From October 17 to 21, the 18th Hangzhou Cultural and Creative Industry Expo will be held at the White Horse Lake Creative Eco-City International Convention & Exhibition Center in Binjiang District. This year, the Hangzhou Municipal Bureau of Gardening and Cultural Relics has curated a series of special events and exhibitions to infuse the expo with a unique cultural touch and breathe new life into the event.

The event series is centered around the theme “Bringing Cultural Relics to Life.”

As a city steeped in history, Hangzhou understands the vital role of artifacts in preserving its past. The city has 224 museums, including 54 state-owned, 33 non-state-owned, and 140 rural and community-based museums. These museums not only play an important role in preserving cultural heritage but also serve as bridges connecting the past, present and future. In 2024, the Hangzhou Municipal Bureau of Gardening and Cultural Relics has launched a series of exhibitions, competitions, and events designed to bring these artifacts to life. Notably, since 2023, a total of 108 artifacts (including entire sets which are counted as single items) in Hangzhou have been shortlisted for the designation of provincial- and municipal-level Treasures of Museums. These artifacts not only chronicle Hangzhou’s history but also underscore the city’s significant contribution to the development of Chinese civilization.

Hangzhou Cartoon and Animation Museum and Mi Xinxin Studio have teamed up to create a board game called “Let Historical Artifacts Come to Life” under the guidance of the Hangzhou Municipal Bureau of Gardening and Cultural Relics. This game features carton characters from the animation Crafts and Qubits, which was produced by Hangzhou-based companies, and Yunxiaoman, the mascot of China Cartoon and Animation Museum, as well as artifacts shortlisted for the Treasures of Museums designation. By incorporating these elements, this card game offers a fun and interactive way for the public to explore the city’s cultural heritage.

You can complement your Cultural Expo experience by exploring the many exhibitions taking place throughout Hangzhou during the event. For example, the “Fun Learning: Museum Study Tour Programs in Hangzhou” exhibition held at the Southern Song Dynasty Guan Kiln Museum, part of the West Lake Museum, will showcase a collection of study tour programs curated by over 20 award-winning museums, research institutions, and experts. Visitors will be delighted by vibrant illustrations that highlight the achievements of these programs, all set in a playful, Rubik's Cube-inspired space. Additionally, the best designs from the 3rd “Bringing Cultural Relics to Life” Design Competition will be showcased at the China Cartoon and Animation Museum, and a collaborative cultural exhibition curated by the “Bringing Cultural Relics to Life” program and the TV show The City of Museums will be held at the White Horse Lake Creative Eco-City International Convention & Exhibition Center.

Want a free “Bring Cultural Relics to Life” board game? As a special gift for our readers, Hangzhou Daily is giving away this fun game. Simply log in to the app of Hangzhou Daily and redeem it with your reward points. The redemption will start at 10:00 AM on October 15th.