跨年不止狂欢：博物馆展览成新风尚
As the new year kicked off, cultural institutions across China treated the public to a wide range of exciting exhibitions, drawing huge crowds eager to celebrate by exploring art and history. From ancient gold displays at the Capital Museum in Beijing and qipao fashion shows at the Shanghai Museum to avian-themed exhibitions in Chengdu and Picasso’s masterpieces in Pudong, these events offered diverse experiences for visitors of all ages. Standing before these relics and artworks that embody time and civilization, many people found the spiritual resources they needed to embrace a brand-new beginning.
For Chinese museums, the period from New Year’s Day to Spring Festival has become a golden window for “artful cross-year” activities. Unlike regular exhibitions, holiday-themed ones often focus on auspicious and joyful elements, mirroring people’s wishes for good fortune in the new year. Statistics from Shanghai showed that 47 art museums hosted 120 exhibitions and 34 public education events during the holiday, welcoming 43,000 visitors — a 10% year-on-year rise. Meanwhile, the city’s 75 museums saw a 19% increase in attendance.
Among the most popular exhibitions was Shanghai Museum’s qipao show Glamour and Modernity Beyond Shanghai, featuring over a century’s worth of the iconic dresses that reflect 20th-century Shanghai’s evolving style. In Beijing, the National Museum’s exhibition of archaeological discovery, including bronze chime bells and jade pendants unearthed from Anhui, showcased the Warring States Period’s cultural integration. Chengdu’s Natural History Museum also joined the fun with its Birds in Flight show, displaying 200 rare bird specimens and attracting 16,000 visitors in three days.