How imperial feasts looked like, why jade has a place at the table and why the Chinese call food the sky – the Moscow Kremlin Museums are opening an exhibition on the culture of dining in Ancient China. TV BRICS is the international media partner of the project.

The exposition will allow visitors to get acquainted with the traditions of Chinese dining – from the first kitchen devices of the Neolithic era to the ceremonial utensils of imperial times.

According to Zhang Weiming, Deputy Director of the National Museum of China, Chinese feasting culture is not only about food, but also about symbolism, aesthetics and intellectual tradition.

“We have tried to present Chinese culture in volume. There are ceramics, bronzes, calligraphy, archaeological finds, and paintings. All this demonstrates how deep and refined the Chinese culture of food consumption was and still is,” he said.

Elena Gagarina, General Director of the Moscow Kremlin Museums, shared that such an exhibition is not just about contemplating objects, but an opportunity to understand a foreign culture more deeply.

“It is not the contemplation of crockery that brings people together, but the interest in traditions that are very important for the life of another people. These are the rituals associated with ancestor cults, sacrifices, and how Chinese food culture developed. […] Getting to know the traditions is not only interesting, but also allows us to better understand foreigners who often come here,” she told TV BRICS.

Gagarina also noted that this exhibition is the first joint exposition with the National Museum of China, but cooperation with Chinese museums began back in 2006 and will continue in the future.

“I hope that in 2026 we will be able to organise two exhibitions in China from the Kremlin museums. We are actively working on this,” she added.

Ekaterina Shcherbina, curator of the Moscow Kremlin Museums’ exhibition, speaking to TV BRICS, emphasised that the project is adapted specifically for a Russian audience.

“We asked to supplement the exposition with items that will help to reveal the topic deeper for our visitors, taking into account the specifics. For us, any exhibition about China is an acquaintance with a largely unfamiliar culture,” she noted.

The exhibition will open in Moscow tomorrow, 11 April, and will run until 17 August 2025.

Photo: TV BRICS