The model of the Chinese Palace in Laeken

From October 14, 2025, the Art & History Museum will feature the model of the Chinese Palace in Laeken (formerly known as the Chinese Pavilion), crafted in Shanghai between 1903 and 1904 by the Tushanwan workshops. Commissioned by architect Alexandre Marcel for the construction of the Chinese Pavilion and the Japanese Tower, this wooden 1:10 scale model meticulously reproduces the palace’s sculptures and decorative elements, as well as those of its annexes, including the stables and pavilion.

A forgotten masterpiece, restored

For many years, the model was stored in pieces in the museum’s archives. Its restoration, carried out from November 2024 to July 2025 by the non-profit organization Palais chinois et des Pays des routes de la soie (Chinese pavilion and countries of the Silk Roads), allowed for a faithful reconstruction of the original. The project drew on historical photographs and drawings from the archives of both the Royal Palace and Shanghai, using 3D scanning and printing to recreate missing elements.

A unique heritage in Europe

The Chinese Palace in Laeken (formerly known as the Chinese Pavilion) built at the initiative of King Leopold II, is a rare architectural gem in Europe. Decorated by Parisian artists and inaugurated in 1913, it long served as a permanent exhibition space showcasing trade with the Far East. Closed in 2013 for safety reasons, it is now the focus of a revitalization project led by the Palais chinois et des Pays des routes de la soie. The presentation of this model marks the first symbolic step in this revival.