Chongqing - As summer begins, Chongqing's museums are transforming into dynamic learning hubs with innovative programs that blend education and entertainment. Major institutions have extended hours and developed hands-on activities designed to make history and science come alive for young visitors.

Young students are learning about int engraving (Photo/New Chongqing)

A prominent example is Chongqing Natural History Museum's standout program. It allows children to work with replica fossils of the Lufengosaurus, China's first scientifically identified dinosaur. Under paleontologists' careful guidance, young students learn proper restoration techniques while discovering how wartime scientists preserved these specimens. "We're teaching science through tangible experiences," Director Gao Bichun notes the program's connection to Chongqing's WWII scientific heritage.

Meanwhile, Chongqing Three Gorges Museum has created interactive "City Explorer" tours that extend learning beyond gallery walls. Professional guides lead children through Chongqing's urban landscape in terms of given themes, from revolutionary history routes to geographic explorations of the city's famous terrain. One popular option traces the Yangtze River waterfront, connecting museum artifacts to their original locations.

These initiatives reflect significant investments in museum education. The Natural History Museum built specialized fossil labs with child-friendly tools, while Three Gorges Museum trained its staff in interactive teaching methods. Regarding the flourishing museum study programs, Cheng Wuyan, Chairman of Chongqing Museum Association, states that museum study tours differ significantly from both school education and travel agency products. "They function more like a converter," he explains, "transforming museums' specialized research achievements into market-oriented study products that meet educational needs."

Young students are learning about dinosaurs by piecing their bones together (Photo/New Chongqing)

As museums' summer programs heat up, new quality controls are also being introduced. Earlier this year, Three Gorges Museum published its standards on hosting museum study programs, which require third-party providers to demonstrate three years of educational experience, employ certified instructors, and submit detailed lesson plans.

These initiatives position Chongqing's museums as year-round educational partners, moving beyond passive displays to active learning environments. Museums are becoming magical spaces for future generations in which knowledge in books is brought to life.