A rendering of the Tianyige south pavilion. [Photo/Ningbo Daily]

Ningbo, Zhejiang province kicked off construction on the south pavilion of the Tianyige Museum on July 3.

Tianyige, revered as the oldest existing private library in China, boasts a collection of nearly 300,000 volumes of ancient books, including over 80,000 rare editions, standing as a testament to its history spanning over 450 years.

The original north pavilion is divided into three sections, emphasizing the preservation and display of cultural relics such as historical buildings, traditional gardens, and stone inscriptions.

The upcoming south pavilion, designed as a modern exhibition and culture exchange area, is segmented into three parts: the Exhibition Exchange Area, the Cultural Leisure Area, and the Collection Restoration Area.

The Collection Restoration Area will feature a cultural relic warehouse to safeguard and exhibit valuable cultural artifacts like ancient books and paintings.

Drawing inspiration from traditional Chinese philosophy, the Exhibition Exchange Area will adopt a unique exhibition structure tailored to the local context.

Through the use of technological, interactive, and immersive exhibition techniques, visitors will have the opportunity to explore rare ancient books, witness the art of ancient book restoration, and immerse themselves in the vibrant world of book culture.

The integration of the two pavilions of Tianyige will demonstrate the harmonious blend of the ancient library's past, present, and future.

The estimated construction timeline for the main building of the south pavilion is 36 months, followed by the exhibition arrangement phase.