Virtual Palace Museum: IBM and Palace Museum Unveil New Interactive Forbidden City

A new web platform, the result of 3 years of cooperation between IBM and the Palace Museum, allows visitors to enter into an interactive online version of Beijing’s Forbidden City. Similar to Second Life, once you’ve downloaded the program, you can choose your avatar (choices include Princess, Concubine and even Eunuch) and explore the grounds of the former Imperial Palace (in English or Chinese) and with or without the help of a tour guide. You’re also able to chat with other visitors (as of Monday afternoon there were 700+ registered users on the English version and 70,000+ unregistered guests) and take part in some simple games like Go Cricket Fighting and Archery - which we found particularly fun.

The aim of the online platform, which opened to the public on last Friday, is to allow visitors to explore and learn more about the huge museum. Users can choose their own preferred routes, although those sections that are off limits in real life are, unfortunately, also off limits in this Second Imperial Life.

Start the tour by visiting Forbidden City: Beyond Space and Time.

Links and Sources
The Forbidden City: Beyond Space and Time
The Forbidden City: Beyond Space and Time – What is it?
Financial Times: IBM unlocks the gates to Beijing's Forbidden City
Digital Watch: The Forbidden City - without the damned crowds!