Capital aiming to become known as a city of museums

Beijing is developing into a city of museums. By the end of 2020, it housed 197 registered museums. Privately-run museums have become a main force in recent years.

Of the 14 museums newly registered in Beijing last year, nine are privately operated, Beijing Daily reported.

Among the new establishments are a gold and jewels museum built by Caibai Jewelry. Based in its shopping center's public space, the museums boasts a 339-kilogram amazon stone.

Another is an imperial kiln brick museum, founded by Wang Zhonghua. Wang collects bricks made during the Ming (1368-1644) and Qing (1644-1911) dynasties. Each brick has an inscription with the names of superintendents and craftsmen.

Some of the new museums focus on things unique to Beijing, such as erguotou liquor and a museum for Eight Marvelous Handicrafts of Beijing.

The latter opened its doors to the public on International Museum Day, which fell on May 18.

It showcases craftsmanship such as filigree, an intricate form of metalwork; cloisonne enamel; and carved lacquer. Visitors can see more than 400 artworks there.

To rescue, explore and continue the eight traditional handicrafts, nearly 100 intangible cultural heritage inheritors and craft masters set up an art gallery in Shijingshan district's Cheng'en Temple in 2010. They wanted to develop it into a platform for national-level intangible cultural heritage. It was upgraded into a museum last year.

Beijing will launch several plans for developing itself into a city of museums later this year. It aims to host diverse types of museums and organize experts and guides to publicize its unique culture, local officials said.