Celebrating the Lunar New Year at the Museum: Event Preview | “Opera Charm of Fuzhou” – Intangible Cultural Heritage Welcomes Spring

This exhibition features more than 200 artifacts and photographs from museums across the country, offering a comprehensive exploration—through text and images—of the profound bond between horses and the Chinese nation. It traces the historical trajectory of China’s equine culture and showcases cultural relics and works of art that illuminate the mutual reflections of horses and Chinese civilization. By doing so, it provides audiences nationwide with a thorough, systematic understanding of horses, while paying tribute to the arrival of the Year of the Horse. As we celebrate the New Year, let us follow in the footsteps of history and embark on a galloping rendezvous that spans time and space. Through dialogue with these treasured artifacts, we will come to appreciate the deep cultural roots of the zodiac tradition and draw inspiration from the vigorous spirit of countless horses in motion. May this exhibition resonate with you as a cultural symphony—visually stunning and spiritually uplifting.

Exhibition period: February 14 to March 16

Exhibition Venue: Yumintang Square

During the Spring Festival, both the WeChat official account and the official website will feature updated exhibition content, allowing you to explore the exhibit online in the cloud!

Rubbing is an ancient Chinese technique for reproduction and dissemination. On the last day before New Year’s Eve, the tradition of “preparing for the New Year” is carried to its fullest: homemade red envelopes elevate the ceremonial spirit of giving New Year’s lucky money to a crescendo, while bringing the intangible cultural heritage of rubbing—from the hallowed halls of stone and metal inscriptions—into the creation of festive New Year items, breathing new life into this time-honored art.

Experience the art of Song‑dynasty tea whisking and the preparation of traditional tea snacks. A professional tea master will demonstrate and guide you through the Song‑era “Seven‑Pour Tea‑Whisking Method,” allowing participants to learn how to vigorously stir the tea, admire the delicate “snow‑like froth and milky blossoms,” and craft their own time‑honored tea snack. This event recreates the exquisitely refined aesthetic of Song‑era scholars, inviting visitors to pause and savor the moment amid the fragrance of tea and the charm of antiquity—ushering in the first day of spring with a cultural ritual that spans a thousand years, brimming with the elegance and spirit of traditional culture.

Jinhuīduī, also known as “Eight‑Broken Pictures,” is one of China’s treasured traditional art forms, carrying the mission of cultural heritage. This distinctive intangible cultural heritage technique, an ancient Chinese art form, ingeniously layers and juxtaposes fragments—such as damaged or charred books, calligraphy models, and paintings—to create new artistic images, breathing new life into forgotten relics.

Experience opera, poetry, calligraphy, and a DIY opera‑inspired hairband. Guided by a calligraphy instructor, participants will savor and transcribe iconic lines from “The Peony Pavilion,” immersing themselves in the poetic spirit of Tang Xianzu’s dramatic masterpieces. At the same time, they’ll blend timeless opera‑style embellishments—such as tassels and beaded strands—with contemporary hairbands to craft one‑of‑a‑kind, opera‑inspired fashion accessories, seamlessly bridging classical literature and handcrafted creativity. In this way, traditional culture finds its place in everyday life as wearable, stylish expressions.

By blending the intangible cultural heritage of Song brocade with the classical aesthetic of “The Peony Pavilion,” we have crafted an elegant object that seamlessly integrates a mirror and a folding fan, symbolizing the welcoming of a harmonious and refined New Year. In doing so, we weave the beauty of traditional opera into every moment of everyday happiness.

According to folk tradition, the fifth day of the first lunar month marks the welcoming of the God of Wealth. Visitors to the museum can receive a free materials kit to create their own personalized pearl‑painting portrait of the God of Wealth. Through the dazzling art of modern pearl painting, traditional auspicious motifs are brought to life, allowing guests to craft a one‑of‑a‑kind New Year blessing—truly a vibrant tribute to time‑honored festive customs.

                                         

Drawing on the custom of welcoming blessings and good fortune on the sixth day of the Lunar New Year, we craft traditional lanterns that turn with the heat, their ever‑flowing light and shadow swaying gracefully—vividly symbolizing a year ahead filled with smooth sailing and enduring good fortune.

Assemble a wind chime, install the rocking‑toy’s mechanical components, and attach traditional Chinese‑style ornaments—on the seventh day of the Lunar New Year, craft a hand‑cranked, Chinese‑inspired pendant. Its crisp, melodious tones both celebrate life and bring the lively Spring Festival holiday to a graceful, lingering close.