The grass and trees are lush and the context is long. This morning, the main venue of the 2026 "5.18 International Museum Day" in Gansu was held at the Gansu Bamboo Slip Museum.
The theme of this year's International Museum Day is "Museums: Bridges Connecting the World". Guided by this, the activities of the main venue in Gansu focus on cultural exchanges and mutual learning among civilizations, and build a cultural bridge that crosses regions and connects ancient and modern times through rich forms such as high-quality exhibitions, academic releases, social and educational experiences, and cultural and creative markets, vividly interpreting the important role of museums in inheriting civilization, enhancing understanding and building consensus.
The drums were sonorous and the dance was sassy, and the dance "Inspiration" brought by the volunteers of the Gansu Bamboo Slip Museum took the lead in opening the event. Subsequently, a number of cultural achievements were unveiled: "Overview of Gansu Museum" and "Inscription on the Wall of Dunhuang Xuanquan Wall" were newly released; the theme exhibition of "Reading China in Museums - Stories of Gansu in Cultural Relics" was brilliantly launched; red sitcom boutique projects were promoted; The two special exhibitions were launched simultaneously. The scene was crowded with people and the cultural atmosphere was strong.
The cultural and creative market opened simultaneously, and many cultural and museum units in the province gathered together, and a dazzling array of cultural and creative products attracted many audiences to stop and linger. The bookmarks of bamboo slips and the silk scarves with square faience patterns turn the thousand-year-old cultural relics into daily elegance. "Cultural and creative allows cultural relics to enter life, makes cultural inheritance more down-to-earth, and everyone takes away not only a commodity, but also a history that can be touched." The staff of the Gansu Bamboo Slip Museum said while introducing cultural and creative products.
The social and educational activity area is also very lively. In the experience area of 100 people writing bamboo slips, everyone held a brush in their hands and wrote down the ancient clerical script one stroke at a time on the imitation bamboo slips; The immersive interaction of "Visitors from the Western Regions: Customs Entry" allows participants to become Silk Road travelers and experience the fun of customs clearance documents in role-playing; Great Wall cultural courses, bamboo slips and foreign language corners appeared in turn, allowing everyone to feel the charm of bamboo slips and Silk Road culture in practice. "Writing bamboo slips is very fun, and you can also learn historical knowledge." Li Chao, an international student, held up the bamboo slip he had just written and said happily.
The inter-provincial joint exhibition added a strong touch to this event, among which the "Ancient Melody - Henan Unearthed Music Cultural Relics Exhibition" became the biggest attraction. The exhibition is carefully created by the Gansu Bamboo Slip Museum and the Henan Museum, selecting 190 precious music cultural relics, dividing them into five major units in the context of time, and completely sorting out the development trajectory of Chinese music civilization from ancient times. "The joint exhibition of cultural relics across regions allows us to appreciate the ritual and music culture of the Central Plains at our doorstep." Wang Yutong, a student at Lanzhou University, said happily.
The collision of technology and history is equally fascinating. The "Tang Palace Night Banquet" XR large space immersion exhibition made the atmosphere of the Tang Dynasty come to the face. Relying on cutting-edge digital technology, the exhibition accurately reproduces the ancient buildings of the Tang Dynasty, precious cultural relics and classic music and dance styles, building an immersive viewing space with a full sense of atmosphere. After wearing the device, the audience can travel through thousands of years with one click, be in the glorious Tang Palace night banquet, dance with musicians, travel with ladies, and truly read the charm of the Tang Dynasty.
This event also takes into account public experience and academic cultivation. Professor Ma Zhiquan of Lanzhou City College set up inscriptions on the walls of Dunhuang Hanging Springs, deeply analyzed the historical connotation and academic value behind cultural relics, and provided a new perspective and reference for the study of bamboo slips in the province and the research of Silk Road literature and history.
The relevant person in charge of the Gansu Provincial Bureau of Cultural Relics said that Gansu is located on the main road of the Silk Road, with rich cultural relics and profound civilization heritage. The main venue of this International Museum Day broke down cultural barriers, connected ancient and modern civilizations, and vividly practiced the annual theme of "Museums: A Bridge Connecting the World". In the future, we will continue to tap local cultural and museum resources, tell the story of Gansu, spread the Chinese cultural context, promote the inclusive development of culture with the power of civilization, and make museums truly a bridge connecting the world. (New Gansu Gansu Daily reporter Bai Yongping)