Yellow River Museum helps spread, preserve Yellow River culture

The Yellow River Museum, the first of its kind in China that is exclusively devoted to a river, has been making unremitting efforts to help spread Yellow River culture.

During his inspection tour of central China's Henan Province in 2019, Chinese President Xi Jinping visited the museum and urged the staff to help preserve and carry forward the culture of the Yellow River, China's mother river that gave birth to the Chinese civilization.

The 5,464-km-long river runs through nine provinces and autonomous regions and got its name because of its yellow muddy water.

The river feeds around 12 percent of China’s population, irrigates about 15 percent of the arable land, supports 14 percent of national GDP and supplies water to more than 60 cities.

The Chinese people have long regarded the Yellow River as their spirit totem because of its significant role in economy and culture.

Chairman Mao Zedong left a famous line in 1947 when he just completed the draft of "Chinese People's Liberation Army Declaration". Then he came to the Yellow River and said "without the Yellow River, there would be no Chinese nation".

The huge picture of famous Hukou Waterfalls of Yellow River hanging at the entrance symbolizes China's national spirits of forging ahead bravely and making dauntless efforts with indomitable fortitude.

The Yellow River region is not only famous for many folk tales supposedly originated from here, but also for the great cultural heritages such as colorful pottery pots with delicate decorations.

Children accompanied by their parents and teachers were attracted by the exhibition, and they carefully took notes whiling listening to explanation.

"We wish to let students get to know more about the Yellow River, its natural conditions, its culture and how it has been harnessed through these exhibitions and events. After years of efforts, our museum has become an important education base for promoting the Yellow River culture, spreading scientific knowledge of water conservancy. We also educate people on ecological protection, flood prevention and conduct patriotic education," said Wangjianping, director of Yellow River Museum.

Combing education with a variety of lively activities, the Yellow River Museum organized a series of activities in the summer to let the children learn about the culture of the Yellow River from many aspects such as history, geography and art.

"I'm playing the puzzles of the Yellow River water conservancy project. I grow up by the river, and the river brought us ample resources and fun. We need to protect it. I feel happy to live by the Yellow River," said Wang Ziming, a student.

During the puzzle game, the students learned the shape and geographic knowledge of the Yellow River region by putting together the puzzles to figure out the nine provinces that the river is running through on a map.

"As people born in Zhengzhou, the children have grown up by drinking water from the Yellow River. Children can learn traditional Chinese culture as well as Yellow River culture through these events and playing with each other. It's also a good way for spreading Yellow River spirit and cultural inheritance," said Feng Lina, a teacher from Zhengzhou Youth Palace.

"We will let our children to know about Yellow River's history through reading the stories, reading textbooks and visiting museums. We'll let them be able to know the culture, tell the story, inherit the spirits and further develop the culture," said Ma Xiaolin, the director of Henan Museum.