Nantong Museum, located in Chongchuan district in Nantong, Jiangsu province, has secured its position on two prestigious lists released by Museum News, a leading media outlet in China's museum industry.

Among the top 100 national museums for the first quarter of 2024, Nantong Museum ranked 57th, while it secured the 8th spot in the top 30 city-level museums list.

Established in 1905 by Zhang Jian (1853-1926), a prominent patriot, industrialist, educator, and philanthropist, Nantong Museum holds the distinction of being China's first public museum. Free to the public, the museum showcases permanent exhibitions on Nantong's ancient civilization and history, alongside a diverse range of temporary exhibitions.

In the first quarter of 2024, Nantong Museum hosted a dragon-themed exhibition, featuring over 160 items and attracting a total of 160,000 visitors.

The dragon exhibition epitomizes Nantong Museum's commitment to preserving and promoting Nantong's cultural heritage. The museum has consistently met the growing cultural and spiritual needs of the public by organizing rich and diverse activities, fostering cultural resonance and emotional connections.

Additionally, Nantong Museum has made significant efforts in enhancing visitor experiences by offering bilingual explanations for its exhibitions and outdoor attractions, and by focusing on the professionalization and specialization of its guide team.

In 2023, the museum's full-time guides conducted 2,454 sessions for official receptions, serving over 760,000 visitors. Volunteer guides led over 1,600 sessions, and trained student guides conducted 562 sessions.

A dragon-themed exhibition is held in Nantong Museum. [Photo/WeChat account: chongchuanonline]