2kg Gold Coronet Damaged by Boy at Beijing Exhibition

A video posted by Chinese influencer Zhang Kaiyi has sparked widespread attention after her 2-kilogram gold phoenix coronet was damaged during a free public exhibition in Beijing when it was accidentally knocked over by a young boy.

Released on December 13, the video includes surveillance footage from the exhibition space. The coronet was displayed on a platform about 1 meter high and covered by a transparent case. An adult and a young boy were standing beside the exhibit, with the adult taking photos. The boy appeared to blow air onto the cover and then wipe it with his hand. As he touched the cover, the case, along with the coronet inside, fell to the ground.

Zhang said in the video that the coronet was handcrafted by her husband and carried deep personal significance. She explained that it was part of a free offline exhibition themed around love, featuring works by dozens of artists.

She added that security staff were present at the exhibition and that the coronet had been placed under a protective cover. Zhang emphasized that she had never sought compensation from the child's family, noting that the piece was insured. She said the purpose of sharing the video was to seek advice from those with experience on how such damage is typically assessed, rather than to blame the child or incite online harassment.

The incident quickly went viral, fueling online debate over responsibility, exhibition safety, and the potential cost of restoration.

Staff at the Beijing-based X Museum, where the exhibition is being held, told Xiaoxiang Morning News that the protective cover over the coronet had not been fixed in place and that the matter was still being handled. According to the museum, the exhibition was initiated by Zhang's husband, Zhang Yudong. It opened in October and is scheduled to run through January next year, showcasing more than 100 works by 87 artists.

Fu Jian, director of Henan Zejin Law Firm, told the newspaper that liability in such cases should be determined based on the degree of fault. He noted that display cases used for high-value items such as gold jewelry should meet appropriate safety standards. If a display structure is unstable or insufficiently protective, the design or construction party may bear corresponding liability.

Fu added that exhibition organizers also have a legal duty to ensure safety. If potential risks were foreseeable and warning signs such as "do not touch" notices were absent, organizers could share responsibility.

Regarding the child, he explained that under China's Civil Code, if the boy is a person without or with limited civil capacity, the legal consequences are borne by the guardian. As the damage appeared unintentional, the child's side may bear secondary liability, with the guardian responsible for compensation within that scope.