BEIJING: Watching archaeologists at work and learning about their discoveries are becoming increasingly popular cultural tourism experiences in China.

People’s Daily Online reported that numerous archaeological sites presently undergoing excavation, including the Emperor Qinshihuang’s Mausoleum Site Museum in northwest China’s Shaanxi Province and the Archaeological Ruins of Liangzhu City in east China’s Zhejiang Province, are facilitating public tours and educational engagements.

The Zhouqiao Bridge and the nearby Bianhe River relics site in Kaifeng city, central China’s Henan Province, have been sharing with the public archaeological discoveries by allowing people to visit the sites and watch archaeological work over the past four years.

To make it more convenient for visitors to observe the relevant areas and work, the cultural relics authorities of Henan have constructed viewing platforms, walkways, and classrooms for study tours around active excavation zones.

About 50,000 visitors have been able to
observe archaeologists unearth and catalogue artefacts, while receiving explanations from tour guides, according to Zhu Yanrong, a teacher for study tours at the relics site.

Visitors can also try “digging treasure” and “repairing cultural relics” through the mystery box products provided at the site, Zhu said.

During the May Day holiday this year, the Dahe Village relic site, Shuanghuaishu site, and Qingtai site in Zhengzhou, the capital of Henan, held open house events with a rich variety of activities, thus helping create an immersive archaeological experience for visitors. The tickets to the events were immediately snapped up.

“It provides a great learning experience to see the archaeological process up close and learn about the findings directly,” said a parent in Zhengzhou after taking part in an open house event.

Archaeologists believe this transparent approach helps demystify their work for the public and generates more interest in cultural heritage preservation.

Source: Emirates News Agency