Beijing, China
The Forbidden City, Dongcheng District
Explore mechanical clocks and automata from the Qing imperial collection. The guide focuses on the Clocks Gallery within the Palace Museum.
The museum’s refurbishment notice places the new gallery in the southern rooms by Fengxian Gate. Check the current museum map and separate gallery access arrangements.
Collection ownership does not guarantee public display. The sections below distinguish museum-listed displays from other collection records. Check current access and exhibitions with the museum before travelling.
Specific galleries or display locations identified in the museum’s own catalogue.
Topic illustration · Williamson writing-automaton clock Historical clock and independently wound writing automaton
Clocks Gallery
The Palace Museum attributes this clock to the Williamson workshop in London. Its writing figure is driven by a separate mechanism. The official exhibition catalogue lists the object in the Clocks Gallery.
Museum record ↗ Display source ↗ Checked 2026-10-29