Palace Museum curator aims high   

故宫将建北院区 单霁翔：预计首年游客将超300万

13日下午，故宫博物院院长单霁翔在北京华文学院做了一场题为“把壮美的紫禁城完整地交给下一个600年”的讲座。在讲座中，单霁翔深入浅出地为华文学院的学生讲解了故宫的文物保护现状、面临的危机以及“平安故宫”工程等内容，幽默风趣的语言赢得了现场的阵阵笑声和掌声。[查看全文]

(ECNS)-- The Palace Museum will open a new area of 75,000 square meters, which is expected to attract more than three million tourists, the museum's curator Shan Jixiang said on Thursday.

In a speech delivered at the Beijing Chinese Language and Culture College, Shan said he wished the museum would be protected and kept intact for the next 600 years, as it will celebrate its 600th anniversary in 2020.

"Being intact" includes the protection of 9,000 ancient rooms and more than 1.8 million pieces of historical relics, as well as preserving its cultural environment and attracting tourists, he added.

The new area of 75,000 square meters will be open to divert visitors and relieve the current pressure, he said.

The museum has drafted plans to tackle seven potential safety hazards, which won the approval of the State Council, Shan said.

The underground storehouse will be upgraded and monitoring reports on buildings and exhibitions will be released, he added.

In 2012, the museum's one-day record high reached 180,000 visitors, and annual visits hit 15 million.