May 18, the International Museum Day witnessed the opening ceremony of the first museum branch in Pingdingshan city, Henan province, central China. Ms. Song Liping, Head of Henan Provincial Cultural Department, Mr. Zhang Leiming, Mayor of Pingdingshan, jointly inaugurated the branch. During the ceremony, Mr. Wan Jie, Party Secretary of Henan Museum, and Mr. Shang Bin, Director of Pingdingshan Museum signed a strategic cooperation agreement. Other local officials also attended the ceremony.

The unveiling ceremony of Henan Museum, Pingdingsha Branch took place at Pingdingsha Museum

Ms. Song Liping, Head of Henan Provincial Cultural Department, Mr. Zhang Leiming, Mayor of Pingdingshan, jointly inaugurated the branch

Mr. Wan Jie, Secretary of Henan Museum, delivered a speech for the ceremony, “To put the guiding principles from 19th National Congress into action, and implement the important instruction by General Secretary Xi Jinping “Making the Cultural Relics Alive”, with the support from multiple governmental agencies, and through communication and friendly negotiation, Henan Museum and Pingdingshan Museum decide to innovatively set up a museum branch mechanism in Henan museum circles, so as to give full play to the leading role of the Henan Museum as a state-grade key museum and the rich collection of more than 170,000 pieces (sets) in the Henan Museum, as well as its advantages in exhibitions, social education, and scientific research, and to share resources, for development in form of integration, and service to the public.

Mr. Wan Jie, Secretary of Henan Museum, delivered a speech to the ceremony

Signing a strategic cooperation agreement

Mr. Wan said that the startup of Henan Museum, Pingdingshan Branch is an exploration for museum operational mechanism, as well as a reform on museum service system, and it is also the first in museums of Henan province. Henan Museum will promote all-around cooperation and exchange with Pingdingshan Museum in artifact collection, preservation, exhibition, social education, scientific research, and talent cultivation; and also seek more cooperation and exchanges with other museums in a bid to make the collection genuinely alive, and to serve the society by means of fulfilling museum’s commitments. 

Following the inauguration, the exhibition “Selection from the Treasures---Treasures from Qing and Ming dynasties” organized by Henan Museum opened to the public at Pingdingshan Branch of Henan Museum (Pingdingshan Museum). The exhibition features 115 piece(sets) of the rare gold and silver wares, ceramics, paintings and calligraphies, ivory carvings which are housed by Henan Museum, some of objects are showed for the first time. The exhibition is free of charge, and will close on August 18th.