A celebration is held at the Great Wall Museum in Beijing to mark the 34th International Museum Day. [Photo:CRIENGLISH.com]

The Great Wall Museum embraced the 34th International Museum Day on Tuesday with a series of activities presided over by a group of invited guests including veterans and authorities from the Beijing Heritage Board.

In her opening address, museum curator Huang Lijing released details of ongoing and future developments at the museum. She also highlighted the museum's focus on instilling a sense of national pride in contemporary Chinese youth. The museum has been lauded for its educational prowess, having welcomed half a million students (10% of the total visitor count) since its official opening in 1994.

After the opening ceremony, guests were invited to view "Traversing Times - a Historical Dialogue", a spectacular display of stamps featuring the Great Wall. The museum also handed out informative brochures and hosted some cultural performances based on the theme of the Great Wall.

In fact, the extensive program of events began on May 17th with a field visit to the Badaling Pass of the Great Wall and a conference centered on efforts to develop the Badaling Scenic Area and the museum. The conference saw intense discussions between officials and experts, giving rise to a number of suggestions for future development.

In particular, Mr. Luo Zhewen, chairman of the Chinese Heritage Society, emphasized the role of the museum in research and education. "After a complete revamp following the Beijing Olympics, the museum's current display undoubtedly harnesses the essence of the Badaling Scenic Area. The development and research work going on there is fundamental to a complete presentation of the Great Wall, which in turn allows greater education resources for both locals and foreigners to enjoy," remarked Luo.

Situated on the western side of the Badaling Pass, the Great Wall Museum offers a comprehensive display of historical and cultural materials related to the Badaling Scenic Area. It sports a wide array of photographs, artifacts, documents and audiovisual resources, including the Great Wall Circle Vision Theatre with its novel 360-degree screen. The exhibition area of 3,000 sq. metres includes seven exhibition halls, with the main exhibition hall housing a recreation of a typical Great Wall watch-tower. As it continues to engage in research and utilize fresh technology, the museum really brings the history of the area alive. Admission to the museum is free.