Maritime museum conference held in Dongguan

The 2026 annual conference of the Committee of China Maritime Museums was held in Dongguan, Guangdong province, from Oct. 14 to 16. 

The event brought together over 60 representatives from maritime museums and cultural institutions across China. Centered on the protection and utilization of marine cultural heritage, attendees discussed pathways to promoting the development of maritime museums, inter-museum collaboration, and the sustainable growth of small and medium-sized museums.

The speakers emphasized that maritime museums serve as vital strongholds for inheriting Chinese maritime civilization. To navigate new eras of opportunities and challenges, museums must strengthen synergy, prioritize the development of small and medium-sized institutions, and establish a new development ecosystem driven by complementary strengths and shared resources.

The annual meeting offered a professional platform for academic exchange. Topics ranged from exhibition planning and cross-cultural communication to historical maritime education, research, and digitalization.

During the "maritime exhibition case studies" session, experts shared valuable curatorial experience.

Song Yu, deputy director of the Hainan Museum, presented an in-depth look at the curation of the "An Enduring Legacy of a Great Mind: Cultural Relics of Su Shi" exhibition.

Zheng Ruiyu, head of the exhibition department at the China (Hainan) Museum of the South China Sea, provided an insightful introduction into a maritime-themed exhibition.