Noble beauties in your hands: The Palace Museum's first app

A first for the Palace Museum: Launching an internet/mobile application

Back to May 23, 2013, the Palace Museum released its very first iPad app Twelve Beauties of Prince Yong on Apple App Store, bringing the elegance of Qing Dynasty (1644-1911) court life right to users' fingertips.

Based on the Palace Museum's collection Beauties at Leisure in the Willow Grove Studio, a set of twelve large-scale paintings that once adorned the residence of Emperor Yongzheng (r. 1723-35) before his accession to the throne, this app invites users to explore 12 exquisite portraits of noble ladies. It reveals the hidden meanings behind auspicious motifs, the refined lifestyle, the popular hairstyles of the time and fascinating facts about court lady paintings.