1 . Gifts and packaging play a crucial role in providing an income and educating visitors.

After enjoying a museum or art gallery, Milly Zi, a management adviser in Beijing, usually visits the souvenir shop to buy something to remember the visit. About a decade ago, Zi was attracted by a roll of sticky tape in Taipei Palace Museum. The tape, designed in red, yellow and white, had four Chinese characters making a phrase: zhen zhi dao le-a sentence of Emperor Kangxi of the Qing Dynasty, meaning “I am aware.” “The product has history and culture in it,” Zi said, “And it has aroused my interest to learn more about the history behind them.”

The latest digital technology is also helping museums to be more creative. In October 2021, the Hubei Provincial Museum released 10,000 digital copies of the sword of Gou Jian, king of the state of Yue during the Warring States period, a famous cultural relic on display in the museum. Its popularity can be gauged by how quickly it sold out. “All the copies were sold in just three seconds,” said Wang Xianfu, deputy head of the museum.

Digital collections go beyond the restrictions of time and space, making museums more open, interesting and modern. “It’s a new experience, a combination of civilization and modern high-tech,” Wang said.

“The popularity of digital cultural relics has resulted in more museums exploring the concept. Digitized cultural relics are a new form of cultural creative products, which can be sold, purchased, collected and used.” Ma Xiaoli said, head of the museum in Henan.

“I think museums have two functions-to remember and to spread Chinese culture,” said YuLin, manager of the Development Department at Ant Group, “I hope new technologies will promote Chinese culture in a way the younger generation is happy to accept.”