London - Emperors from China's Qing Dynasty (1644-1911) all stepped down from the stage many years ago, but their magnificent robes were unveiled in Europe for the first time Tuesday.

Visitors are watching the Imperial Chinese Robes from the Forbidden City exhibition at the Victoria and Albert Museum in London. The exhibit lasts from Dec 7 to Feb 27, 2011. [Photo/Zhang Chunyan]

The dazzling Chinese imperial robes, which are part of the treasured collections of the Palace Museum in the Forbidden City in Beijing, were shown at the Victoria and Albert Museum (V&A) in London.

"Most of them have never left China before. The exhibition gives the British public a rare view of royal robes from China," Ming Wilson, senior curator of Asian Department at the V&A, told China Daily.

The exhibit, called Imperial Chinese Robes from the Forbidden City, features over 50 garments, 20 accessories and 15 fabrics worn by Qing emperors and empresses.

Highlights include an intricately woven brown gauze robe with golden dragon roundels dating back to the Kangxi reign (1662-1722) and a wedding gown worn by Yehe Nara Jingen when she married the emperor Guangxu in 1889.

"Garments are cultural symbols and give shape to our thought and creativity. They bring us artistic enjoyment and provide an opportunity to learn more about China," Liu Xiaoming, the Chinese ambassador to the UK, said at the exhibit's opening.

The exhibition fosters mutual understanding between China and the UK. "Culture is a bridge that reaches into the hearts of people and brings them closer," Liu said.

"The dynamic cultural exchanges between our two countries are a good example of how mutual learning between different cultures leads to common development and prosperity," Liu added.

The exhibit embodies cooperation between first-class museums of China and the UK. According to Wilson, the V&A contacted the Palace Museum from 2008, and the two parties reached an agreement in 2009.

V&A Director Mike Jones said, "We are excited to be able to show these amazing and beautiful imperial robs for the first time here at the V&A."

In the Qing Dynasty, the garments followed a strict hierarchy: bright yellow for the emperor, apricot yellow for his sons and pale blue for moon ceremonies. Emperors had the privilege of wearing garnments featuring the dragon motif and a particular bright yellow color. It was against the law for Chinese people to use them on their own clothes.

The exhibit will last from Dec 7 to Feb 27, 2011. This is the latest exhibit following exhibits of The Three Emperors and the First Emperor: China's Terracotta Army exhibitions held in London in the past few years.