Building the cultural flow

Within walking distance, the museum gives off a distinctively elegant vibe with an exterior primarily composed of natural stone and transparent glass curtain walls. Seen from the inside, five sail-shaped ceilings are arranged at varying heights, with graceful curves and orange-tinted glass, while the walls are adorned with wooden finishes, creating a nostalgic and classic atmosphere.

"The design concept is rooted in three elements from the imagery of the ancient Grand Canal, that is, boats, sails and water," says Zhang Yu, an official with the museum project.

"Taking the Grand Canal as a guiding thread, historical and cultural elements are integrated into the architecture, transforming it into a 'nostalgic sail' and a 'canal vessel' nestled within the urban forest and enriching the cityscape with historical charm," Zhang adds.

The audience hall at the northern side encompasses various functional spaces, including open exhibitions, restaurants, a cafe and rooms for lectures and educational activities. The main building area in the south will serve as an exhibition space, with an area for cultural artifact restoration and storage. There will be a special hall dedicated to Beijing and the Grand Canal on the second floor.

Zhang reveals that most of the exhibits will come from the Capital Museum.

Last year, the Tongzhou museum operator also issued a global call for exhibits related to the Grand Canal, and has been gathering items from home and abroad that are associated with the canal's history and culture.

"To deepen the audience's understanding of the cultural relics and enhance their experience, the Tongzhou museum will set aside an area for the public to observe the cultural relic protection and restoration process," Zhang says.

A stone's throw from the museum lies the library that promises book lovers a forest ambience conducive to reading. Its design highlights the ginkgo tree, using its imagery throughout the space.

The ceiling is designed with stacked ginkgo leaf-shaped patterns, and the 144 columns within the library resemble the trunks of ginkgo trees. The grand and transparent glass curtain walls blur the boundary between the building and nature, allowing readers to admire the picturesque scenery of the forest park right outside.

In the future, readers will be able to sit comfortably on the ground and enjoy a sense of happiness while surrounded by books, says Li Nianzu, deputy director of the Capital Library of China, which will run the Tongzhou library.

"The terraced landscape offers excellent scenery, allowing visitors to read wherever they go," Li says.

The new library will feature an intangible cultural heritage-themed area, where librarians will use Beijing's traditional hutong (alleyways) as a starting point, combining artifacts, historical documents and multimedia technology to create an immersive journey through the capital city.

"Readers can get a feel for the ancient capital, gaining an insight into the daily life, customs, traditions and leisure activities of old Beijing," Li says.

They will also have the opportunity to enjoy live demonstrations by inheritors of intangible cultural heritage.