On the evening of August 30th, the "Night at the Guangdong Museum" series culminated with a grand finale. Themed "Lingnan Impression" the event transported attendees to the courtyard of Qing Dynasty merchant Maoqua Ⅱ, where they immersed themselves in the history of Guangzhou's Thirteen Hongs amid the melodies of traditional music.

The event revolved around a Guangdong Museum oil painting by Lamqua or his studio, depicting Maoqua Ⅱ, one of the four prominent merchants. Using this painting as a narrative thread, the performance reenacted the scene of Lamqua visiting Maoqua Ⅱ to create the artwork.

Before the painting session, Maoqua Ⅱ invited Lamqua to enjoy the Cantonese opera "Colorful Clouds Chasing the Moon", watch the famous Cantonese opera "The Flower Princess", and join a fan-themed party. This reenactment brought to life the lavish lifestyle of Lingnan merchants in a modern museum setting.

During interactions with foreign traders, Maoqua Ⅱ had to learn how to speak English. The play featured a special "Cantonese English" segment, showcasing how Lingnan people in Qing Dynasty blended English with their local language and culture.

Audience members were also engaged with a lively word-guessing game featuring Cantonese pronunciations of words like "bus", "strawberry", and "sauce", sparking an enthusiastic response.

In 1757, Emperor Qianlong issued a decree that restricted foreign trade to the port of Guangzhou, giving the city a near-monopoly on China's maritime trade for almost a century. Against this backdrop, Guangdong's exported artworks reflected a blend of traditional Chinese styles, local aesthetics, and exotic Western influences.

The "Lingnan Impression" performance seamlessly integrated export art pieces into its storyline, allowing the audience to experience the charm of Qing Dynasty Lingnan export art firsthand.

Additionally, the event featured a video showcasing the recently restored Qing Dynasty gilded enamel gourd-shaped "Three Stars Granting Longevity" clock, offering a close-up look at the intricate design and craftsmanship of Guangzhou clocks. This preview hinted at the upcoming "Gleaming Time: Guangzhou Clocks in Qing Dynasty" exhibition set to open in November at the Guangdong Museum.

According to statistics, as of August 30th, the Guangdong Museum received approximately 760,000 visitors during the summer holiday, with an average of about 15,000 visitors per day. The museum's seven Friday night sessions during the summer attracted around 15,000 attendees in total.

Ling Lili, deputy director of the Guangdong Museum, announced that with the conclusion of the "Night at the Guangdong Museum" summer series, the museum would resume its regular hours starting September 1st. She also hinted at more exciting exhibitions and events planned for the near future. Stay tuned!