Young museum visitors in China have been increasingly drawn to the gift shops, where cultural relic-inspired products are proving a popular purchase.
A stunning two-faced bronze mask on display at the Jiangxi Provincial Museum in east China's Jiangxi Province is one of the museum's most precious treasures.
The ancient artifact has inspired playful products, winning over visitors eager to take home a memory of the museum's fascinating collection.
"Many visitors to museums are young people. Therefore, we decided to design cultural and creative products in a contrastive way, showcasing their adorable side," said Li Wenjin, head of the Cultural and Creative Research Department at Jiangxi Provincial Museum.
"I just saw the culture relic back at the exhibition and thought it looks really dignified. But now I looked at its cultural and creative product at the store, it's really cute," said Zhou Jiayu, a visitor at the museum.
The popularity of these products in turn boosts the number of visitors to museums around the country, while also helping to fund their important cultural work.
"The sales for one single product could sometimes reach over two million yuan (about 270,000 U.S. dollars). Last year, our total sales volume reached more than 35 million yuan," said Qiu Yang, head of the Cultural and Creative Research Department with the Jinsha Site Museum, which displays the artifacts found at an archeological site in southwest China's Sichuan.
"The rising popularity of cultural centers and museums not only embodies a high demand for cultural consumption, but also reflects the society's tracing of history and exploration of innovation and inheritance," said Liu Yu, deputy curator of Changsha Museum in central China's Hunan Province.
China's museums win over young visitors with relic-inspired products
Russia is "in favor" of the 30-day ceasefire plan proposed by the United States and Ukraine, but nuances exist, Russian President Vladimir Putin said Thursday.
At a press conference with visiting Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko, Putin addressed the current state of the Russia-Ukraine conflict and the recent discussions surrounding the proposed ceasefire.
Putin said that Russia agrees with the proposals to stop hostilities, but it proceeds from the fact that this cessation should be one that would lead to long-term peace and eliminate the original causes of this crisis.
Putin noted the difficulty in monitoring ceasefire violations along the 2,000 km contact line of the conflict and raised the issue that Ukraine might use the temporary ceasefire for mobilization and weapons supplies.
He mentioned the nuance regarding the Kursk region, where Russian forces have been pushing back Ukrainian forces following their surprise cross-border attack in August 2024.
Putin said he might call U.S. President Donald Trump to discuss the issues, reiterating Russia's support for a peaceful resolution to the conflict, provided that any agreement is feasible and fair.
On the same day, Trump expressed optimism regarding Putin's statements but cautioned that they were "incomplete". Trump said that he is willing to engage in dialogue with Putin, adding that if Russia rejects the agreement, it would be a "very disappointing moment for the world".
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy responded to Putin's remarks, believing that they suggest Russia's intent to reject the ceasefire proposal. He asserted that the conditions set by Russia for halting hostilities are merely tactics to manipulate the situation.
Ukraine on Tuesday signaled its readiness to accept a U.S. proposal for an "immediate, interim 30-day ceasefire" following talks with a U.S. delegation in Jeddah, according to their joint statement.
The statement also said the truce could be extended by mutual agreement, adding that "the United States will communicate to Russia that Russian reciprocity is the key to achieving peace".
Putin says Russia "in favor" of ceasefire, but nuances exist
