SHAN JIXIANGwas born in Beijing in 1954. He received his doctorate degree in Urban Planning and Design from the School of Architecture, Tsinghua University, and studied in Japan from 1980 to 1984. After his return to China, Dr. Shan held several posts such as deputy director of Beijing Municipal Administration of City Planning, director of Beijing Municipal Administration of Cultural Heritage, director of Beijing Municipal Commission of Urban Planning, and director of the State Administration of Cultural Heritage. Since January of 2002, Dr. Shan has taken up positions of director of the Palace Museum, research fellow of the Palace Museum, director of China Cultural Relics Academy, and vice chairman of China Building Decoration Association.

Hu desheng was born in Beijing in January, 1949. After graduating from the Department of History in Peking University, specializing in Chinese History, Mr. Hu served in the Palace Museum in August, 1975.Now he is the research fellow of the Palace Museum,a member of the National Committee of Cultural Relics, a specialist member of China Cultural Relics Academy. For a long period of time, he has been specializing in the conservation, management, and material classification of antique Chinese furniture, focusing on the research of the integration of antique Chinese furniture and traditional Chinese culture.