The family"s visit reflects a broader transformation in summer science education. Achievements that previous generations could only follow from newspaper reports and television broadcasts are now becoming immersive, hands-on experiences for children.

　　Children try out a device showcasing liquid pressure at the museum on the same day. LI GANG/XINHUA

　　That trend extends beyond Beijing. In Hefei, the capital of East China"s Anhui province, the Anhui Museum is hosting an exhibition that places modern space exploration within the much longer tradition of ancient Chinese culture"s observation and the questioning of "heaven".

　　Running through Oct 20, the exhibition brings together nearly 300 cultural relics and exhibits from 48 museums and research institutions. Ancient astronomical instruments are displayed alongside models of the Yutu lunar rover and China"s space station, as well as lunar soil brought back by the Chang"e-6 mission in 2024 — humanity"s first samples ever collected from the moon"s far side.

　　Animations, demonstrations of ancient instruments and interactive installations guide visitors through subjects ranging from early celestial observation and timekeeping to today"s deep-space exploration.

　　While the Hefei exhibition links contemporary missions with centuries of skywatching, the Nanning Science and Technology Museum in the Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region focuses on hands-on participation. Its "My Space Dream" summer camp introduces children to the development of China"s space program while offering simulated astronaut training.