Grand Canal Museum of Beijing to open 'cultural relics hospital'

The cultural relics conservation center's display area at the Grand Canal Museum of Beijing (Capital Museum East Branch) is about to open to the public.

Inside the main building of the museum, a "cultural relics hospital" covering more than 5,000 square meters stands behind the exhibition halls. 

As the city's largest visual conservation center, the museum has introduced innovative comprehensive restoration rooms with display functions. Through panoramic views of the conservation workspace and immersive, multi-sensory interactive experiences, visitors are invited to explore the secrets of cultural relic preservation and witness the craftsmanship and dedication of conservation experts.

Opening the doors on the first floor of the conservation center reveals the display area of the restoration room of organic cultural relics, where restorers use various methods to remove accumulated dirt from the paintings and calligraphy based on scientific analysis.

While in another comprehensive restoration room, visitors can get a close-up look at the "healing techniques" used to restore organic relics such as paintings, calligraphy, and textiles.

As "doctors for cultural relics," restorers combine modern technology with traditional craftsmanship to extend the life of the artifacts to the greatest possible extent, said Ma Yan, a cultural relics restorer at the museum.

Within the display area, visitors are not only able to listen to commentary but also personally experience the techniques of restoring paintings and calligraphy.

Currently, the center plans to open the display area for organic relics restoration, with exhibitions showcasing the conservation and restoration of metal, ceramic, and other artifacts to open in the future.