The Palace Museum will soon evacuate half its staff, numbering about 750 people, from the museum's location in the Forbidden City, according to the museum director Shan Jixiang on Feb. 12.

The decision was made as the museum prepares to expand its open area to 85 percent of the total space, Shan disclosed at a two-hour lecture at the museum. The lecture, themed "Expressions of the Palace Museum." was the 100th in its series, which the museum began in September 2012.

Approximately 65 Palace Museum experts and three outside experts have lectured on a wide range of topics during the series, including ancient architecture, the study and appreciation of cultural relics, Ming-Qing history, protection of cultural relics and protection of intangible cultural heritage. Audiences for individual events have reached up to 10,000 people.

From the 100th lecture onward, the regular events will be hosted by the Palace Museum, according to reports. The museum has previously organized as many as 25,000 public education activities, attracting audiences of up to 200,000. The museum's public education services include guiding, audio-visual programs and spectator services.