3D Dinosaurs: Interactive exhibit popular among kids in Shanghai

World
Europe

02:39

As summer vacation kicks off, kids in Shanghai are celebrating their holiday in a one-of-a-kind exhibition that takes them back to the age of dinosaurs. The mostly virtual, interactive encounter opened this week at Shanghai's iconic World Expo Museum. CGTN's Xu Mengqi reports.

A 3-dimensional viewing experience, without 3D glasses. Here at the Shanghai World Expo Museum, the new display technology is educating kids about a special group of animals: the dinosaurs.

CHEN XINYUE CURATOR OF THE DINOSAUR EXHIBITION "Dinosaurs always rank the first among things that interest a child, because they are mysterious and children are curious."

The exhibition starts with a time machine that transports the children back to the age of dinosaurs. And apart from the use of digital technology, it also features a hands-on experience that parents say is exactly what kids are looking for.

EVELYN XU VISITOR "My older child is ten, and the younger one is five years old. I'm looking for something that's interactive and educational, that's why I brought them here."

AUDREY FIFTH-GRADER "I really like digging the fossil out, and coloring the dinosaur. I'm gonna bury it."

Curator Chen Xinyue says another highlight of the expo is that most of the dinosaurs on display were discovered in China, including this one, the Yutyrannus, which is fast becoming the most popular exhibit.

CHEN XINYUE CURATOR OF THE DINOSAUR EXHIBITION "This type of dinosaur was discovered by Professor Xu Xing, who is also our chief advisor for this exhibition. It was a major discovery among worldwide academia that studies dinosaurs. Through digital technology, we are de-constructing it and showing people that dinosaurs can grow feathers."

XU MENGQI SHANGHAI "Except for the 3D mapped Yutyrannus, there are no other dinosaur models at this exhibition. But all the screens with their interactive designs provide an experience that kids say are vivid and exciting anyway."

TONY ZHANG SECOND-GRADER "It is fun. In my home I have many dinosaur skeletons, I like to do skeleton digging. And I love dinosaurs."

Chen says more than 20,000 tickets had already been sold prior to the opening of the exhibition, adding that he believes interactive and experiential features will be the way to go for popularizing education in the future. Xu Mengqi, CGTN, Shanghai.