文化中国行丨探秘中华第一“虫羽”宝库 来这上一堂最生动自然课

Core Viewpoint - The Northwest A&F University Expo Park in Yangling, Shaanxi, features the largest collection of agricultural-themed museums in China, attracting 200,000 visitors annually with its five museums dedicated to insects, animals, soil, plants, and Chinese agricultural history [1]. Insect Museum Highlights - The National Insect Museum, the first of its kind in China, houses over 1.5 million insect specimens, showcasing a history of 350 million years of insects [1]. - The museum features rare butterfly specimens, including over 40 species of the Brazilian Blue Butterfly, and highlights 12 national butterflies from various countries [3][5]. - The Golden Snouted Butterfly, China's national butterfly and a critically endangered species, is showcased, with conservation efforts leading to a gradual increase in its population [7]. Animal Museum Highlights - The Animal Museum, larger than the Insect Museum, contains over 8,000 animal specimens, including a nearly complete fossil of a woolly rhinoceros, which lived between 120,000 and 10,000 years ago [12][14]. - The museum also features fossils from the Jurassic period and various endangered species, including the giant panda and the Tibetan antelope, with educational programs on wildlife conservation [14][16]. Agricultural History Museum Highlights - The Agricultural History Museum presents artifacts that trace the origins of agriculture in China, including evidence of millet cultivation dating back 8,000 years and rice cultivation from 10,000 to 12,000 years ago [19][21]. - The museum showcases ancient seeds and agricultural texts, highlighting the historical significance of wheat and its introduction to China from the Middle East [21][23]. - The museum emphasizes the contributions of breeding teams, such as the development of high-yield wheat varieties that have significantly impacted food security in China [23]. Visitor Information - The Expo Park is open seven days a week from 9 AM to 6 PM, with ticket reservations available through their official WeChat account [24].