Meaningful technology mediated exhibition design. Innovative approaches to visitor experience in Chinese science and art museums.

Despite China’s global leadership in technological innovation, its rapidly expanding museum culture with the advanced integration of immersive and interactive technologies, has received surprisingly little international attention. This chapter examines how Chinese museums are reshaping museum experiences and curational practices through immersive digital experiences and large-scale interactive installations, to meet the evolving demands of their audiences. Focusing on three museums—the Guangdong Science Center, the Deji Art Museum in Nanjing, and the Beijing Science Center—it investigates how these museums deploy technology in a meaningful way to design exhibitions that enhance visitor engagement, bridge cultural heritage with digital modernity, and advance science discovery and education. The chapter highlights both the opportunities and challenges posed by technology, emphasizing the importance of continuous renewal, careful alignment with educational and cultural objectives, aesthetic and artistic design, and multisensory approaches, ensuring technology amplifies rather than overshadows what is curated.By analyzing visitor responses, operational challenges, and curatorial strategies, this study offers nuanced and critical insights into the transformative potential of digital technologies in museums, advocating for an adaptive, context-sensitive use of technology in rapidly shifting cultural landscapes — offering valuable insights for museums worldwide facing similar challenges in the digital age.Keywords – visitor experience, technology mediation, meaningful interactions, interactive exhibition design, science education, curational strategies, innovation, public engagement, science communication, traditional art, art museums, science museums