Nantong Museum fully reopened to the public on December 18 after renovations.

Nearly 1,200 cultural relics and specimens are on display in the main exhibition halls, highlighting the region's river-and-sea heritage. More than 800 items in the historical section recreate the museum's early appearance, and the garden areas have also been upgraded.

The Natural History Hall displays more than 110 types of specimens. The first floor focuses on river and marine life, featuring characteristic species from the Yellow Sea and the Yangtze River basin, including whales, Chinese sturgeon and finless porpoises. The second floor presents wildlife unique to Nantong's wooded areas, such as sika deer, Chinese muntjac and raccoon dogs, as well as migratory birds found along coastal tidal flats.

Furthermore, a temporary exhibition gallery on second floor hosts a special exhibition of collections from the Palace Museum in Beijing.

The year 2025 marks the 120th anniversary of the museum's founding. Established in 1905 by Zhang Jian, a Chinese industrialist and educator in the late 19th century and early 20th century, the museum pioneered China's distinctive “museum-in-a-garden” model, integrating cultural relics with landscaped surroundings. This innovative approach made it a landmark in the history of museum development in China.