At Prince Kung's Palace Museum, a series of cultural programs were organized from May 16 to 18 in celebration of International Museum Day 2026 under the theme "Museums Uniting a Divided World". These activities created dynamic connections between history and the present, local culture and global dialogue, and the public and cultural heritage.
The celebration opened with an exhibition featuring more than 180 artworks created by nearly 500 students from over 30 schools in Beijing. The exhibition, running until Aug 30, highlights the museum's five years of aesthetic education initiatives, presenting works themed on palace architecture, palace scenery, palace lifestyle, and palace customs. Special sections also showcase creations by university students and children with special needs. Over the past five years, the museum has developed 76 aesthetic education courses, benefiting over 50,000 adolescents.
A public education program was held on the same day, named "Dialogue between Northern and Southern Ancient Architecture: Prince Kung's Palace and Mufu Mansion Exploration Journey". Through paintings, model buildings, and science experiments, participating families with children aged 9 to 12 explored the artistic distinctions between the northern-style Prince Kung's Palace in Beijing and the southern Mufu Mansion in Lijiang, Yunnan province, gaining deeper awareness of cultural diversity and heritage conservation.
The museum also launched the city walk program "One Waterway, One Axis, One Palace Through History", guiding the participating families through Beijing's historical landmarks including Shichahai, Wanning Bridge, and Yinding Bridge. Accompanied by expert interpretation and hands-on dougong (interlocking wooden brackets) construction activities, participants discovered the historical relationship between Beijing Central Axis and the Grand Canal.
In addition, 350 students collaborated on four art installations inspired by the palace's architectural aesthetics, while a cross-city livestream course comparing Chinese and foreign garden art connected schools in Beijing and Xi'an, Shaanxi province, through virtual tours, real-time interaction, and synchronized workshops, expanding cultural exchange beyond geographical boundaries.
Above 1,300 local residents and business representatives were also invited to the museum for a volunteer-led visit on May 18.
The museum will continue promoting aesthetic education, revitalizing traditional Chinese culture, and developing innovative public services to keep the historical palace a vibrant space for sharing culture.
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