INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
As the world celebrates International Museum Day on May 18, China demonstrates how technology can breathe new life into ancient treasures
– transforming traditional museums into immersive cultural experiences that engage the public in powerful new ways.At the Liaoning
Provincial Museum in northeast China's Shenyang City, visitors are stepping into a digital dreamscape where white cranes soar above Xuande
Gate – the ceremonial entrance to Bianjing, capital of the Northern Song Dynasty (960-1127)
The breathtaking visual isn't from a film studio, but from an immersive exhibition titled "Elegance of the Tang and Song Dynasties: An
Artistic World in Digital Scrolls."Drawing from precious masterpieces in its collection, the museum has used advanced digital rendering to
recreate these iconic paintings as living, interactive artworks
The result is a virtual journey through the heart of classical Chinese aesthetics, where visitors feel as though they've stepped into the
paintings themselves.Museum fever sweeps China"Museums, which are important places that protect and pass on human civilizations, as well as
bridges that link the past, the present, and the future, play a special role in promoting the exchanges and mutual learning of the world's
civilizations," Chinese President Xi Jinping said in a letter to the UNESCO High Level Forum on Museums in 2016.His words resonate strongly
with the theme of this year's International Museum Day – "The future of museums in rapidly changing communities" – as China is embracing
innovation to reimagine the role of museums in a rapidly changing society.With rising living standards and increasing demand for cultural
experiences, museum fever is sweeping China with museum visits becoming a popular leisure activity and a barometer of public interest in
heritage.For example, during this year's May Day holiday alone, the Liaoning Provincial Museum welcomed a record 32,261 visitors in a single
day – a 76 percent year-on-year increase.Since relocating to its current location in 2015, annual attendance at the museum has skyrocketed
from 483,000 to over 3.3 million in 2024 – nearly a sevenfold increase
The surge reflects not only the growing appeal of traditional culture but also the museum's dedication to curating dynamic exhibitions and
engaging programming."The Chinese culture is rich and profound, and every museum is a big school
We must protect and manage cultural relics that embody the essence of traditional Chinese culture, strengthen research and utilization, and
ensure history and cultural artifacts speak for themselves," Xi said during a museum visit in 2015.When high-tech meets historyAcross China,
from virtual reality and interactive displays to role-playing games and hands-on workshops, museums are embracing technology to make history
tangible and fun, ensuring cultural relics can "speak for themselves."At Dunhuang's Mogao Grottoes, for example, the once-inaccessible Cave
285 has been digitally reimagined
Now, visitors with VR headsets find themselves "flying" through a richly illustrated cave ceiling, where mythical ancestors of the Chinese
nation like Fuxi and Nvwa appear in stunning detail
With handheld controllers, visitors can strike virtual drums to the sound of ancient Dunhuang music and even download a customized video of
their virtual experience to take home."In the past, limited lighting and access made it difficult for visitors to appreciate the murals,"
said Lei Zhengguang, head of cultural promotion at the Dunhuang Academy
"Now, through digital scanning, 3D reconstruction, and spatial computing, we've brought these silent relics back to life."At the China Grand
Canal Museum in east China's Yangzhou City, visitors can participate in escape room challenges, where they role-play as historical
characters to uncover stories behind the canal's development.Nowadays, exhibitions in museums have gone far beyond simply showing what an
artifact is – they ask visitors to consider why it matters
With immersive activities, museums have been transformed from "look-but-don't-touch" spaces into interactive, narrative-driven environments,
deepening visitors' emotional connections and understanding.During the recent May Day holiday, over 60 million visits were recorded at
museums across China, a 17 percent increase over last year and an all-time high
Many travelers even planned trips around specific museums
National archaeological parks also saw a surge in visitors, with 55 parks receiving more than 3.3 million visits."Artifacts in museums may
seem frozen in time, but they are never truly still," said Su Bomin, director of the Dunhuang Academy
"We must be aware: no matter how well preserved, relics continue to age
Only by combining advanced technology with compelling storytelling and scholarly research can we ensure they remain alive and relevant for
