Henan sees summer surge in educational visits to museums

A tourist visits the Yangshao Cultural Site Museum in Mianchi county of Sanmenxia city, Central China's Henan province, on August 17, 2024. [Photo by Dong Senhe/chinadaily.com.cn]

As the summer vacation nears its end, the fervor of visitors flocking to museums shows no signs of waning despite the scorching heat. With the growing popularity of cultural artifacts, museums have transformed into vital hubs for individuals seeking enriching cultural experiences and educational leisure.

Currently, museums across Central China's Henan province are witnessing a peak in educational and family tours. Many museums have extended their operating hours into the evening, streamlined reservation procedures, and organized special events to enhance visitors' overall experience.

At the Luoyang Museum of Ancient Tombs, visitors can explore the significant archaeological findings and delve into the cultural significance embedded within the architecture, murals, sculptures, utensils, decorations, and inscriptions found in diverse tombs spanning different historical periods.

Through a variety of exhibition techniques, the museum constructs a temporal and spatial bridge, enabling visitors to immerse themselves in ancient tomb culture and the ancient Chinese perspective on life and death, fostering a deep understanding of the concept of "treating death as a part of life."

The Erlitou Site Museum of the Xia Capital leverages its rich historical and cultural resources to develop over 30 tailored educational programs for children of varying ages. These programs cover a wide array of topics, including the Erlitou culture, the Xia Dynasty's history, archaeological excavations, the essence of Yellow River culture, and intangible heritage experiences.

Shi Muyang, the museum's deputy director of research and education, highlights the growing popularity of these educational programs. By August of this year, reservations for these programs have surpassed 160 sessions, marking a substantial increase of over 40 classes compared to the total number in 2023.

At the Yangshaocun site in Mianchi county of Sanmenxia city, visitors can participate in a variety of activities such as pottery-making, vibrant paintings, and rubbings, immersing themselves in the millennia-spanning Yangshao culture.

According to statistics from the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, the Luoyang Museum welcomed a total of 323,600 visitors from July 1 to 31 alone, marking an increase of 30,000 compared to the same period last year.