On September 28, 2026, the foundation stone laying ceremony for the Changzhou Hengshan Museum Cultural Base Project was held at the project site in Hengshanqiao Town, Changzhou Economic Development Zone. Leaders from Changzhou Economic Development Zone, the Changzhou Municipal Committee of the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), heads of relevant municipal, district, and town departments, representatives from the developer Jiangsu Qingqi Yayuan Cultural Industry Development Co., Ltd., the construction unit Changjia Construction, the supervision unit Xinhe Management, and the design unit Yuanhan Design, as well as guests from various sectors of society, attended the ceremony to witness this important milestone in the development of the museum's cultural and museum endeavors.

As one of the first batch of approved non-state-owned museums in Changzhou, Changzhou Hengshan Museum has been rooted in the Hengshanqiao area. Relying on its distinctive collection resources, it has been open to the surrounding public free of charge all year round, receiving nearly one million visitors to date and building a profound mass foundation. The launch of the new museum construction aims to further activate the public cultural service efficiency of the museum and enrich the regional cultural exhibition landscape.

The total investment of the Changzhou Hengshan Museum Cultural Base Project is approximately 150 million yuan, with a total new construction area of about 17,500 square meters. It is divided into two functional zones, A and B: Zone A covers 12,300 square meters, and Zone B covers 5,200 square meters. The functional layout revolves around the core positioning of a public cultural service hub, comprehensively covering multiple core scenarios such as exhibition display, art appreciation and exchange, cross-regional cultural linkage, and universal social education. It will be equipped with modern digital facilities such as holographic displays and intelligent guides, transforming static museum collection resources into something truly visible, touchable, and perceptible.

(Aerial Rendering)

(Zone A Rendering)

(Zone B Rendering)

Li Qiming, Chairman of Jiangsu Qingqi Yayuan Cultural Industry Development Co., Ltd. and Curator of Changzhou Hengshan Museum, introduced that the project design fully reflects canal culture and regional characteristics, with a functional layout that balances exhibitions, research and study, social interaction, intangible cultural heritage, cultural creativity, and leisure experiences. The highlight of the project lies in the organic integration of canal cultural heritage, intangible cultural heritage inheritance, cultural and creative experiences, and modern public cultural services. Upon completion and opening, the new venue will further enhance the public service capacity and social influence of Changzhou Hengshan Museum, contributing to the prosperous development of the cultural tourism industry and museum undertakings in eastern Changzhou.

Representing the construction unit, Li Xuepeng, General Manager of Changjia Construction Group, stated in his speech that undertaking this key public cultural project is both an honor for the enterprise and a heavy responsibility. A museum project is different from ordinary engineering and must withstand the test of time. The company will adhere to green, standardized, and civilized construction, strengthen the bottom line of production safety, ensure the entire project is built safely, stably, and orderly, and make every effort to guarantee the project is delivered on schedule, so that the cultural project can benefit the people as soon as possible.

On behalf of the Changzhou Municipal Committee of the DPP, Zhou Erzhong, Director of the Organization and Publicity Department, delivered a speech congratulating the foundation laying of the new museum. He pointed out that non-state-owned museums serve as "cultural living rooms at the doorstep" for the people and are an indispensable force in enhancing the city's cultural soft power. He hopes that the project construction will uphold cultural principles, deeply explore local characteristics such as Jizha culture, industrial and commercial memories, and local folk customs, and create differentiated content that distinguishes it from state-owned comprehensive museums. Zhou Erzhong stated that the Changzhou Municipal Committee of the DPP will continue to leverage its cultural sector advantages, organize members to participate in the exhibition planning and public welfare activities of the new museum, and channel more high-quality cultural resources.

At the end of the ceremony, Li Qiming (Curator of Changzhou Hengshan Museum), Yin Yunfeng (Chairman of Changjia Construction Group), and the attending leaders and guests held red silk-decorated shovels to jointly lay the foundation for the project.

After the project is completed and put into use, the operation team will continue to refine its own cultural brand, building Changzhou Hengshan Museum into a new cultural tourism landmark in eastern Changzhou. It will truly assume the core function of a cultural living room in the eastern part of the city, injecting lasting impetus into the enhancement of regional cultural soft power.