The Palace Museum in Hong Kong will soon debut a special exhibition. Its centerpiece is 110 fine works of art, eight of which are grade-one national treasures, all from The Palace Museum. Titled "A Movable Feast: The Culture of Food and Drink in China," the captivating exhibition runs from March 19 to June 18. It is entertainment for the eyes and the sense of smell.

The food culture of the Chinese civilization holds an important place within its society. This exhibition, then, invites the visitors to have a multicourse feast from the 5,000-year history of the Chinese civilization. The exhibition has been divided into four sections. The first three—"Crossing from Life to Death," "Crossing Cultures," and "Crossing Mountains and Lakes"—explore the delicious and not-so-delicious themes of food and containers as they relate to spiritual, cultural, and physical spaces. The final section, "Crossing Time," features some fab multimedia presentations that link traditional Chinese food culture to the contemporary food culture of today.

The Hong Kong Palace Museum and the Palace Museum jointly put together this exhibition. It unites not just the superb collections of both institutions but also outstanding artifacts from such illustrious institutions as the British Museum, the Asian Art Museum of San Francisco, and the Cleveland Museum of Art, along with sizeable portions of their collections from several local museums.

This culinary path becomes even more gratifying through the use of modern technology and multimedia presentations. One of its high points, if you can call it that, is an interactive dining table where you can virtually place an order for an imaginary meal. While "dining," you learn about the evolution of the many kinds of utensils we've used over time and about the seven braises, broils, and other basic techniques that chefs around the world have used to make us their grateful patronages.