As a city steeped in history and culture, Hangzhou is home to an impressive collection of 224 museums, placing it second among Chinese cities. This cultural wealth has led many to affectionately refer to Hangzhou as the “City of Museums.” To tap into their educational resources, these institutions have been diligently developing innovative learning programs that offer unique and enriching experiences.
On October 15th, the Southern Song Dynasty Guan Kiln Museum, part of the West Lake Museum, unveiled the “Fun Learning: Museum Study Tour Programs in Hangzhou” exhibition. This exhibition, running until February 28, 2025, features a curated collection of study tour programs developed by more than 20 renowned museums, research institutions, and experts. Visitors can explore the diverse range of museum study tours available in Hangzhou and learn about the process of selecting and participating in a tour.
The exhibition’s Rubik’s Cube-inspired design invites visitors to explore various study courses and tours presented within vibrant, color-coded blocks. This interactive layout makes learning more engaging, especially for young people. Additionally, hand-painted illustrations bring the content to life in a way that’s both accessible and relatable. To further enhance the experience, the exhibition highlights the strengths of each museum's study tour program, offering interactive activities such as meeting key historical figures from West Lake’s dredging history, solving cases with Su Dongpo, and creating music by striking porcelain. These immersive experiences encourage young people to actively participate and have fun.
The exhibition highlights the winning entries from the Hangzhou Museum Study Course Competition and the “Let Cultural Relics Come to Life” Hangzhou Museum Study Tour Design Competition. These learning programs cover a wide range of subjects, including history, culture, nature, and art. They showcase the innovative ways museums are engaging young learners and reflect the widespread support these museums received for their youth education initiatives.
To promote the exhibition, a special event titled “Museum Walk: An Invitation from Su Dongpo” was held in conjunction with the 18th Hangzhou Cultural and Creative Industry Expo. The event featured a surprise “appearance” by Su Dongpo, a renowned Song Dynasty poet and former mayor of Hangzhou, who invited participants to explore local museums and share their experiences.