Chongqing - As International Museum Day 2025 approaches, from May 16 to 18, the main event for Chongqing and Sichuan was launched at the Chongqing China Three Gorges Museum and People’s Square. 

This year's event, co-hosted by the cultural heritage authorities of both regions and supported by leading museums and associations, centers on the theme “The Future of Museums in a Rapidly Changing Society.” The celebration aims to foster collaborative innovation in the museum sector, create a cultural feast for the public, and further promote the development of the Chengdu-Chongqing economic circle and the Bashu Cultural Tourism Corridor.

2025 International Museum Day themed poster. (Photo/Chongqing China Three Gorges Museum)

Five years of remarkable growth

Over the past five years, Chongqing and Sichuan have achieved impressive results in museum development, both in scale and influence. By 2024, the two regions had 598 registered museums, including 23 national first-class museums. The new Sanxingdui Museum is now the largest archaeological museum in Southwest China, while the Chongqing China Three Gorges Museum and the Chengdu Jinsha Site Museum have both received national awards for innovation.

Annually, museums in two regions hold over 3,000 exhibitions. Educational and social activities have surged from 12,000 in 2020 to 44,000 in 2024. From 2020 to 2024, the number of cultural and creative products available in the two regions nearly doubled to 12,879, with revenue increasing by 319% to reach 450 million yuan (about 62.38 million U.S. dollars). Iconic products such as the horse-faced skirt from the Chongqing China Three Gorges Museum and Sanxingdui blind boxes have become trending cultural symbols. By 2024, 90% of museums in both regions were free to the public, and annual museum attendance reached 128 million in 2024—2.4 times that of 2020. In 2024, leading museums such as the Chongqing China Three Gorges Museum and Sanxingdui Museum welcomed over 3 million visitors each, while digital exhibitions have attracted worldwide attention to ancient Shu civilization.

Cultural ties in a new era

The main event's opening ceremony on May 16 included the announcement and recognition of outstanding museums from Chongqing and Sichuan, as well as the inauguration of the Sichuan-Chongqing Cultural Relics Authentication Center, marking a new era of cooperation in artifact authentication. The Sichuan-Chongqing Revolutionary Memorial Alliance was also established, while a series of themed exhibitions and educational activities will be launched in both regions, strengthening the cultural bonds and supporting the integrated development of the Chengdu-Chongqing economic circle.

The “Majestic Three Gorges” permanent exhibition at Chongqing China Three Gorges Museum received the Special Award. (Photo/Chen Chang)

Leaders from the cultural departments of both regions emphasized the deep ties and achievements of the museum sector in Sichuan and Chongqing, highlighting how advances in technology and the rise of AI are reshaping museums. Museums are no longer static repositories, but dynamic hubs that connect history, engage the public, and inspire future generations. Both regions continue to embrace open collaboration, jointly exploring and presenting their shared cultural heritage, and driving innovative resource-sharing approaches. This spirit of cooperation deepens public understanding of history and allows Bashu culture to shine in new and creative ways.

A spectacular dance performance at the "Voices of the Museum" Museum Night on the evening of May 16. (Photo/Chen Chang)

The “Voices of the Museum” Museum Night featured immersive digital exhibitions, storytelling sessions by top guides, Sichuan Opera performances, poetry recitals, a rap performance, and a children’s choir, providing a vibrant celebration of local culture.

Expanding access and engagement

From May 17 to 18, a series of themed activities further enlivened the event. The joint public appraisal and consultation brought together leading experts from Chongqing and Sichuan, offering free artifact identification and education in metals, ceramics, calligraphy, jade, and more, combining traditional expertise with modern technology. The People’s Square hosted the fifth “Bashan Shushui” cultural and creative fair, featuring nearly 600 creative products from over 50 museums, showcasing the vitality and creative energy of the regional cultural industries.

A cultural and creative product from the Chongqing Natural History Museum. (Photo/the event organizer)

At the same time, Chongqing launched its 16th Cultural Heritage Promotion Month, with over a hundred special exhibitions, hands-on intangible cultural heritage experiences, and educational programs covering history, art, and science. Citizens can participate both online and offline, gaining a richer understanding of cultural heritage while strengthening their confidence and sense of responsibility for preservation.

Standing at a new starting point, the event is a key cultural initiative for the Chengdu-Chongqing economic circle, supporting deeper regional integration and cultural development.

At the annual meeting of the Sichuan-Chongqing Museum Alliance on May 17, Dr. An Laishun, President of ICOM-ASPAC and Professor at Shanghai University, remarked that the future of museums in a rapidly changing society is now a global issue. The alliance, rooted in regional cooperation between Sichuan and Chongqing and committed to innovative, differentiated development for small and medium-sized museums, is expected to produce successful models that can be replicated across China.