On September 29, 2025, the National Museum of China and China Eastern Airlines Group Co., Ltd. held the inaugural flight ceremony of the "National Museum of China" themed plane at Beijing Daxing International Airport. Embodying the profound essence of Chinese civilization, the aircraft will operate on the Beijing Daxing–Shanghai Pudong–Frankfurt route.
Senior officials from the National Museum of China (NMC), China Eastern Airlines Group Co., Ltd., and Capital Airports Holding Company attended the inaugural ceremony and jointly unveiled the themed aircraft. Guests from the NMC, China Eastern Airlines, Capital Airports, ByteDance, Nanjing Normal University, and other institutions were also present at the ceremony.
At the inaugural ceremony, renowned directors, actors, and representatives of the NMC staff presented wonderful performances. Artists from the NMC Calligraphy and Painting Institute created calligraphy works on site under the theme "Timeless Vision, Boundless Connection". Young guests also painted artworks inspired by cultural heritage, adding a lively and creative touch to the event.
Encountering the splendor of Chinese civilization at ten thousand meters above the ground, the "National Museum of China" themed plane, an airborne museum, explores new possibilities for the creative use of cultural heritage through the cross-over integration of culture, aviation, and technology. It opens a new space and creates new scenarios for adaptative use of cultural heritage, becoming the "49th gallery" beyond the 48 standard galleries within the NMC.
The "National Museum of China" themed plane is a Boeing 777-300ER wide-body jet, with registration number B-7882. Its exterior features full double-sided fuselage artwork in a playful, childlike style. Six treasured artifacts, including the Jade Dragon, Jade Phoenix, and Eagle-shaped Pottery Tripod, selected from among the museum's 1.43 million collections, take flight across the fuselage through children's drawings.
Inside the cabin, an original digital exhibition, titled "History in the Cloud, Heritage on Display", transforms the aircraft into a flying gallery. Overhead bins, tray tables, headrest covers, and inflight screens become platforms for cultural display, with images and stories of nearly 50 exquisite artifacts from the NMC accompanying passengers throughout their journey.
Empowered by inflight Wi-Fi technology, the plane offers an interactive digital experience. Passengers can scan QR codes to access NMC in the Cloud and Chinese Civilization Online, or use the Doubao App to scan onboard artifact images and listen to their stories. In addition, the NMC special issue is available on board, enabling travelers to explore the depth and brilliance of Chinese civilization through reading.
The "National Museum of China" plane marks a flagship project following the strategic cooperation agreement signed between the NMC and China Eastern Airlines (CEA) in December 2024. Looking ahead, the two institutions will deepen collaboration in areas such as exhibitions and displays, technological exchanges, and cultural innovation and development. Together, they aim to make the "National Museum of China" aircraft an "airborne calling card" of Chinese civilization, carrying cultural confidence across the globe. Through this partnership, the NMC and CEA will continue to promote dialogue and mutual learning among civilizations, while contributing to the preservation, transmission, and presentation of the finest achievements of Chinese civilization.
