With the winter vacation underway, cultural tourism and museum visits continue to gain popularity, and science-themed educational tours that combine fun and knowledge have become parents' top choice for 'taking their kids out'. A trend of 'traveling with textbooks' has emerged, prompting major science education venues across Sichuan to launch innovative programs that allow children to acquire knowledge through enjoyable experiences.

Dinosaur fossil replicas at the Chengdu University of Technology Museum

At the Chengdu University of Technology museum, the dinosaur-themed program 'Dinosaur Treasure Hunt' is in full swing. After a guided lecture, 19 parent-child families embarked on an interactive 'treasure hunt' throughout the exhibition halls, immersing themselves in unlocking the mysteries of ancient life. The museum houses approximately 10,000 exhibits, including precious specimens such as the 24-meter-long Mamenchisaurus hochuanensis fossil, the Longchang iron meteorite, and the Dazhu Qianjiang fish fossil. The 'Dinosaurs of Sichuan and Chongqing' hall and the 'Dinosaur Secrets' hall together form a miniature 'dinosaur world,' featuring over 30 lifelike fossil displays that systematically present the history of dinosaur discoveries in the Sichuan Basin along with their classifications and behaviors. Interactive activities like comparing heights with dinosaurs and simulating feeding sessions enable children to engage in intimate 'conversations' with these 'prehistoric giants'. 'This is the first time I've seen real dinosaur fossils!' exclaimed 6-year-old Kong You excitedly. Her grandmother noted that this participatory approach to science education is far more impactful than watching pictures or videos.

Children and parents are participating in the "Dinosaur Treasure Hunt" activity at the Museum of Chengdu University of Technology

That same afternoon, an environmental science-themed play performed by fourth- and fifth-grade students took the stage. The children wove scientific concepts into the storyline, conveying ideas and experiencing the allure of science through performance. 'Science popularization isn't just about lecturing—it's about letting science 'fly into children's hearts' through hands-on experience.' said Chen Rong, head of the museum's Science Education Department, noting that interest in educational tours has been steadily rising in recent years.

As the winter vacation coincides with the Spring Festival, venues are rolling out new themed activities. The Chengdu University of Technology Museum will launch a series of courses such as 'Plant Stable' and 'Horses in the Year of the Horse', as well as a bilingual session titled 'Earth's Climate Translator' led by a Spanish scholar. The Sichuan Science and Technology Museum, with its interactive aerospace and robotics exhibits, has become a popular destination for visitors. Its brand-new AI exhibition hall is set to open soon, featuring intelligent companions capable of conversation and training to guide explorations into the secrets of artificial intelligence. During the Spring Festival, the temporary optical science exhibition 'Symphony of Light' will run concurrently, alongside diverse, high-engagement activities such as 'Exploring Dujiangyan', 'Intangible Cultural Heritage: Timber Arch Bridge Construction', and a course titled 'The Magic of Force' delivered by university professors.

The preserved specimen of Zhu Jianqiang at the Chengdu Life Science Museum

Specialized venues also offer compelling experiences. The Chengdu Museum of Life Mysteries, centered around authentic plastinated biological specimens, has added six new interactive experiences during the winter break to enhance visitor engagement.

Fish specimens at the Chengdu Life Mystery Museum

Sichuan is advancing the construction of the 'Tianfu Science Education Tourism Platform,' which integrates and lists over 1,000 high-quality science education sites and itineraries covering fields such as artificial intelligence, aerospace, and biomedicine. Key locations—including the Dujiangyan Irrigation System, the LHAASO (Large High Altitude Air Shower Observatory) base in Daocheng, and XGimi Technology—have been incorporated into the platform, breaking the boundaries of traditional classrooms and enabling young people to visit laboratories, production lines, and large-scale scientific facilities. According to an official from the Sichuan Association for Science and Technology, the 'Tianfu Science Cloud' platform will continue optimizing its portfolio of over 1,000 educational tour products. In the second half of 2026, the province will select and promote 20 premium routes and 20 model venues, aiming to ensure that every primary and secondary school student in Sichuan participates in at least one high-quality science education tour during the 15th Five-Year Plan period (2026–2030).

【本文部分内容由AI辅助生成，特此声明。The author(s) generated part of the content in this work with the assistance of artificial intelligence (AI), which is hereby declared.】