Science and technology are the foundation of a country’s prosperity, innovation is the soul of a nation’s progress, and self-reliance interms of science and technology offers strategic support fora state’s development. Since ancient times, science and technology have promoted the development of human society with an irreversible and irresistible force. The Chinese nation has created a splendid ancient civilization, secured glorious achievements in ancient science and technology, and made significant contributions to global scientific and technological progress. It has also experienced the humiliation of falling behind the times, and struggled towardrejuvenationthroughmastering advanced science and technology. Since the founding of the People’s Republic of China, especially since the beginning of the reform and opening-up, China has made great achievements in scientific and technological development that have attracted worldwide attention. It has established a systematic and complete modern industrial system, undergone an industrialization process that developed countries tookhundreds of years to complete, and created a miracle in the history of human development.

Inholding the special exhibition “The Power of Science and Technology,”theNational Museum of China (NMC)ismaking full use of its systematic collection and further exploring its collection resources. The exhibits on display range from oracle bones with inscriptions of solar eclipse records and sexagenary cycle charts, to contemporary scientific and technological achievements such as the “Micius” quantum science experimental satellite. It is the first special exhibition on the general history of Chinese science and technology held by the NMC. It is also an important exploration systematically displaying representative material evidence that fully reflectsChina’s outstanding traditional culture, revolutionary culture and advanced socialist culture in specific professional fields.

This exhibition is divided into four sections, namely “Searching for truth,”“Creating from nature,”“Learning from the West,” and “Marching toward Rejuvenation.” A total of more than 400 cultural relics and 50 models are exhibited across the exhibition, supplemented by pictures, charts, digital images and interactive displays, outlining the basic historical lineage of the development of China’s science, technology and industry from ancient times to the present day, and focusing on displaying the development characteristics and outstanding achievements of different periods. Among the exhibits on displayare many newly acquired cultural relics from recent years, as part ofthe NMC’s latest attempt to reflect the development of scientific research and industrial technology in New China.

We sincerely hope that this exhibition can guide audiences to gain a more systematic and complete understanding of the great achievements of ancient Chinese science and technology, as well as a profound feeling of the great spirit of innovation and creativity of the Chinese nation. We also hope that audiences can gain a more systematic and complete understanding of the arduous history of China’s modern science and technology and industrial development, and cherish the nation’shard-earned achievements.

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