For the 2026 Spring Festival, the Year of the Horse, the Shaanxi Yellow River Culture Museum organized a creative program under the theme “Welcoming the New Year through Yellow River Heritage, Sharing Festive Blessings and Ancient Traditions.” The activities combined the river’s cultural legacy with the holiday atmosphere, allowing visitors to discover the depth of the Mother River’s heritage through immersive exhibitions and experience the warmth of the season through special events.

To meet visitor demand, the museum extended its holiday opening hours to 17:30. Staff remained at their posts throughout the Spring Festival, putting their care and energy into a lively celebration of museum culture for all visitors.

During the Spring Festival, the museum and its associated sites received a total of 100,300 visits. The permanent exhibition A River Flowing Through the Ages and the New Year temporary exhibitions received nearly 55,400 visits; Jiazhou Yellow River Cultural Scenic Area, nearly 22,500; Shenquan Revolutionary Memorial Hall, nearly 5,200; Dongfanghong Bookstore, nearly 13,200; the Former Residence of Li Youyuan, nearly 1,600; and Mao Zedong’s Former Residence and Inscription Hall, nearly 2,400.

1. Exploring Yellow River Heritage through New Year Exhibitions

The museum placed high-quality exhibitions at the heart of its holiday program. Three temporary exhibitions on the third floor explored historical maps, classical texts and landscape photography, presenting the Yellow River’s long cultural history from different perspectives. The large mechanical installation The Yellow River Flows from Heaven and the digital animation The Formation of the Yellow River also became popular ways to experience the river’s heritage.

The holiday program offered three main types of activities: artistic performances, intangible cultural heritage experiences and cultural services for local communities.

Interactive northern Shaanxi yangge dance performances brought the region’s folk traditions to life with energetic movements suited to the Year of the Horse. Visitors were invited to join the dance and welcome spring together.

Heritage activities, including horse-themed paper cutting and Yellow River rubbings, proved especially popular. Families learned traditional skills and shared the enjoyment of the New Year.

The museum’s experienced guides and young volunteer guides provided free tours at scheduled times, making cultural interpretation accessible to more visitors.

Guided by its commitment to putting people and service first, the museum completed comprehensive inspections of facilities and fire-safety equipment before the holiday. It announced opening hours promptly, provided online and on-site reservation options, and improved ticket-checking procedures.

Throughout the holiday, staff worked in shifts to carry out their duties. Guides gave engaging, professional interpretations of Yellow River civilization; security teams maintained patrols; and volunteers offered directions and answered questions. Their dedication helped visitors enjoy a safe and comfortable holiday.

Visitors celebrated the New Year at the museum by viewing artifacts, discovering folk traditions, listening to guided interpretations and joining special activities. This celebration of Yellow River culture enriched the public’s cultural life and helped its heritage reach a wider audience.

We sincerely thank our visitors for their interest and support, and for joining us in celebrating Yellow River heritage and the Year of the Horse. Building on this experience, the museum will further explore Yellow River culture and the cultural significance of the horse, offer more high-quality activities, improve its services and contribute to the creative transmission and development of this heritage.