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Beijing sets target of building 245 museums over next 12 years

The Grand Canal is a Unesco World Heritage Site that runs 1,776km from Beijing to Hangzhou, making it the world’s longest (Ruikang Xu/Dreamstime)
China’s state news agency, Xinhua, has announced plans by the Beijing Municipal Cultural Heritage Bureau to increase museum construction in the city.

The plan states that by 2035 there will be 460 museums in the city – one for every 50,000 residents. As 215 museums are registered there now, this suggests a programme of 245 projects.

Two construction areas are planned, one adjacent to Beijing’s central axis and another along Chang’an Avenue.

A number of museum sub-districts are due to be built, combining and expanding current facilities and resources. This includes the “Three Hills and Five Gardens”, containing the royal gardens from the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911).

Older museums will undergo upgrading and renovation works using a digital services system.

Xinhua also reports that a branch of the Capital Museum beside the Grand Canal (pictured) will be completed by the end of 2023.

Construction of one museum will begin at the Liulihe national archaeological park this year, and reconstruction work will be carried out at the Dabaotai tomb site, dating to the Western Han Dynasty, which ruled between 202BC and 25AD. Both sites are in southwest Beijing.

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