Following a journey spanning more than three months and traversing over 9,000 kilometers from Prague, Czech Republic, the beloved treasure of the National Palace Museum (NPM), the Jadeite Cabbage, has successfully concluded its inaugural European tour and returned home safe and sound!

Today (the 29^th), the National Palace Museum hosted a media briefing to welcome the Jadeite Cabbage home. Led by NPM Director Hsiao Tsung-Huang, accompanied by Deputy Directors Huang Yung-Tai and Yu Pei-Chin, the event was joined by Michal Lukeš, Director General of the National Museum of the Czech Republic, Deputy Director Petr Brůha, and their team that traveled specifically for this occasion, alongside David Steinke, Representative of the Czech Economic and Cultural Office in Taipei. During the conference, the officials jointly announced that the Jadeite Cabbage has resumed its residency at the Northern Branch, ready to greet visitors at home and abroad. In a delightful surprise, Director General Lukeš teased a future reciprocal exhibition in Taiwan, writing a new chapter in the cultural exchange between the Czech Republic and Taiwan.

In his remarks, Director Hsiao Tsung-Huang expressed gratitude to Director General Michal Lukeš of the National Museum of the Czech Republic and his team for demonstrating world-class museum professionalism throughout the exhibition, displaying the NPM treasures with the highest calibre, and personally escorting the artifacts safely back to Taiwan, which reflect the professionalism and mutual trust of both parties through years of collaboration. Meanwhile, Director Hsiao extended special thanks to the Executive Yuan and the Legislative Yuan for their support across party lines. Also, Hsiao reiterated his appreciation to the Czech Parliament and the relevant government agencies in both countries for their concerted efforts in passing the amendment to the Act on State Monument Care in April 2024. By enshrining “immunity from judicial seizure” into the law, this amendment provides a solid and clear legal foundation for the overseas exhibition of NPM artifacts. Furthermore, Hsiao thanked the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Culture for jointly promoting the “Taiwan Culture in Europe 2025,” allowing European audiences to appreciate the profound cultural heritage of Taiwan.

Director Hsiao noted that in 2025, the Czech National Museum welcomed a record-breaking 1.38 million visitors, with the NPM exhibition alone attracting nearly 340,000 visitors, demonstrating the power of culture to transcend linguistic and geographical boundaries. Through the NPM artifacts, European audiences were thus able to see Taiwan that is diverse, open, and rich in cultural energy. Just as Director General Lukeš's remarks at the opening, “the NPM does not loan its precious collection to those other than true friends,” it encapsulates the precious Taiwan-Czech friendship. Moving forward, building upon this friendship, the NPM views its exhibition in Czech Republic not merely as a perfect finale of a phase, but also an overture to unveil the next. Both museums have assembled curatorial teams, poised to collaborate on a reciprocal exhibition in Taiwan. Pursuant to the curatorial spirit of “storytelling via artifacts,” and grounded in the principles of mutual reciprocity and professional cooperation, the museums aim to sustain and deepen the Taiwan-Czech cultural exchange, bring the world to Taiwan, and take Taiwan to the world, catalyzing the next magnificent cultural dialogue between Czech Republic and Taiwan.

Director General of the National Museum of the Czech Republic, Michal Lukeš, expressed his heartfelt gratitude for the close collaboration with the NPM team over the past few months. Now that all the NPM artifacts have safely returned to Taiwan, Lukeš would like to extend special thanks to NPM Director Hsiao and his entire staff for placing such profound trust in the Czech National Museum. The trust has been cherished, and the exhibition execution and artifact protection have been executed with the highest standard throughout. The special exhibition, “100 Treasures, 100 Stories,” drew 340,000 visitors, making it one of the most successful exhibitions in the museum's history and undoubtedly one of Europe's premier cultural events in 2025. Telling captivating stories via the NPM artifacts, the exhibition guided Czech audiences into the rich depths of Chinese cultural heritage. In addition, by integrating digital technology with exhibition design, it successfully showcased the unique splendor of the NPM's art treasures.

Director General Lukeš further announced that this successful collaboration is not an end, but a start for the next phase of both museums. The National Museum of the Czech Republic is actively curating a reciprocal exhibition for Taiwan, “Heart of Europe: Treasury of Czech Culture.” Through five curatorial lenses, i.e., “Faith,” “Power, Status, and Representation,” “Music,” “Czech Garnet,” and “Stone Memory of Bohemia,” the exhibition aims to illuminate the pivotal role the Czech played in the shaping of European civilizations, guiding Taiwanese audiences to see the Czech's place in history, where its diverse cultures, spiritual traditions, and the forces of nature intersect. Through this reciprocal exhibition in Taiwan, Taiwan and the Czech Republic will continue their friendship, and the people of Taiwan can relish the beauty of the Czech Republic at the heart of the European Continent. Director General Lukeš looks forward to joining hands with the NPM to write yet another brilliant chapter, showcasing the enduring trust, openness, and sincere friendship between Taiwan and the Czech Republic.

David Steinke, Representative of the Czech Economic and Cultural Office in Taipei, remarked that upon assuming his post four years ago, he was asked about the top priorities for his tenure, for which he named two: establishing direct flights between Taipei and Prague, and bringing a major exhibition from the National Palace Museum to Prague. Today, both wishes have been wonderfully fulfilled. Looking back, these might seem like tasks checked in the calendar. Nevertheless, the reality of bringing them to life was far more complex than imagined. Representative Steinke recalled his first visit to the NPM in 2015, waiting in line just to catch a glimpse of the Jadeite Cabbage. Little did he imagine that a decade later, the NPM artifacts would be greeting audiences at the Czech National Museum in Prague. The institution also had undergone renovation under Director General Lukeš's leadership in 2015. Recalling his attendance at the opening ceremony of “100 Treasures, 100 Stories” last September, Steinke was deeply moved by the sparkle of enthusiasm in the eyes of the visitors on site. He extended special thanks to Director Hsiao Tsung-Huang of the National Palace Museum and Director General Michal Lukeš of the National Museum of the Czech Republic, commending their teams for the unwavering determination and patience to overcome formidable obstacles and bring this dream-like exhibition to reality.

Director Hsiao emphasized that the partnership between the NPM and the Czech National Museum was built on a solid basis of comprehensive planning and rigorous preparation. From artifact selection and immunity from seizure procedures to packing and transport arrangements, each step was carefully executed with the highest calibre. A series of security measures were in place for both the departure and return of artifacts. In addition to the Czech team coming to the NPM for onsite artifact checks and measurement for packing, the artifacts were subject to customs inspections upon entry and exit. Upon returning to Taiwan, teams from both museums conducted verification of quantity and condition of the artifacts, item by item. To ensure absolute security, the Bureau of Cultural Heritage, Ministry of Culture, convened a panel of experts and scholars for a secondary inspection as well. Director Hsiao stressed that the same rigorous attitude will be upheld for any and all overseas exhibitions in the future, with careful evaluation of details such as transport routes. In response, Director General Lukeš stated that his museum operates under strict security protocols and maintains close cooperation with the police department. “The NPM artifacts were never at risk for even a single second,” said the Director General.

According to the National Palace Museum, the special exhibition, “100 Treasures, 100 Stories,” marked a historic milestone as the first major overseas exhibition in celebration of the NPM's Centennial in 2025 and the debut of its artifacts in the Czech Republic. Held at the National Museum of the Czech Republic from September 11 to December 31, the exhibition featured a curated selection of 131 sets of precious artifacts, including the Jadeite Cabbage, Cabinet of Curiosities, and Along the River During the Ch'ing-ming Festival Season. Presented alongside digital exhibits, the show garnered enthusiastic accolades from European audiences. Following the successful conclusion of the exhibition at the end of last year, all the artifacts have safely returned to Taiwan.

Just in time for the Lunar New Year, the Jadeite Cabbage, symbolizing auspiciousness for its Chinese pronunciation resembles “hundred kinds of wealth,” will remain on view at the NPM Northern Branch until February 22 (the 6^th of the First Month of the Lunar New Year) to celebrate the holidays with the public. Afterwards, it will move to the Gallery of Our Beloved Treasures at the NPM Southern Branch from March 5 to June 7. Everyone is invited to visit the NPM Northern and Southern Branches to admire the Jadeite Cabage and receive hundred kinds of wealth.