Digital technology plays a crucial role in conserving and promoting traditional Chinese culture, offering innovative, efficient and far-reaching ways to engage the younger generation.

To promote Chinese culture and establish Hong Kong as an East-meets-West centre for international cultural exchange, as outlined in the National 14th Five-Year Plan, the Institute of Philanthropy (IoP) is collaborating with the Palace Museum on a five-year initiative aimed at promoting cultural exchange and nurturing arts-tech talent in Hong Kong and the Mainland. IoP was established as a “think-fund-do” tank for China, Asia and beyond through a seed grant from The Hong Kong Jockey Club and its Charities Trust.

Caption: Ann Kung, IoP Deputy Chairman and Trustee of The Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust, said at the launch ceremony on 8 July that she hopes the Palace Museum’s interactive youth website will inspire the younger generation to explore the wisdom of Chinese culture. She also encouraged participants of the inaugural “Culture+Technology Training Camp” to explore how digital technology can advance cultural heritage conservation and the cultural tourism industry

One recent project to come to fruition under this initiative is the launch of English and traditional Chinese versions of the Palace Museum’s Youth Website, exclusively sponsored by IoP and organised by the Palace Museum. The project is designed to engage teenagers worldwide by dynamically integrating arts and culture, while fostering a deeper sense of identity and pride in Chinese culture among the public. Translated from the simplified Chinese content by a professional team from the Translation and Interpretation Academy of the China International Communications Group, the website presents guided tours, exhibitions, architecture, collections and imperial history, among other content. Its innovative edutainment platform and educational resources for teenagers are presented through hand-drawn illustrations, interactive trails, games, micro-animations, videos and online journaling tools.

Caption: The Palace Museum’s Youth Website is now also accessible in English and traditional Chinese versions

Another initiative is the Palace Museum-Hong Kong Youth Cultural Practitioners “Culture+Technology Training Camp” 2025, which has brought together 20 participants for a four-week exchange trip to Hangzhou, Shanghai and Beijing. The youngsters are engaging in expert lectures on digitalisation and cultural inheritance, VR and AR applications and digital exhibition production, as well as field studies and collaborative projects. After completing the training, participants will demonstrate their learning through group projects and propose a curatorial framework for a digitalised exhibition.