Stepping into wonders: More university museums in China open their door to public

Entering the Museum of Huazhong Agricultural University feels like stepping into a world of natural wonders. With its vast collection of specimens, from insects and marine life to wild animals and plants, the museum offers visitors a glimpse into the diversity of life on earth.

A standout exhibit is the preserved half-skeleton of a horse, providing an intriguing look at equine anatomy. This display serves as an educational tool for veterinary students while also offering the public valuable insights into the university's research contributions.

This immersive experience is just one example of a new wave of university museums across China that are now opening their doors to the public. For instance, several university museums in Beijing have started welcoming visitors since August, offering diverse experiences in culture, history and technology.

Among them, Beijing Union University's museum highlights archaeological discoveries and cultural preservation efforts, while the Museum of Ethnic Costumes at Beijing Fashion Institute focuses on China's rich traditions of ethnic fashion. At the Beijing Institute of Graphic Communication, visitors can explore the evolution of printing technology, a significant chapter in China's contributions to global history.

Beyond Beijing, Hubei Province offers an online platform where visitors can book tours to more than a hundred museums and galleries affiliated with universities, middle schools and research institutions throughout the region. Many of these venues are opening to the public for the first time.

Popular museums such as the Wanlin Art Museum at Wuhan University and the History Museum at Huazhong University of Science and Technology are drawing large crowds, thanks to their unique collections and academic significance.

This trend toward public engagement aligns with a national push for greater accessibility. In 2011, the State Administration of Cultural Heritage and the Ministry of Education issued a directive encouraging university museums to open up and serve the broader public.

According to statistics, there are now over 400 university museums across China. By opening their doors, these museums provide the public with access to in-depth cultural and scientific knowledge typically reserved for academic circles.

Bridging academia and the public

This growing trend of university museums opening to the public represents a shift in how these institutions engage with society. As Pang'ou, director of the ancient art department at the Nanjing Museum, explains, "University museums are primarily educational. Their core mission is tied to the academic and research goals of their institutions."

Pang noted that these museums have access to unique resources like research findings, specialized collections and academic expertise, which allow them to provide in-depth, scholarly exhibitions that differ from the broader appeal of general museums.

"They focus less on entertaining the public and more on fostering intellectual engagement, often serving as extensions of the classroom or laboratory," said Pang. "Because of this, they aren't pressured to generate revenue through commercial ventures like cultural merchandise or ticket sales."

Despite these differences, Pang predicts a convergence between university museums and general museums in the future.

"As public interest in educational experiences grows, university museums may find themselves under increasing pressure to engage with the broader community beyond academia," Pang told CGTN. "However, they still face unique challenges. For example, institutional policies often require visitors to make appointments in advance, which can be more cumbersome than simply walking into a general museum."

Moreover, while university funding is a major support, these museums cannot rely on it indefinitely. "To sustain their operations long-term, university museums will need to become more socially integrated, building partnerships and developing additional revenue streams without compromising their academic focus," Pang said.