China’s network of science museums experienced unprecedented visitor engagement during the recent Spring Festival holiday, drawing approximately 3.5 million attendees through innovative programs merging cultural traditions with technological innovation. The nationwide initiative featured specially curated activities that combined lunar new year celebrations with scientific exploration, creating unique educational experiences across the country.
The China Science and Technology Museum in Beijing served as the flagship institution, launching four major thematic sections alongside a specialized exhibition exploring the intersection of equine biology and cultural significance. This exclusive display attracted over 200,000 visitors during the holiday period. In a significant boost to national science education, the museum’s digital resources were made freely available throughout the country, with 37 regional science institutions applying to host the traveling exhibition—a strategic move that substantially enhanced exhibition capabilities at grassroots levels.
Regional museums demonstrated remarkable creativity in developing location-specific programming. Hebei Province’s institutions integrated traditional Wuqiang New Year paintings with interactive scientific demonstrations, while Heilongjiang’s museums created immersive environments where visitors could examine the scientific properties of ice and snow alongside cultural displays about zodiac traditions.
Fujian Province emerged as a particular success story, with 54 participating venues collaborating on distinctive programming that included synchronized performances between AI robotic dogs and traditional shuttlecock kickers. Additional attractions featured mixed reality dinosaur exhibitions and narrative-driven tour games, collectively drawing more than 350,000 participants. This coordinated effort across China’s science museum network represents a significant advancement in public science engagement during traditional cultural celebrations.