explore our traditions, aesthetics and wisdom.
Baptist Lui Ming Choi Primary School
Canossa Primary School
Caritas Blissful Life Parents Resource Centre
CCC Chuen Yuen First Primary School
Chiu Yang Por Yen Primary School
Cumberland Presbyterian Church Yao Dao Primary School
ELCHK Lutheran Academy
FMCHK Tuen Mun Children and Youth Integrated Services Centre
G.T. (Ellen Yeung) College
HKFYG Lee Shau Kee Primary School
HONG CHI MORNINGHILL SCHOOL,TSUI LAM
Hong Kong Children & Youth Service Tai Yuen After School Care Service
Hong Kong Christian Service Kwai Hing Early Education and Training Centre
Hong Kong Christian Service To-gather Parents Resource Centre (Kwun Tong)
Hong Kong Christian Service To-gather Parents Resource Centre (Sham Shui Po)
Hong Kong PHAB Association Family Hub Parents/Relatives Resource Centre
Hong Kong Society for the Deaf – New Territories Multi-services Centre
Hong Kong Whole Person Development Training Centre by FMCHK
Hung Shui Kiu Youth S.P.O.T.
International Social Service Hong Kong Branch
Lok Sin Tong Leung Kau Kui Primary School
Lok Sin Tong Leung Kau Kui Primary School (Branch)
Lutheran Family Life. Education Unit (Sha Tin)
New Home Association – HOME Centre
New Home Association Choi Wan Service Centre
New Home Association Hong Kong Island Service Centre
New Home Association New Territories West Services Centre
New Home Association Tin Shui Wai Service Centre
Pok Oi Hospital Mr Ng Hung Mow Memorial Family Multiple Intelligences Centre
Pok Oi Hospital Mrs. Cheng Liu Sam Memorial Children and Families Development Centre
Pok Oi Hospital Ng Ma Choi Kiu Memorial Family Multiple Intelligences Centre
Pok Oi Kong Ha Wai Village
Shun Tak Fraternal Association Wu Mien Tuen Primary School
SKH Ling Oi Primary School
SKH Ling Oi Primary School
Social Welfare Department Kai Tak Integrated Family Service Centre
Social Welfare Department Lam Tin Integrated Family Service Centre
Social Welfare Department Tin Shui Wai Integrated Family Service Centre
Social Welfare Department Tin Shui Wai Integrated Family Service Centre
The Hong Kong Society for the Deaf
Tung Wah Group of Hospitals Jockey Club Tin Shui Wai Integrated Services Centre
YLPMS Alumni Association Primary School
Zuni Icosahedron retains the final decision-making authority for all matters related to the Jockey Club Learning Chinese Culture through Arts Tech Theatre Programme.
