AS “museum fever” continues to heat up in Shenzhen, eager Shenzhen students are seizing the opportunity to spend their summer vacations as part of the young tour guide team at the Shenzhen Museum, Shenzhen Special Zone Daily reported.

“I’ve given 10 presentations today, each around 30 minutes long,” Jin Yizhen, clad in a pink volunteer vest, told a reporter Friday afternoon after her presentation in the “Modern Shenzhen” exhibition hall at the Shenzhen Museum.

Jin, who graduated from junior high school this year, has nearly five years of experience as a museum tour guide.

“I enjoy reading history books and hope to improve my communication abilities through interactive presentations at the museum, while at the same time deepening my own comprehension of historical facts,” Jin said.

Since joining the Shenzhen Museum’s young tour guide team in August 2018, Jin has become adept at giving lectures on permanent thematic exhibitions such as “Ancient Shenzhen,” “Modern Shenzhen,” and “Shenzhen’s Folk Culture” at the museum.

“In addition to the basic narratives provided by the museum, I also enrich my talks by consulting relevant literature. The communication and exchange with the audience bring considerable thought and inspiration to me,” Jin told the newspaper.

Every artifact in a museum bears witness to history, and it is through the audience’s understanding that the story behind each piece is truly brought to life. As cultural heritage ambassadors, museum tour guides serve as bridges between visitors and exhibits.

“The work of guiding tours demands poise, communication skills, and a wealth of knowledge — challenges that may seem daunting to us students. But with perseverance, we undoubtedly reap rewards. I take pride in knowing that my efforts help more people understand Shenzhen’s history,” Jin shared.

Clutching a script with eyes partially closed, Zhang Xiaoxi, a fifth-grader who recently joined the young tour guide team, silently read the words and occasionally paced back and forth. In contrast to the composed and confident Jin, she appeared a bit nervous.

Zhang was practicing in the “Ancient Shenzhen” exhibition hall, striving to memorize the location of artifacts while quietly reciting the notes.

“We’ve been training for a few days now, and I must pass further assessments before I can officially start guiding. There are four pages of explanatory notes here, which is still a big challenge for me,” she said.

“These young guides explain the exhibits with such earnestness, and we enjoy listening to them,” said Zhang Min, a 65-year-old retired university professor who visited the museum with her grandson.

According to Zhang, she encountered several student guides in the exhibition halls that day. “They spoke so amiably, and the visiting children enjoyed engaging with them and asking questions,” Zhang said.

The Shenzhen Museum has a decade-long tradition of cultivating student volunteers and young tour guides, with the first batch of these guides having already completed their university education, according to the Daily report. (Zhang Yu)