Palace Museum Curator Aims High

The Palace Museum will open a new area of 75,000 square meters, which is expected to attract more than three million tourists, the museum's curator Shan Jixiang said on Thursday.

In a speech delivered at the Beijing Chinese Language and Culture College, Shan said he wished the museum would be protected and kept intact for the next 600 years, as it will celebrate its 600th anniversary in 2020.

"Being intact" includes the protection of 9,000 ancient rooms and more than 1.8 million pieces of historical relics, as well as preserving its cultural environment and attracting tourists, he added.

The new area of 75,000 square meters will be open to divert visitors and relieve the current pressure, he said.

The museum has drafted plans to tackle seven potential safety hazards, which won the approval of the State Council, Shan said.

The underground storehouse will be upgraded and monitoring reports on buildings and exhibitions will be released, he added.

In 2012, the museum's one-day record high reached 180,000 visitors, and annual visits hit 15 million.