Museums are treasure troves of time, preserving the brilliance of human civilization. Technology, on the other hand, is the key to the future, unlocking doors to infinite possibilities. On May 18, International Museum Day, Baoshan District brought these two forces together in an innovative way, curating a series of themed activities around the global topic “The Future of Museums in Rapidly Changing Communities.” The result was a vibrant fusion of tradition and modernity that captivated both minds and hearts.

On the afternoon of May 18, the Wisdom Bay Innovation Park came alive with crowds as the themed night market, “Museums Along the Riverside: Co-Creating the Future,” officially opened. From 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., ten members of the Baoshan District Museum Alliance—including the Shanghai Songhu Memorial Hall for the War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression, the Memorial Hall for the Liberation of Shanghai, the China Industrial Design Museum, and the Shanghai Ceramic Science and Art Museum—set their booths at the park. Their offerings ranged from creative cultural products and interactive intangible heritage displays to storytelling booths and hands-on craft workshops. Visitors immersed themselves in the world of culture and innovation, enjoying a one-stop learning experience, and many even took home their favorite museum-themed souvenirs as tokens of the special memory.

“This cultural creativity zone is amazing! The fusion of traditional culture and modern design is so seamless. Every piece feels alive—I’m in love with it!” said Ms. Wang, a resident, excitedly sharing her impressions with friends.

To celebrate International Museum Day, Baoshan’s museums also rolled out more than 10 themed exhibitions and over 20 featured events, delivering a cultural feast to the public. At the Shanghai Songhu Memorial Hall for the War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression, visitors explored traditional craftsmanship through a bamboo fan-weaving workshop, discovering the artisan spirit behind each woven strand. The Shanghai University Museum hosted exhibitions like “Preserving Chinese Culture: Letters and Other Works of Intellectuals at NSAU” and “Passing the Torch: A Cross-Time Dialogue Among Youth,” which were grounded in historical documents from the university’s revolutionary past and offered an immersive journey through the intellectual legacy of the former National Southwest Associated University and the enduring power of red culture.Elsewhere, the Shanghai Baoshan International Folk Art Pavilion launched “A Decade of Intangible Cultural Heritage Training: Upholding Traditions and Innovating for the Future,” while China3D-Printinting Cultural Museum at Wisdom Bay opened its doors for a 3D-printing exploration tour, showcasing the exciting convergence of heritage preservation and technological advancement.

In recent years, Baoshan has embraced innovation as a driving force, promoting the deep integration of technology and culture, and cultivating an evolving ecosystem centered on “Technology + Museums.” Museums are no longer confined by walls—like butterflies emerging from cocoons, they are transforming in response to social changes. Cultural power fuels the development of tech innovation, and together, they are shaping a museum experience that bridges the past and the future, the science and the humanities.

As the lights of the night market shimmered, the unique charm of this cross-disciplinary experiment grew ever more radiant. The International Museum Day celebration not only showcased the evolving role of museums in heritage preservation and creative innovation, but also added rich cultural depth to Baoshan—a district striving to become Shanghai’s key hub for science and innovation, and a “city of wisdom, ecology, and well-being”.