Shenyang's local culture bureau recently announced the launch of
an extensive museum-building drive next year to commemorate the
province's history, industry and culture.
Zhang Ying, deputy chief of the Shenyang culture bureau, said
the bureau's list included an industrial museum, a construction
museum and a prisoner-of-war (POW) camp museum.
"Our goal is to build close to 100 museums to represent what
makes this area special by the end of 2010," said Zhang.
Local officials have also promised to increase investment to
protect sites relevant to China's War of Resistance Against
Japanese Aggression.
Shenyang boasts a variety of sites of cultural and historical
interest. Its origins date back to the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911),
the last dynasty to rule China. It has over 20 museums, the most
important of which is the Shenyang Imperial Palace, having received
World Heritage status in 2004.
Liu Zhenchao, an official at the Shenyang Cultural and Historic
Research Institution, lauded governmental efforts in shoring up the
city's cultural heritage.
"These museums will not only help us display our cultural
wealth, but also increase our research potential," said Liu.
"Museums will bring together the city's culture and history. They
have immediate and far-reaching significance."
In a sign of things to come, Shenyang opened a finance-themed
museum earlier this month to demonstrate its long history as a Far
Eastern financial hub.
Polina Yaskina, a visiting Russian scholar at Liaoning
University, said building museums would help China refine the way
it presents its culture.
"I have been to many countries that have long histories, such as
Italy and South Korea. I can easily find evidence of their culture
in museums. But here in China, it is very hard," said Yaskina.
"Cultural recognition is vital for all great nations."
Xu Jianmin, spokesman of Shenyang municipal government, echoed
the visiting scholar's comments.
Xu told China Daily that the local government was looking for an
international design company to help polish the city's image.
(China Daily December 19, 2006)