On Nov. 4, 2024, over 40 foreign scholars on classics from 13 countries, who are the participants to The World Classic Conference--The Journey to the Central Plain of Reading China on the Move, visited Henan Museum to perceive the history and culture of the Central Plains, and experience the developing momentum of Chinese museums.

To allow the scholars to better perceive the profound Central Plains culture within a limited time, Henan Museum provided five highlights of exhibition for watching and experiencing, including “The Melody of Eight Thousand Years Ago--Jiahu Bone Flute”, “The Identity Card of Zhengzhou--Bronze Tetrapod Cauldron with Beast Mask Design”, “Ritual and Music Civilization--The Bronze Vessel Sets for Ritual and Music from the Guo Principality”，“The Epitome of the Bronze Age--Square Ewer with Lotus and Swan Design”, “The Fashions in Sui and Tang Dynasties--The Pottery Seated Figurines of Music Ensemble”.

With a replica of the Jiahu bone flute, one player from the Huaxia Ancient Music Orchestra played a well-known Chinese song “Mo Li Hua”(Jasmine) which touched everyone's hearts, an expert from Italy made a comment: There are breathes of the ancients between the music holes (of the flute), I can nearly hear the wind and birds singing of the age”. In front of the gate of the Sui and Tang Gallery, Henan Museum, inspired by the Sui Seated Figurines of Music Ensemble, arranged an impromptu performance “The Night Banquet in Tang Dynasty Palace”, which is characterized by cheerful rhythm, energetic dance, leading foreign scholars beyond time and space, to a dream feast of Sui and Tang dynasty. Kostas Shinolakis, member of the Department of Natural Sciences, Academy of Sciences, Athens, Greece said, “it is an amazing museum, because it opens up a whole new world of glimpses of ancient civilizations”.

The first World Conference on Classics was jointly organized by the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Culture and Tourism of China, along with the Greek Ministry of Culture and the Greek Academy of Sciences of Athens, and was held in Beijing from November 6 to 8. Prior to the conference, participants engaged in classical studies from all over the world will carry out cultural exchanges and mutual learning of civilizations through the "Reading China on the Move" activities in Shandong, Henan and Sichuan regions.