Back in 1987 we got to tour The Hall of Clocks in the Forbidden City in Beijing. It displays ornate timepieces mainly from the Qing dynasty (1644–1912). Many clocks were imported from Europe or crafted in imperial workshops, highlighting the period’s fascination with Western mechanics and the fusion of Chinese and European artistry. The hall historically houses about 200 clocks and watches. The Palace Museum’s overall collection of mechanical timepieces is much larger (with more than 1,000 pieces), but only a portion was displayed in the hall at any given time. I remember it was pretty loud when 12 noon struck.
View attachment 482146