It's time to serve the servers at Beijing's Capital Museum. To mark World Museum Day, hundreds of volunteers from around Bejing were treated to an exclusive out-of-hours "thank you" for their hard work and dedication.

It's time to serve the servers at Beijing's Capital Museum. To mark World Museum Day, hundreds of volunteers from around Bejing were treated to an exclusive out-of-hours "thank you" for their hard work and dedication.

A VIP night-tour was the Capital Museum's way of sharing the love with those who help others.

"On World Museum Day, we pay tribute to the volunteers from all walks of life. They have served the city and its people without taking any income," said Yang Dandan, spokeswoman of Beijing Capital Museum.

The volunteers gained exclusive access to two heavyweight Spring-season exhibitions.

One is displaying finds from the Han-dynasty burial site of Haihunhou in Jiangxi Province. Haihunhou has been much in the headlines this year, with its treasure trove of 2,000-year-old finds that somehow evaded the attentions of graverobbers.

The other exhibition features relics from an even older tomb, that of a queen and legendary general of the Shang dynasty about 3,000 years ago.

Normally, museum guides must flit between visitors, but on this special night, they were constant companions for the volunteers, taking them through the display areas and sharing a wealth of specialist information.

Accustomed to serving others, these volunteers are now being served themselves. Tonight at the Capital Museum, they not only get to see some high-profile exhibitions, but also benefit from the expertise of these museum guides on nightshift.

Accustomed to serving others, these volunteers are now being served themselves. Tonight at the Capital Museum, they not only get to see some high-profile exhibitions, but also benefit from the expertise of these museum guides on nightshift.

Yu Kaihua, registered with the Beijing Volunteer Federation, works at an internet company during workdays, and volunteers during his spare time. Recently, he took mentally disabled children on a tour of the Beijing Olympic Park. Now, it's his turn to be guided.

"I've learned a bit of history and broadened my view. I've learned many things related to ancient burial culture," said Yu Kaihua, volunteer.

And some of the guides here tonight are themselves volunteers! The Capital Museum has more than 30 registered volunteers who come at least once a week for a two-hour shift, when they answer queries and share information.

This contribution by the Capital Museum adds a particularly heart-warming touch to this year's World Museum Day.