Museum popularity leads to proposals

As I journeyed back to my hometown of Shenyang, capital of Liaoning province, for the Spring Festival holiday, I couldn't help but notice a vibrant new trend sweeping the city: the Liaoning Provincial Museum has become the latest must-visit destination for both locals and tourists alike.

From Feb 10 to 17, the museum saw an impressive influx of nearly 120,000 visitors. What's particularly striking is that 60 percent of the visitors hailed from outside Shenyang. The museum's souvenir shop buzzed with activity during the period, with sales of cultural keepsakes soaring by an impressive 200 percent compared to the same period last year.

Among the hottest-selling items were stamped notebooks, refrigerator magnets and intricately crafted Yuxiu jade pendants, each bearing the distinct charm of Liaoning's heritage. Yet, this surge in museum visits wasn't confined to Shenyang. Across the country, museums emerged as favored sites during the holiday.

Preliminary data from the National Cultural Heritage Administration reveals a staggering 73.58 million people visited museums nationwide during the holiday period, marking a significant uptick of nearly 100 percent compared to the previous year.

The museums didn't just open their doors; they also offered fun activities centered around the Year of the Dragon. The colorful dragon-themed artifacts showcased not just Chinese culture but also the beliefs, artistry and skills of Chinese people across different eras, highlighting the unique allure of Chinese civilization.

Han Ziyong, a member of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference National Committee, believes that the recent surge in interest in museums reflects a natural progression in China's socioeconomic development. Culture, tourism, fitness and leisure activities are becoming an increasingly essential part of our social fabric, he said.

According to Han, places like museums, art galleries and historical districts have become vibrant hubs within our communities.

At the two sessions, the annual gathering of the National People's Congress and the CPPCC National Committee, it is amazing to see various representatives from the cultural and museum sectors. They have brought forward proposals and suggestions concerning cultural heritage protection and museum development. Song Yan, a deputy to the 14th NPC, the country's top legislature, and deputy director of the Nanjing Museum Administration, has noticed a significant increase in museum visits across China since last year.

Last year alone, Nanjing Museum welcomed over 5 million visitors, setting a record, while the Nanjing Museum Administration hosted more than 3.6 million.

Song is particularly encouraged by the growing number of young people, especially teenagers, visiting museums. She sees this as a positive sign, believing it instills a deeper appreciation for traditional Chinese culture in younger generations, ensuring its continued legacy.

To keep the momentum going, Song emphasized the need for museums to make history come alive for today's youth. She suggests creating engaging programs that explain the stories behind museum artifacts.

Looking ahead, Song stressed the importance of making museum exhibitions fun and educational. She believes the current interest in culture and tourism presents a golden opportunity to preserve and share China's rich heritage with future generations.

Ma Xiaolin, a member of the 13th and 14th CPPCC National Committee and director of the Henan Museum, has been consistently advocating for cultural heritage safety since 2018. One of the proposals he brought this year focuses on "promoting the establishment of a coordinated compensation mechanism for major heritage protection and archaeological site parks in concentrated areas".

"Ensuring the safety and protection of cultural relics is a long-term task that requires persistent effort. We must fulfill our responsibility to history by treating cultural relics with the same care as we do our own lives," Ma said.

The rise of "cultural and museum fever" isn't by chance. In recent years, China's museum industry has seen steady growth. In May 2021, the National Cultural Heritage Administration and eight other departments issued guidelines aimed at advancing the reform and development of museums.

With improved exhibition designs, captivating presentations of artifacts and increased digital interaction, I believe that visiting museums will gradually become a routine part of people's daily lives.