On July 16, 2026, the Ptolemy Museum officially opened its annual special exhibition, “Knowing the Myriad Beings: Ancient Chinese Natural History and Nature Exploration in Hong Kong”. By integrating rare ancient texts, natural history illustrations, biological specimens and interactive art installations, the exhibition presents the historical trajectory and contemporary dialogue connecting traditional Chinese natural knowledge with the development of natural history in Hong Kong.
At the opening ceremony, Mr Han Peng, Director of the Ptolemy Museum; Dr Benoit Guénard, Director of the Hong Kong Biodiversity Museum; and Dr Chen Zhi, President of Beijing Normal University-Hong Kong Baptist University, delivered speeches. Representatives from partner and supporting organisations, alongside distinguished guests from the museum, education, cultural and diplomatic sectors, were in attendance. In his remarks, Mr Han expressed his hope that the exhibition would “not only disseminate knowledge but also spark curiosity, inspiring people to observe the world anew”.
From left: Dr Fung Kwok Pui, President of Hok Hoi Library; Dr Benoit Guénard, Director of the Hong Kong Biodiversity Museum; Mr Han Peng, Director of the Ptolemy Museum; Dr Chen Zhi, President of Beijing Normal–Hong Kong Baptist University
Ancient China established a sophisticated tradition of observing, identifying, and documenting the natural world. From classic texts such as the Classic of Poetry, Classic of Mountains and Seas, and Bowuzhi, to illustrated compendia and treatises on natural history from various dynasties, the ancients transformed their observations of flora and fauna into organised knowledge, fostering a tradition often referred to as the “Study of the Myriad Beings”.
1. Re-visiting the Ancient Chinese World of Knowledge
Focusing on ancient Chinese natural history, the exhibition features classic texts such as Qinding Gujin Tushu Jicheng and Maoshi Mingwu Tushuo to showcase how ancient Chinese scholars understood and named the natural world, weaving it into their literature, rituals, and daily lives. Through a curated selection of natural history illustrations by Mr Zeng Xiaolian and nature imagery from various eras, visitors can explore the formation and dissemination of traditional Chinese natural knowledge.
2. Discovering Hong Kong Between Mountains and Seas — A Century of Local Natural History
This exhibition reviews Hong Kong’s natural history over the past century, tracing the development from 19th-century field surveys and early species documentation to the establishment of 20th-century academic research and natural education, and finally to contemporary ecological conservation and public engagement. Through historical documents, biological specimens, scientific illustrations and natural heritage artefacts, we invite visitors to rediscover the natural memories of this city hidden between its mountains and seas.
3. Stepping into the Field — Immersive Natural Experience Installations
Breaking away from traditional display methods, the exhibition features four immersive interactive installations. Visitors will traverse natural imagery from ancient texts, step into the Zoological Garden of the Qing Imperial Palace, overlook Hong Kong’s diverse habitats, and finally transform into a naturalist to explore a micro-ecological site.
The exhibition is organised by the Ptolemy Museum and co-organised by the Hong Kong Biodiversity Museum, with support from various educational and cultural institutions. It runs from July 16, 2026, to January 10, 2027. Throughout the exhibition period, a series of lectures, guided tours, and workshops will be held, inviting scholars, artists, and nature educators to join the public in exploring the relationships between nature, culture, and human cognition.
