Nanning to Host International Museum Day

China’s State Administration of Cultural Heritage on Thursday announced that Nanning will host a nationwide celebration of the annual International Museum Day on May 18.

Like host cities in previous years, Nanning, capital city of Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region, has planned a series of activities for the festival of museums.

One of two special exhibitions held by the administration will highlight China’s achievement in urging museums to open to the public in recent years.

Another will focus on 20 A-list bronze ware relics unearthed in Shaanxi’s Baoji.

There will be an award ceremony to honor best practice by Chinese museums since the free-ticket policy began and museum culture promotions around the city.

Zhang Jianxin, deputy director of the department of museums under the heritage administration, said on Thursday that the nation has provided 8 billion yuan ($1.3 billion) to fund free-ticket programs in museums since issuing the policy in 2008.

"More than 1,000 Chinese museums have opened to the public for free since then, and museums have already become an important part of Chinese public’s cultural life," Zhang said. "At the same time, Chinese museums’ management abilities have seen obvious improvement, along with new challenges posed by more visitors."

In addition to the activities in Nanning, other museums in different cities will host many related events on museum day, according to An Laishun, secretary general of the Chinese Museums Association.

"This year’s events demonstrate that museums are playing a more active role in the cultural life of communities. Almost all the plans submitted by different museums were trying to connect with communities, schools and enterprises," An said.

For example, Beijing will organize an event called "100 museums walking into communities".

More information about museum day can be found on the official websites of the administration and the museums association.