A Magical Lantern Festival Night at Xiamen Olympic Museum: Celebrating the 17th Anniversary with the “Spirit of the Serpent”
Publish date:2025-02-15 Pageview: 2363
The year 2025 marks the 17th anniversary of the Xiamen Olympic Museum. Over the past seventeen years, the museum has welcomed waves of visitors from around the world, hosted tens of millions of students for educational visits and exchanges, and engaged in extensive collaboration with museums and scenic destinations both domestically and internationally. After seventeen years of dedication, we remain steadfast in our original mission.
On the occasion of the museum’s 17th anniversary, coinciding with the Lantern Festival, the Xiamen Olympic Museum held a special event on the afternoon of February 11 titled “Celebrating Seventeen Years, A Joyful Lantern Festival with the Spirit of the Serpent.” The event brought together distinguished guests and friends of the museum to celebrate both the anniversary and the festive occasion.
Guiding Organizations:
Xiamen Municipal Working Committee on Caring for the Next Generation
Siming District Association for Science and Technology
Organizing Institution:
Xiamen Olympic Museum
Supporting Organizations:
Xiamen Sports Industry Association
Xiamen Aidongke Education Technology Co., Ltd.
Daqian Art Troupe
Mozheng Guzheng Art Center
Sponsors:
Xiamen Youtianquan Mineral Water Co., Ltd.
Xiamen Baobab Biotechnology Research Institute Co., Ltd.
Distinguished Guests:
Pan Shijian, Chairman, Xiamen Education Foundation
Ma Ronggen, Vice Chairman, Xiamen Association for Science and Technology
Li Yuhua, Deputy Secretary-General, Xiamen Working Committee on Caring for the Next Generation
Li Minghui, Director, Publicity Department of the Xiamen Municipal Committee of China Association for Promoting Democracy
Qiu Miqi, Second-Level Principal Staff Member, Xiamen Disabled Persons’ Federation
Cai Wensheng, Secretary-General, Xiamen Sports Industry Association
Lin Feng, Secretary-General, Xiamen Tourism Association
Zhong Hanmei, Deputy Secretary-General, Siming District Cultural Tourism Association
He Zhicheng, Head of Development Division, Xiamen Botanical Garden
Wang Zhiqiang, General Manager, Xiamen Baobab Biotechnology Co., Ltd.
Liu Xiaobin, Former Director, Overseas Chinese Museum
He Jiahong, Deputy Director, Tan Kah Kee Memorial Museum
Zeng Huashan, Director, Gulangyu Pie Food Culture Museum
Wu Weidong, Deputy Director, Pangu Museum
Liao Rongcan, Manager of Study Tour Division, Xiamen Aidongke Education Technology Co., Ltd.
The event opened with a guzheng performance titled “Peach Blossoms Smile” by students from Mozheng Guzheng Art Center. The melodious music evoked the vitality of spring, with blooming peach blossoms symbolizing hope and renewal.
The Daqian Art Troupe presented a series of beloved musical pieces, including “Colorful Clouds Chasing the Moon,” “Peach Blossom Crossing,” “Auld Lang Syne,” “Smoke from Kitchen Chimneys,” and “Qinghai-Tibet Plateau.” These familiar melodies stirred deep emotions and cherished memories, while the harmonious collaboration of various instruments conveyed heartfelt blessings to the museum.
Ms. Wu Yun, Deputy Director of the Xiamen Olympic Museum, delivered a welcome address on behalf of the museum and its Director, Mr. Wu Ching-kuo. She extended sincere gratitude to all attending leaders and guests, reflected on the museum’s 17-year journey, and expressed appreciation to government authorities, dedicated volunteers, partner organizations, entrepreneurs, travel agencies, and all supporters of the Olympic cause.
Staff from the museum’s Industry Development Department introduced several key initiatives:
- Exhibition highlights, including the “Never Stop” Marathon Exhibition and the special exhibition “Olympic Glory: Paris Moment.”
- Signature educational programs centered on Olympic values, such as simulated torch-lighting ceremonies, Olympic bid simulations, youth broadcasting experiences, dryland curling, thematic performances like “The Story of a Snowflake” and “Olympic Flame Collection,” fun sports activities, and Olympic knowledge competitions.
- Integrated “Sports + Culture + Tourism” routes, including the “Never Stop” Island Tour into the Olympic Experience.
- Half-day and full-day study tour programs.
- The museum’s 2025 development plan, covering Olympic values education, civic education programs, cross-strait sports exchanges, outdoor experiential learning, and competitive challenge events.
The presentation aimed to showcase the museum’s rich educational tourism resources, strengthen connections with the tourism industry, and foster mutually beneficial cooperation with travel agencies and enterprises.
Cai Wensheng, Secretary-General of the Xiamen Sports Industry Association, highlighted future collaboration with the museum on cross-strait sports education initiatives.
Liao Rongcan introduced joint civic education programs focusing on “sportsmanship” and “civic values,” integrating Olympic ideals with core socialist values.
Wang Zhiqiang outlined plans for outdoor sports programs combining Olympic spirit with Baobab cultural elements.
One of the museum’s signature programs, the simulated torch-lighting ceremony, was performed to the Olympic anthem. Torchbearers and flag bearers relayed the flame to the main stage, symbolizing the Olympic ideals of light, unity, friendship, peace, and justice.
Traditional dragon and lion dances, iconic elements of the Chinese New Year, brought vibrant energy and festive symbolism to the event. Children participated in this intangible cultural heritage activity, expressing unity, perseverance, and aspirations for a better life. The celebration concluded with a group photo amid the joyous atmosphere.
The Lantern Festival activities continued with participants dressed in Hanfu, admiring lanterns and solving riddles. These riddles not only tested intellect but also embodied the richness of traditional Chinese culture. Guests enthusiastically engaged in the competition for prizes.
An immersive treasure hunt experience attracted many children, who followed maps and clues from NPCs, using logic and reasoning to locate hidden treasures throughout the museum. Upon completing their tasks, they received festive lanterns.
The traditional craft of “Fu” character rubbing allowed families to create symbolic prints representing good fortune and blessings for the new year, offering a hands-on experience of Chinese cultural heritage.
Finally, children paraded through the museum carrying their lanterns, showcasing a variety of designs. This procession not only celebrated the Lantern Festival but also promoted and preserved traditional culture.
