At 1 pm on October 29, 2000, Man-U Imports and the Foster City Arts and Culture Committee will present a slide presentation and lecture about “The Secret World of the Forbidden City,” a magnificent exhibition of more than 350 treasures from the Imperial Palace in Bejiing  (1644 to 1911).  The event takes place at the Foster City Recreation Center, 650 Shell Blvd., Foster City. Admission is free.

Sally Yu Leung, Asian Art Commissioner and Senior Docent at San Francisco’s Asian Art Museum, will give a preview of the cultural treasures that will be on display at the Oakland Museum’s Secret World of the Forbidden City; Splendors from China’s Imperial Palace exhibit from Oct. 14, 2000 through Jan. 24. 2001. 

The slide presentation and lecture will provide valuable insight on Chinese traditions and culture and a preview of the exotic examples of art produced exclusively for the Imperial Court. The Forbidden City was once inaccessible to all but the emperor’s court. Many of the pieces in the exhibit have never been displayed before - not even in China. All were produced with the highest levels of craftsmanship using gold, silver, gems, jade, precious woods, silks and inlaid metals. 

Frank Jang of Man-U Imports in San Mateo and Joyce Chan are program directors for the event. Man-U Imports will host a reception following Ms. Leung’s presentation, along with a display of high quality reproductions of the artifacts she will discuss. 

Ms. Leung’s extensive experience includes lecturing on Chinese culture and folk art, as well as organizing and curating cultural exhibitions. In addition to her many roles at the Asian Art Museum, she has served on the boards of the Chinese American International School and the Chinese Cultural Foundation. An avid collector of Chinese folk art and textiles, her most recent contribution to San Francisco’s Chinese Cultural Center was a display of period clothing and accessories to complement the Old Chinatown exhibit.