A group of CPPCC members and scholars paid a visit yesterday to local Hangzhou museums in order to understand the development of private museums. Municipal CPPCC Chairman Sun Zhonghuan and Vice Chairman Zhao Guangyu were accompanied by scholars and other CPPCC members as they toured the Hangzhou Money and Coin Museum and the Zhejiang Ancient Procelain Museum of the Wu and Yue States.

Sun emphasized the existence of private museums which play a vital role in relic excavation, protection, collection and exhibition, especially for a historic city like Hangzhou. Private museums must be considered an essential window to learning about Hangzhou-characterized culture and quality life, Sun said.

The under-construction Hangzhou Earth and Fire Museum has successfully collected more than 800 pieces of blue and white porcelain and color porcelain from the Ming and Qing Dynasties. But due to the difficulty in finding the right venue for displaying the relics, the entire collection has been hiding away in an ordinary residential home, which shows the urgent need of more private museums.

Such private museums require regular guidance and management, financial support, as well as legal consulting services from relative departments. Hangzhou is willing to take the initiative to assist those museums, according to the Hangzhou government.

Editor: Liu Fang