Air China, as China's only flag carrier, has proudly sponsored the first cooperation between Beijing's Palace Museum (also known as the Forbidden City) and London's British Museum, two of the most famous museums in the world. Air China has provided free cargo transport, free tickets for traveling museum staff, and other support and services for the exhibition entitled "The United Kingdom and the World: 1714-1830," on display in Beijing from March 9.

The Forbidden City, home to the visiting British Museum exhibit, is the largest and most complete imperial palace and ancient building complex in China. Today the Forbidden City, or Palace Museum, displays some one million precious historical relics. It was made part of World Cultural Heritage list and is one of the top five palaces in the world. The British Museum, which is the largest integrated museum of the U.K, was founded in 1753 and houses cultural relics, ancient scrolls, and other rarities from the entire world.

"We are proud to sponsor this first-ever museum cooperation and cultural exchange," said Mrs. Zhang Lan, Senior Vice President of Air China. "Air China is glad to grow its role of corporate responsibility and international contributor, especially when it supports one of China's greatest treasures, the Forbidden City."

Matching this pride in its cultural heritage, Air China has launched two new service brands, "Forbidden Pavilion" First Class and "Capital Pavilion" Business Class. Forbidden Pavilion carries specific features to reflect the royalty, honor, and privacy associated with the Forbidden City, while Capital Pavilion is focused on business and comfort associated with the Capital Palace, the imperial palace in Xi'an of the famous Tang Dynasty.