Archaeological museum visit thrills 'young pioneers'

Young Chinese pioneers have expressed stronger confidence in Chinese history and culture after taking a study tour at the Chinese Archaeological Museum in Beijing early this week.

The tour was one of the programs the young pioneers joined a day before the start of the two-day Ninth National Congress of the Chinese Young Pioneers, an organization for children aged 6 to 14, in Beijing.

Located in Beijing's Chaoyang district, the museum houses thousands of ancient artifacts and historical documents, showcasing the formation and development of Chinese civilization.

Xia Zitong, 11, from Henan's Kaifeng city and a representative of Chinese Young Pioneers attending the congress, said that she was stunned by the rich history vibes and exhibits of relics at the museum.

"It was like time travel," she said, adding that she is also a volunteer guide at a museum in her hometown since last summer. "The ancient Chinese history and splendid Chinese culture really make me proud."

Gao Chenyu, 14, from Henan, said he has increased confidence in Chinese culture after visiting the museum, where he felt he had so much more to explore.

He said it was an honor and a happy moment for him to become a representative to the congress, which gave him an opportunity to make friends from other provinces and districts.

Similar sentiments were echoed by 12-year-old Qin Youdun and 11-year-old Zou Linxi, both from Chongqing in the southwest part of China.

The young pioneer representatives from across the nation, numbering around 430, participated in study tours to five different museums and sites in Beijing on Monday, including the Astronaut Center of China, the Military Museum of the Chinese People's Revolution and the Chinese Archaeological Museum.