For China's youth, museums have become much more interesting than they used to be in recent years. From innovative exhibitions to interactive education activities, museums have evolved into new, stylish "schools" for their visitors.

It is especially true in Nanjing, the capital city of east China's Jiangsu Province. Currently, visiting museums has become a trendy way to understand the culture and history of Nanjing, which is one of the most well-known ancient capitals in China's history.

Data has shown that the number of registered museums in Nanjing has reached 80. In 2023, they received a total of 34.5 million visitors and held 6,038 social education activities.

The Oriental Metropolitan Museum is one of the pioneers in exploring its role in the education sector. Holding nearly 300 social education activities on various themes every year, it is regarded as a new cultural landmark and the most dynamic museum in Nanjing.

Opened to the public in 2014, it is relatively new and knows how to attract the young population. Deputy curator He Xiang said that, since 2020, the museum has launched a volunteer service program, inviting students aged 10-17 to serve as interpreters and guardians of its cultural relics.

"Every weekend, these young volunteers will guide visitors to learn about historic objects housed in the museum, interpreting their hometown's history through cultural relics," said He.

The deputy curator said that the museum is also planning new courses for young adults who are enthusiastic about learning new things, traditional Chinese culture in particular, after work.

Wu Tian, curator of Nanjing Municipal Museum, said his museum has spent a lot of time on cooperation with primary and secondary schools lately.

"The museum helps give lectures and launch extracurricular courses at schools, according to topics of these schools' curriculum," Wu said, adding that they also arrange activities for students who come to the museum to learn history, art and literature.

The Chaotian Palace, where the museum is located, boasts a well-preserved palatial architecture complex that got its name in 1384 during the Ming Dynasty. As a place of ritual or religious ceremonies for the royal family, many buildings in the palace are decorated with dragon patterns.

Wu explained that, to celebrate the Year of the Dragon in 2024, the museum launched an activity to find dragon patterns in the building complex. People could collect ink stamps at spots that have dragon patterns."The activity was both enjoyed by children and adults," Wu added.

The Nanjing Folk Museum, also known as Nanjing Intangible Cultural Heritage Museum, is a museum for studying, displaying and protecting Nanjing's folk culture and intangible cultural heritage. In fact, the museum itself is a major historical and cultural site protected at the national level.

The museum is located at the Former Residence of Gan Xi, the largest and best-preserved private residence in Nanjing. It has over 300 rooms, providing ideal spaces for holding small exhibitions.

Deputy curator Liu Yuanzhi said the museum exhibits 277 intangible cultural heritage items that are at the municipal level or above. She added that 20 inheritors of intangible cultural heritage have set up their studios in the museum, launching various courses that have attracted a wide range of students.

"More than 20 instructors in the museum have been deeply involved in courses of dozens of schools in Nanjing, including kindergartens, primary and secondary schools and colleges. They teach more than 20,000 students every year," said Liu.