On February 9, 2026, the Communist Party authorities in Jiangsu Province issued a report regarding the scandal of the Nanjing Museum (Nanbo) selling famous paintings. The report stated that the former director of Nanbo, Xu Huping, and 24 others are being held accountable and investigated. The report accused Nanbo employees of illegally changing the prices of and selling the famous painting “Spring in Jiangnan,” but failed to mention any reports by Nanbo staff accusing Xu Huping of “selling cultural relics,” sparking doubts online.
According to the report released by the investigation team of the Jiangsu Provincial Party Committee and Government on February 9, 2026, regarding the scandal of Nanjing Museum selling the Ming Dynasty painting “Spring in Jiangnan” and other collected cultural relics, it was revealed that Nanbo had illegally transferred famous paintings to its subordinate cultural stores for sale, leading to the accountability and investigation of Xu Huping, the former director of Nanbo, and 24 others.
The report mentioned that in the 1990s, with the approval of the then Deputy Director of Nanbo, Xu Huping, and the provincial Cultural Department, Nanbo irregularly transferred calligraphy and paintings, including the “Spring in Jiangnan” scroll, to the provincial cultural store for sale.
It was stated in the report that in early July 1997, the then keeper and salesperson at the main store, Zhang, changed the price tag of “Spring in Jiangnan” from 25,000 yuan to 2,500 yuan, sold it for 2,250 yuan to Chen (colleague of Zhang’s boyfriend Wang), who later sold it to a calligraphy and painting dealer. Subsequently, the painting appeared at an auction in Beijing in 2025.
Regarding other paintings, the report mentioned that the “Imitation of Beiyuan Landscape Scroll” was sold for 14,000 yuan on March 1, 1999; the “Double Horse Picture Scroll” was sold for 13,550 yuan on September 15, 2000; and the “Pine Breeze Xiao Temple Picture Scroll” was sold for 16,000 yuan on March 14, 1995.
The report disclosed that the “Spring in Jiangnan,” “Imitation of Beiyuan Landscape Scroll,” and “Double Horse Picture Scroll” had been recovered. The “Colored Landscape Scroll” had not been circulated outside. The whereabouts of the “Pine Breeze Xiao Temple Picture Scroll” are still under investigation. The remaining 132 paintings donated by Pong Zeng and others along with the “Spring in Jiangnan” in 1959 are still housed in the Nanjing Museum.
As for the accountability, the report stated that “Zhang, an employee of the Nanbo Cultural Creation Department, during his tenure as the keeper and salesperson at the main store, used his position for personal gain by illegally buying and selling cultural relics, which constitutes a serious violation of duty.”
The report accused the former Jiangsu Cultural Department, Nanjing Museum, and the Jiangsu Provincial Cultural Store of violating regulations governing cultural relics management during the process of transferring and circulating paintings, leading to the unauthorized sale and loss of cultural relics. The Jiangsu Provincial Department of Culture and Tourism and the Provincial Cultural Relics Bureau were criticized for their negligence in overseeing their subordinate units. Among the 29 individuals involved in these units and departments, excluding the 5 who have passed away, the remaining 24 people are under investigation.
The report indicated that Xu Huping had unlawfully approved and transferred calligraphy and paintings for sale, was suspected of serious violation of duty for the “negligence of custody and oversight” at the cultural store, and is under investigation for “other serious disciplinary and legal issues.”
Following the release of the Jiangsu Provincial authorities’ report, there were online suspicions that the report failed to mention the joint report by 42 Nanbo employees accusing Xu Huping of embezzling cultural relics through abuse of power, instead scapegoating Zhang, the keeper and salesperson.
Since the Ming Dynasty painting “Spring in Jiangnan” by Chou Ying from the Nanjing Museum entered the auction market, Nanbo has been at the center of controversy. On December 21, 2025, retired Nanjing Museum employee Guo Lidian showcased a joint report signed by 42 senior staff through a video platform, accusing the former director Xu Huping of large-scale embezzlement and smuggling of national treasures relocated from the Southern Imperial Palace.
On the evening of December 23, 2025, the video released by “Asian Weekly” showed that after surrounding Xu Huping’s villa for more than ten hours from 10 pm on December 22 to noon on December 23, the police took Xu Huping, his wife, and a nanny away.
News of Xu Huping’s removal spread, leading to the announcement of temporary closures by numerous museums across mainland China, sparking speculation about “destroying evidence.” As of December 25, 2025, more than thirty museums have announced closures or temporary suspensions for upgrades, with some museums remaining closed for up to 1 year and 5 months.