“Northwest Premiere” National Geographic China · Discovery: Ultimate Discovery of Science and Art Image Exhibition

Time: 2024.09.28-2025.02.23

Venue: Xi'an City | Xi'an Zhiji Art Museum

Science, the rational pursuit of humanity
Art, the sublimation of human sensibility
Exploration, humanity's eternal pursuit
As a science media,
has been using images
to record, discover, disseminate and experience science
China National Geography·Exploration has specially selected
more than 150 works
from more than 100 top photographers and scientists
that are extremely valuable scientifically and artistically
and supplemented with precious scientific expedition data
to hold an audio-visual feast
“Ultimate Discovery Science and Art Image Exhibition”

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China National Geography·Exploration Ultimate Discovery Science and Art Image Exhibition

“To the general and the most refined"—how big is the general? How small is the most refined? This is the constant questioning of all things by human curiosity. This exhibition presents six major scenes: “Into the Jungle,” “The World Beneath Our Feet,” “Deep Blue Secrets,” “Sinking into the Dark Night,” “No Man's Land,” and “Dance of the Great Rivers.” From the vast rivers and oceans to the pollen and gravel under the microscope, we will take you on a journey to experience the grandeur, vitality, and wonder of the world, to feel the beauty of the fusion of science and art, and to fall in love with, explore, and respect nature.

01 | Into the Jungle

Go deep into the jungle to see the natural force of plants growing from the ground up, spreading and reproducing, the cycle of nature repeating itself, and the power of life flourishing. This visual adventure is not only an exploration of nature, but also a cleansing of the inner world.

02 | The Underground World

Discover new caves in the underground world and reach deeper and deeper. On the way to the center of the earth, the great darkness engulfs mankind, but the explorers press on bravely, feeling the pulse of the earth.

03 | Deep Blue Mystery

The deep blue secret realm is a world of countless mysteries. The magnificent ocean is home to a wealth of wondrous life. Watch the huge cetaceans glide through the ocean, and the plankton perform the largest vertical migration on the planet every day.

04 | Into the dark night

Sink into the dark night, and see the sky full of stars, the Milky Way shining brightly, reflecting off the mountains and earth, and blooming with the enchanting beauty of the dark night. Explore the thrilling animal world that plays out in the calm night, and experience the wonder and romance of the natural night.

05 | No Man's Land

Entering No Man's Land, very close to the sky are also the Qilian Mountains, the Qiangtang, the Altun Mountains, and the Lop Nur...Cold, lack of oxygen, and drought challenge the limits of human survival, but they are also a paradise for rare wildlife, bringing a different kind of vitality to the “restricted area for human life”.

06 | River Dance

Watch the river dance. Over the course of its long life cycle, the river performs a magnificent dance on the stage of the earth. Those who dance with it are the lives nourished and nurtured by the river.

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The story behind the photos
The fascination of exploration
The human will to explore
continually expands horizons into new realms
Down, diving into the silent depths of the ocean more than 10,000 meters below
upward, stretching to the vast universe of time and space
Footprints of image practitioners Walking between heaven and earth
With fearless effort
Perseverance and extraordinary enthusiasm
Record every moment worth gazing at

Gasherbrum Glacier
Karakorum Mountains Hans

The Gasherbrum Glacier is located in the Karakorum Mountains. The emerald-like river is embedded in the white ice wall, a landscape we have never seen in rivers in other regions. The glacier provides the river with a base color that is different from that of rocks and soil. The river on the glacier has both solid and liquid water coexisting, creating an alternative beauty of the river.

Snowy Night Fairy
Anilao, Philippines Cai Jialing

Photographed in early 2020, after the eruption of Taal Volcano in the Philippines, the seabed sediments were stirred up. In the sea with extremely low visibility, these suspended particles did not show the chaos after the natural disaster, but evoked an unusual sense of tranquility, transforming into a scene from a snow night fairy tale. A female shipworm lying on a floating tree branch secretes a paper-thin shell for spawning. The surrounding suspended particles refract the flashlight, creating the illusion of falling snow.

Devil City in the Thunderstorm
Devil City in Wuerhe, Xinjiang, photo by Guo Xin

Devil City in Wuerhe is not a city, nor was it built by the devil. It was shaped by the wind over millions of years. Because it is located at the wind mouth, Devil City is constantly buffeted by strong winds throughout the four seasons, with maximum wind speeds reaching 10-12. The Urho Devil City has been known since ancient times as “the place where the devil haunts” by local herdsmen. It is located directly east of the old Tori wind gap. On dark and windy nights, the wind roars through the city, howling like the devil. If there is a thunderstorm, the flashing lightning, the rumble of thunder, and the flying sand and stones make it even more terrifying.

Pika“ ball”
Western Sichuan Province, photo by Luo Xiaoyun

A “pika”, a small animal with round ears and no tail, is found throughout the Tibetan Plateau. Although it looks like a mouse, the pika is actually a member of the rabbit family. Pikas inhabit grassland environments and have very different habits from rabbits. To better adapt to the cold highland habitat, pikas have evolved smaller ears and hide in burrows in the open grasslands, so they do not need to have strong jumping ability.

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A different audio-visual experience
Immersive exploration of the unknown

Entering the exhibition area, you are not just a viewer, but also an explorer and discoverer. This is not just a display of photographic works, but also a bridge connecting science and art. Experience the lives of scientists and artists, gain an in-depth understanding of the stories behind their works, and perhaps a certain work will become your source of inspiration, stimulate your passion, and bring you a different experience.

01 | The fusion of science and art

The photo exhibition perfectly fuses science and art. Here, you can personally experience cave diving and travel through the underground world; immerse yourself in the deep sea and jungle, explore the wonders of nature, and at the same time appreciate the unique charm of the combination of art and science. While the exhibition brings us the ultimate visual enjoyment, the interactive installations in the exhibition area allow us to enjoy it in an immersive way. Here, knowledge is conveyed to us in a unique and wonderful way.

When you stand in the virtual jungle and admire the beauty in the depths of the jungle, take a closer look at a giant tree. You will discover that a single tree can form an ecological network, with vines, moss and giant trees. While appreciating the beauty, you can also learn about the amazing tenants of the giant tree.

02 | Precious scientific research data revealed for the first time

While the Xuelong was unloading, the research team found a little penguin that had lost its flock. This was the first time they had met each other! The expedition team and the little penguin looked at each other, examining each other, curious! Cute! Funny!

The Antarctic is a natural laboratory, but its extreme natural environment and inaccessibility mean that only 20 or 30 countries, mostly developed countries, have been able to establish scientific research bases in Antarctica and carry out long-term scientific research. With the strengthening of China's national strength and the improvement of logistical support capabilities in polar regions, China has caught up and taken a unique path in research and study in Antarctica.

In 1998 and 1999, the 16th Chinese Antarctic expedition made its first expedition to Grove Mountain. Liu Xiaohan, a researcher at the Institute of Tibetan Plateau Research of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, led three team members into the Grove Mountain area, which was covered in ice crevasses. At that time, they could only enter the interior by driving the only snowmobile. Once the snowmobile fell into an ice crevasse, no rescue team would arrive. This was the first time this had happened in the history of international Antarctic scientific expeditions.
In this exhibition, you can see rare footage from the first-ever expedition to the Grove Mountains in Antarctica, paying tribute to the Grove Mountains spirit!

03 | China National Geography Exploration Cultural and Creative Products

China National Geography Exploration has a curiosity supply station, which contains a variety of cute and interesting plush dolls, exquisite mugs, and unique carpets...There is always a gift for you to leave more memories of this exploration journey.

The exhibits are subject to the actual display on site.