China: Preserving cultural heritage in tourism

Chinese museums welcomed 1.29 billion visitors - setting a new record for visitor numbers in 2023.

Artifacts on display at the Terracotta Warriors Museum, China. Photo: THX

In recent years, in parallel with the restoration, preservation and display of valuable historical artifacts, more than 90% of museums across China have implemented a policy of free admission for visitors to visit, study and research. Thereby, promoting propaganda, promotion and education about the historical and cultural values, as well as the tangible and intangible cultural heritages of this country with a long history.

According to data from the National Bureau of Cultural Relics of China, in 2023, museums across the country held more than 40,000 exhibitions and more than 380,000 educational activities; conducted more than 3,500 research projects, released more than 3,000 publications and published more than 13,000 theses... Museums across the country welcomed 1.29 billion visitors to visit and study, reaching a new record for the number of visitors in 2023.

Currently, China has more than 6,800 museums. One of the destinations that especially attracts domestic and foreign tourists is the Terracotta Army Museum (Terracotta Army of Qin Shi Huang), near Xi'an City, Shaanxi Province, Northwest China. Dubbed the "eighth wonder of the world", the Terracotta Army is a group of terracotta statues of people and horses, buried with Emperor Qin Shi Huang around 210 BC. The statues are arranged in 3 separate tombs, estimated to have more than 8,000 soldiers along with 130 chariots and 520 horses.

Since its discovery in 1974, archaeological excavations have been ongoing and artifacts have been continuously discovered. The reason for the prolonged excavation is that the terracotta warriors and horses are fragile and the restoration and conservation of these statues are difficult. The human statues have infantrymen, archers, and generals standing upright or crouching, holding bows, halberds, spears, pikes, and bronze-clad swords... These were weapons used in China at that time.

In addition to the terracotta warriors and horses, life-sized and elaborate chariot statues were also discovered in the terracotta warriors and horses area. The statues are placed in three separate tombs, the fourth being an empty one. It is believed that the first tomb contains a statue of 6,000 soldiers and horses, which is the main army of Qin Shi Huang. The first tomb is located on the west side of the mausoleum. The second tomb contains about 1,400 statues of cavalry and infantry with chariots, which are considered to be the guard force, on an area of ​​19,659 square meters. The third tomb contains a command team of different levels and a four-horse chariot on an area of ​​1,524 square meters with 68 statues.

Ms. Chu Binh, Deputy Director of the Terracotta Warriors and Horses Museum, said that the restoration of terracotta warrior statues is extremely complicated, requiring the support of science and technology to research and analyze carefully before meticulously processing, then supplementing and reinforcing to create a product that can be displayed. In addition to restoration and conservation, the Terracotta Warriors and Horses Museum is also promoting the digitalization of the display, helping visitors have a more vivid experience when viewing the artifacts. Thanks to the continuous efforts in restoration and conservation, this museum has become a destination for many domestic and foreign tourists to visit, study..., thereby contributing to promoting the effectiveness of education for people, especially the young generation about national history and culture.

LAM DIEN

Source: https://www.sggp.org.vn/trung-quoc-bao-ton-cac-di-san-van-hoa-trong-du-lich-post741346.html