Chinese farmer runs private folk culture museum

A farmer named Tan Yongli from Changchun, Jilin province currently runs a private museum exhibiting the culture of local farming and the Manchu people, a Chinese ethnic minority. A total of more than 10,000 items collected over 20 years are on display at the museum.

The museum was established in a three-story building. The yard outside the building is stuffed with nostalgic items such as millstones and hitching posts.

Tan divided the museum into 16 exhibition halls covering 10 categories, including coins, cooking, painting, pottery, bed-stoves and textiles. Established in early 2016, the museum is free of charge and open to the public. Tan hopes that, through his museum, more people can learn about the colorful culture of northern China.

"Folk culture is a mirror that reflects the changes of history," Tan said, adding that he hopes to build a miniature folk customs development in rural northeastern China.