Ancient treasures spark new pursuit of beauty

The coronet is part of the long-term exhibition, Ancient China, at the museum, where a special queuing area has been set up since the magnet went viral late last year.

While a quick glance may suffice for a photo, it hardly reveals the rich history behind the ornate headpiece.

To give visitors a deeper experience, the National Museum recently launched a WeChat mini-program called Essentiality of Beauty. Whether on-site or online, it allows users access to a selection of collected antiquities at the museum, featuring images and texts with audio narrations.

The program would take people on a guided tour, combining virtual and real experiences, of 32 artifacts which are from different periods of time and on display at the museum's current long-term shows, including the Ming empress coronet.