Shanxi Museum was selected as a national pilot institution for developing cultural and creative products alongside a further 91 qualified museums in China, according to a list released by the State Administration of Cultural Heritage in mid-November.

The museum in Taiyuan, housing about 400,000 antiques and 110,000 old books, is the largest antique collection, preservation, research and exhibition center in the province at a cost of some 400 million yuan ($58.01 million). It also has antique stores, restaurants and teahouses, providing various services for visitors.

Shanxi will encourage local cultural organizations, such as museums and libraries, to develop cultural and creative products based on boosting their core business – cultural protection and dissemination, said the director of Shanxi Cultural Relics Bureau.

To realize this goal, the province will set up companies by introducing investment, including through turning the intellectual property rights of museums into shares.

A panoramic view of Shanxi Museum in Taiyuan [Photo/shanximuseum.com]