NPC deputy calls for museum infrastructure upgrades

During the 14th National People's Congress, NPC deputy Wang Ruixia, a research curator at Qingzhou Museum, spoke at the Shandong delegation's plenary meeting to highlight the development of museums in China.

Wang Ruixia, a deputy to the 14th National People's Congress and research curator at Qingzhou Museum, calls for museum infrastructure upgrades. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

Wang noted that Shandong is a leader in cultural heritage preservation, with its efforts in relic protection ranking among the top in the country. As of 2024, the province has 796 museums, including 31 first-class museums, making it the national leader in both quantity and quality.

In her speech, Wang addressed the growing enthusiasm for small and medium-sized museums in recent years. "Our surveys over the past two years show that more and more visitors are flocking to these museums, reflecting a heightened public awareness and appreciation of museums," she said.

Visitors admire ancient relics at Qingzhou Museum in Qingzhou, Weifang, Shandong province. [Photo/IC]

She attributed this trend to strong governmental support for smaller museums. "Take Shandong as an example: initially, only one county-level museum qualified as a national first-class museum. Today, that number has grown to eight, demonstrating the effectiveness of government initiatives," Wang explained.

However, she also said that many small and medium-sized museums still face challenges, particularly in infrastructure. "Some museums have had the same exhibitions and content for over a decade, making it difficult to keep up with evolving public expectations," she explained.

Wang called on all levels of government to prioritize museum upgrades and strengthen research capabilities to ensure these institutions remain relevant and engaging.

Qingzhou Museum, where Wang serves, is the only county-level comprehensive museum among China's first batch of 83 national first-class museums. Known as a "small yet grand museum", it boasts a remarkable collection despite being located in a small county.