NPM South to offer free entry to families with children under 12 over long weekend

Taipei, April 2 (CNA) In observation of Children's Day, the Southern Branch of the National Palace Museum (NPM) on Thursday announced that it will be offering free entry to families with children ages 12 and under over the extended weekend.

Families are encouraged to visit the museum in Chiayi, which will remain open from Friday to Monday, to enjoy its exhibits and take part in its "Team Kids" events designed to engage young visitors.

The museum said it has scheduled 96 time slots over the four days for children to participate in activities ranging from arts and crafts classes to treasure hunts.

Speaking to reporters at a press event announcing the program Thursday, the museum's deputy director of administrative affairs, Huang Yung-tai (黃永泰), said the events are designed around the museum's ongoing exhibition, "The Evolving Landscape of Geopolitics: The World of East Asia from the 14th to the 19th century."

To appeal to younger audiences, several animals featured in the exhibition have been selected as visual mascots to guide visitors through the displays, including a giraffe and a lion depicted in Ming Dynasty paintings "Auspicious Omens" (明人瑞應圖) and "Envoy with a Tribute Lion" (西番貢獅圖), respectively.