(Yicai Global) July 26 -- The Palace Museum in Beijing's historical Forbidden City sold over CNY1 billion (USD147.5 million) worth of products last year, boosted by its presence on e-commerce platforms.

The Palace Museum has become the No. 1 Chinese museum in cultural promotion, state-backed China National Radio reported on its social media WeChat account. The museum, which is placed on the site of the imperial palace from the Ming and Qing dynasties, has opened four online stores, most popular of which is Alibaba Group Holding's Taobao. The cultural institution has sold more than 16,000 pieces of its bestselling product per month.

The Palace Museum pursues to promote the cultural connotations of its collection as much as possible and integrate them into products, said Shan Jixiang, director of the museum, adding that these items may bring history closer to people. Some practical products that portray the character of the museum include items such as teapots, luggage tags, makeup mirrors, mouse pads, chargers, flash drives, and toys, Shan said.

Editor: Emmi Laine