A Century of Guardianship: Parents’ Group Explores the “Journey of a Century” with Dr. Cao Qin at the Oriental Museum

On January 11, 2026, our school organized a parents’ study group to visit the Durham University Oriental Museum for an in-depth guided tour of the highly acclaimed photo exhibition, Journey of a Century: From the Forbidden City to the Palace Museum.

Under the expert guidance of Dr. Cao Qin from the Oriental Museum, parents embarked on a historical journey spanning over a hundred years. Dr. Cao provided a detailed analysis of the Forbidden City’s transformation from a restricted imperial site into a modern public museum. Through rare archival photographs, she vividly recreated the era when early museum pioneers sought to establish cultural landmarks amidst social upheaval, demonstrating their dedication to preserving civilizational heritage.

A particularly moving segment of the tour focused on the Southward Migration of Artifacts during the war years. Dr. Cao meticulously traced the legendary journey of over ten thousand crates of national treasures as they were transported across China under grueling conditions. This narrative of cultural continuity—where heritage was safeguarded through immense hardship—deeply resonated with the overseas Chinese parents in attendance, highlighting the resilience required to preserve cultural roots during turbulent times.

Discussing the post-1949 era, Dr. Cao highlighted the Palace Museum’s evolution in ancient architecture restoration, scientific conservation, and digital social education. From a secluded palace to its current status as a vibrant international cultural hub, every step of the museum’s transformation reflects the enduring vitality of traditional culture as it integrates with the modern world.

In her concluding remarks, Dr. Cao Qin expressed her sincere gratitude to our Chinese school for its long-standing support of the Oriental Museum. She noted:
“I am delighted to see such profound interest and enthusiasm from the parents toward the ‘Journey of a Century’ exhibition. The insightful questions raised today were truly impressive. We look forward to continuing our collaboration to help more people gain a deeper understanding of the richness of Chinese culture.”

Head Teacher, Mr Haoyang Liu, concluded the event by reflecting on the essence of “guardianship”:
“We brought our parents here to listen to this history because the Palace Museum is more than just a collection of magnificent buildings; it is a collective memory of ‘guarding’ what matters. Whether it was the predecessors who protected these treasures a century ago or the parents today who strive to pass on cultural heritage to the next generation, our fundamental purpose is the same. Through these high-level academic dialogues, we hope to help parents build a stronger cultural foundation, enabling them to better guide our children as they navigate their own cultural identities in a diverse world.”

穿越百年的守望：我校家长研学团走进东方博物馆，聆听曹芹博士深度解析“故宫百年”

2026年1月11日，我校组织家长研学团走进杜伦大学东方博物馆，深度导览了备受瞩目的《世纪之旅——从紫禁城到故宫博物院》（Journey of a Century）图片特展。

在杜伦大学东方博物馆曹芹博士的引领下，家长们翻开了故宫博物院跨越百年的历史篇章。曹博士以翔实的史料为基础，细致解析了紫禁城从皇家私藏向现代公共博物馆转型的复杂历程。通过珍贵的影像资料，大家直观地看到了在社会变迁的背景下，早期的博物馆先行者们如何在废墟中梳理文明脉络，建立起现代意义上的文化坐标。

讲解中特别引人驻足的，是关于抗战时期文物南迁的叙事。曹博士通过细致的史料梳理，讲述了上万箱文物如何在极度艰苦的条件下横跨大半个中国。这段历时十余年、跨越万里的守护之旅，不仅是一场关于物质遗产的保全，更是一段关于文化血脉如何在动荡中得以延续的传奇。这段历史让身在海外的华裔家长们深感共鸣——对于文化的珍视与传承，往往在最艰难的时刻最显韧性。

谈及新中国成立后的发展，曹博士介绍了故宫在古建修复、文物科学保护以及数字化教育等领域的跨越式进展。从曾经的深宫内苑到如今开放包容、充满活力的国际文化枢纽，故宫的每一步转型都展示了传统文化与现代社会相融合的生命力。

活动中，曹芹博士对家长团展现出的文化热情给予了高度评价。她表示，非常感谢中文学校长期以来对东方博物馆的一贯支持，看到家长们对“世纪之旅”展览表现出如此浓厚的兴趣，并提出了许多富有见地的文化思考，令人倍感欣慰。她期待双方能继续携手合作，为更多人搭建起深入了解中国文化的桥梁。

刘浩洋校长在总结中谈到，带家长们来听这段历史，是因为故宫不仅是一组辉煌的建筑，更是一份关于“守护”的集体记忆。无论是百年前守护文物的先辈，还是今天在海外致力于文化传递、让孩子了解自身根脉的家长，大家对文化传承的初心是相通的。通过这种高规格的学术对话，我们希望帮助家长建立起更深厚的文化积淀，从而更从容地引导下一代在多元文化背景下寻找自身的文化定位。