May 18 marks the 49th International Museum Day. Under this year's theme—"The Future of Museums in Rapidly Changing Communities"—museums in Guangdong are turning everyday artifacts into powerful narratives of change. This series, drawn from the collections of the Guangdong Museum and the Guangzhou Museum, reveals how everyday objects tell compelling stories of change—and how museums help us understand where we've been and where we're going.
Currency through the ages
From ancient coins issued during the Qin dynasty (221 BC - 207 BC) to today's e-payment systems, the evolution of currency reflects deeper shifts in how we trade, trust, and connect.
Qin dynasty(221 BC - 207 BC)
Coin: banliang.
Issued during the Qin dynasty(221 BC - 207 BC).
Housed in the Guangdong Museum.
秦半兩銅錢 廣東省博物館藏
1917
Coin: yiliang.
Production date: 1917
Issuer: Dihua Silver and Coin Bureau
Housed in the Guangdong Museum.
民國六年迪化銀元局一兩 廣東省博物館藏
1949
Banknote.
Production date: 1949
Issuer: Huitong Silver and Coin Bureau, Wuzui Township, Nan County, China
Housed in the Guangdong Museum.
1949年南縣烏嘴會通錢局發行的銀票 廣東省博物館藏
Tik tock innovations
Timekeeping has progressed from water clocks to smart watches, showing how our sense of time has sharpened.
Yuan dynasty (1271-1368)
Ancient Chinese water clock.
Cultures/periods: Yuan dynasty (1271-1368)
Housed in the Guangzhou Museum.
銅壺滴漏 元代 廣州博物館藏
Qing dynasty
Clock with rotating figures and ducks.
Cultures/periods: Qing dynasty
Housed in the Guangzhou Museum.
鍍金轉人轉鴨自鳴鐘 清代 廣州博物館藏
Wick to watt
And household lighting, once the glow of candles and kerosene lamps, now shines through energy-efficient desk lamps.
Qing dynasty
Candle holder.
Cultures/periods: Qing dynasty
Housed in the Guangdong Museum.
清光緒廣彩花卉紋太平有象燭臺 廣東省博物館藏
Early 20th-century China
Kerosene Lamp.
Cultures/periods: Early 20th-century China
Housed in the Guangdong Museum.
民國初玻璃雙蕊煤油燈民國初紅色玻璃煤油燈 廣東省博物館藏
Timeline of connection
Personal connections have evolved too—from handwritten Qiaopi letters to 5G communication—highlighting how we express love and care across distances.
Mid-19th Century - 1970s
Qiaopi: letters and remittances from overseas Chinese
Housed in the Guangdong Museum.
民國僑批（華僑信件） 廣東省博物館藏
1980s - 1990s
Pagers.
Exhibited in the HQB Museum (華強北博物館), Shenzhen, Guangdong
1980s - 1990s
First-generation mobile phone.
Exhibited in the HQB Museum (華強北博物館), Shenzhen, Guangdong
Each artifact tells a story of adaptation and progress, reflecting museums' role in bridging the past and the present. As society transforms, museums remain vibrant hubs of learning and inspiration.
Visit museums on May 18 to discover how they preserve heritage while embracing change. Together, let's reimagine the future!
Reporter | Li Muzi
Poster Copy | Li Muzi
Graphic Design | Lai Meiya
Editor | Hu Nan, James, Shen He
