Students admire an artifact exhibited at the Porcelain Source Museum in Deqing county, Huzhou. [Photo/Tide News]

The main event for the 2026 International Museum Day in Zhejiang province, China, was inaugurated on May 13 at the Porcelain Source Museum in Deqing county, Huzhou.

During the opening ceremony, organizers unveiled seven curated study tour routes connecting several major museums in Zhejiang, designed to deepen public engagement with history.

These thematic routes focus on ancient civilization, celadon culture, revolutionary history, Song Dynasty (960–1127) culture, natural science, World Cultural Heritage sites, and Silk Road culture.

In addition, a series of museum exhibition posters and activities planned across the province for International Museum Day was released. Over a thousand cultural events will be held, using museums as cultural bridges to connect with and educate the public.

Complementary activities include a theme exhibition, an academic conference titled "Connecting the World in Museums", public appraisals of private collections, and a creative market. These events aim to highlight the role of museums as bridges linking the world.

The theme exhibition at the Porcelain Source Museum features the province's 95 pieces/sets of prized artifacts authenticated and classified during the 14th Five-Year Plan (2021–25) period. The exhibition spans items ranging from jade and pottery in the Neolithic era to paintings and crafts in the Song, Yuan (1271–1368), Ming (1368–1644), and Qing (1644–1911) dynasties. It runs through the end of July.