Shenyang announces rapid museum build

Nearly 100 new museums will be built in Shenyang over the next four years as local authorities launch an extensive campaign to ensure that tourists are made aware of the area's extensive historical and cultural heritage.

Among the new cultural centres to be built are industrial and construction museums and a replica prisoner-of-war camp, according to Chinese state news agency Xinhua.

Shenyang, the largest city in north-east China, currently has just 20 museums, the most famous of which is the Imperial Palace, which won World Heritage status two years ago.

Liu Zhenchao, an official at the Shenyang Cultural and Historic Research Institution, told state media: "These museums will not only help us display our cultural wealth, but also increase our research potential.

"Museums will bring together the city's culture and history. They have immediate and far-reaching significance."

As the political, cultural and economic centre of the Liaoning Province, Shenyang is seeking to boost its popularity among international tourists.

When the 2008 Olympics are staged in Beijing, some of the football matches will be played in the city, boosting its international exposure.