It is reported that although the original museum was opened in 1994, many tourists visiting Badaling Great Wall are unaware of its existence. Li Yinong explained that the natural mountain formation had been transformed into a towering retaining wall over the years during construction, creating a height difference of about 10 meters. The museum is located on a high platform inside the wall, making it difficult to access. "This was our deepest impression during the early site visits, which also became our design inspiration", said Li Yinong.

The original site consisted of two terraces, but the design plan eliminates the lower terrace to create a more open and spacious plaza for outdoor exhibitions and public events by the museum and scenic area. The museum blends into the upper terrace, with the original retaining wall becoming the main façade of the building, drawing inspiration from nature and enhancing it.

"For the China Great Wall Museum, the most significant 'exhibit' is the Great Wall itself," Li Yinong explained. At the end of the second floor is the most important space in the museum - the Great Wall Hall. The fully transparent glass curtain wall faces south and provides a panoramic view of the real Great Wall outside, with the changing seasons of the Great Wall and mountains serving as the museum's most vivid background painting. Here, visitors can escape the noise, feel the charm of the Great Wall, and immerse themselves in the magnificent scenery.

After the renovation, the height of the museum building will be reduced from 16 meters to 9 meters. The streamlined main body of the building stands quietly at the foot of the Great Wall.

Digital exhibitions provide an immersive experience

The Badaling Great Wall scenic area receives approximately 30,000 visitors per day. After the museum is built, it will become an important lead space for the scenic area. Therefore, it is essential to plan the indoor and outdoor flow of tourists and supporting facilities.

The exhibition hall surrounds the central "Peace Hall" on two levels and will use digital exhibition technology to achieve an immersive display. The exhibition content is divided into eight chapters, including history, military, architecture, Beijing and its surrounding areas, peace, wisdom, culture, and humanity, guiding visitors to experience the rich history and culture of the Great Wall from different perspectives. The circular celestial dome of the "Peace Hall" will showcase real-time images of all the Great Walls in the country around the clock, allowing visitors to interact in real-time with tourists at the other Great Walls across the nation.

After the renovation is complete, the China Great Wall Museum will consist of three functional areas: exhibition center, visitor center, and Great Wall International Research and Exchange Center. "If we consider the Badaling Great Wall as a museum, then the China Great Wall Museum is like its prelude hall, leading everyone to feel the spiritual power of the Great Wall," said Li Yinong. In her view, the museum carries an important mission of inheriting the culture of the Great Wall and promoting the spirit of the Chinese nation, hoping that every visitor can experience the unique charm of the Great Wall and its representative spiritual connotation of the Chinese nation.

Translator: TANG Yingqi

Reviewer: ZHAO Huinan