Shanghai Science and Technology Museum, which has been undergoing extensive renovations for more than two years, plans a trial reopening during the Chinese New Year holiday in February. The reopening will feature the premiere of Horse Power and a collaborative exhibition with the Palace Museum.

The global debut of Horse Power, a giant-screen film centered on the Chinese zodiac animal of the year, took place on Jan 9 at the museum's updated IMAX theater.

The film chronicles a young girl's journey in Inner Mongolia as she trains for a horse endurance race, while also documenting China's efforts to reintroduce endangered wild horses to the Gobi Desert.

Director Mark Brownlow, known for his work on documentaries such as Blue Planet and Frozen Planet II, said the production was a truly international collaboration, relying on the support of a Chinese creative team, Chinese investors, and the Shanghai Science & Technology Museum.

Unlike many science museums in China that often import special film screenings, Horse Power aims to pioneer a new approach that blends Chinese themes with universal appeal, said Ni Minjing, curator of the Shanghai Science & Technology Museum.

One week after its debut in Shanghai, Horse Power will have its US premiere in Texas and will eventually screen at over 200 science centers worldwide.

With support from the Hong Kong Jockey Club, the Shanghai Science & Technology Museum will also provide a 4D version of the film free of charge to science museums in central and western China over the next three years.

The museum's renovated IMAX theater boasts a cutting-edge light-emitting diode film screen, the first of its kind in a science museum, delivering vivid details and immersive experiences.

According to Fu Ruoqing, Party secretary and chairman of China Film Group, the CLED screen is the thinnest, most sound-permeable giant screen globally, meeting high standards for clarity and realism.

The museum also plans to extend the hours of its underground level, including the IMAX theater, to midnight, turning it into a public science and culture space.

In addition to films, the underground area will host temporary exhibitions, including the "Galloping Wonders" exhibition in collaboration with the Palace Museum, featuring 27 horse-themed artifacts from the Palace Museum on display in Shanghai for the first time.

The space will also include a science and technology innovation camp, offering science workshops and evening classes for young professionals.

Source: Shanghai Observer