[Video provided to gojilin.gov.cn]

As International Museum Day arrived once again, museums across Northeast China's Jilin province are continuing to bring the province's rich history and cultural heritage to life.

Drawing on abundant archaeological discoveries, world heritage resources, and extensive museum collections, Jilin has spent years uncovering the cultural value of its frontier history and transforming museums into vibrant spaces linking ancient civilization, ethnic integration, revolutionary memory, and modern development.

Scattered across cities and rural communities, these museums not only serve as guardians of relics and historical records but also as cultural landmarks connecting fragmented pieces of history into a complete narrative of civilization. Together, they reveal the development of China's northeastern frontier, showcase the diversity and unity of Chinese civilization, and strengthen cultural exchanges with the wider world.

Jilin's cultural roots stretch back thousands of years. From ancient obsidian stone tools and the blending of multiple ethnic cultures to wartime memories and fertile lands nurturing civilization, generations of cultural treasures have been preserved and revitalized through the dedication of museum professionals.

One major highlight came when the Changbai Mountain Paleolithic site group was selected as one of China's Top 10 archaeological discoveries of the year in 2025. Dating from 220,000 to 13,000 years ago, the site group spans the Songhua, Tumen, and Yalu river basins. Its distinctive obsidian stone tool industry confirms the Changbai Mountain region as one of the most densely distributed Paleolithic cultural areas in Northeast Asia.

Over the past five years, museums across Jilin have hosted more than 2,000 exhibitions. The historical and cultural exhibition at Jilin Provincial Museum highlights the long-term exchanges and deep integration between ethnic groups in Northeast China and the civilizations of the central plains. Museums in Baicheng, Tonghua, Shulan, Ji'an, Qian'an, and Fuyu have also developed exhibitions rooted in local history, exploring themes including cultural integration, frontier governance, and folk traditions.

Museums throughout the province are increasingly connecting history with daily life through exhibitions, public lectures, educational programs, and digital experiences, welcoming 13.52 million visitors and organizing 3,861 public education activities in 2025, allowing more people to see, learn about, and experience history firsthand.