Shenyang's local culture bureau recently announced the launch of an extensive museum-building drive next year to commemorate the province's history, industry and culture.

Zhang Ying, deputy chief of the Shenyang culture bureau, said the bureau's list included an industrial museum, a construction museum and a prisoner-of-war (POW) camp museum.

"Our goal is to build close to 100 museums to represent what makes this area special by the end of 2010," said Zhang.

Local officials have also promised to increase investment to protect sites relevant to China's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression.

Shenyang boasts a variety of sites of cultural and historical interest. Its origins date back to the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911), the last dynasty to rule China. It has over 20 museums, the most important of which is the Shenyang Imperial Palace, having received World Heritage status in 2004.

Liu Zhenchao, an official at the Shenyang Cultural and Historic Research Institution, lauded governmental efforts in shoring up the city's cultural heritage.

"These museums will not only help us display our cultural wealth, but also increase our research potential," said Liu. "Museums will bring together the city's culture and history. They have immediate and far-reaching significance."

In a sign of things to come, Shenyang opened a finance-themed museum earlier this month to demonstrate its long history as a Far Eastern financial hub.

Polina Yaskina, a visiting Russian scholar at Liaoning University, said building museums would help China refine the way it presents its culture.

"I have been to many countries that have long histories, such as Italy and South Korea. I can easily find evidence of their culture in museums. But here in China, it is very hard," said Yaskina. "Cultural recognition is vital for all great nations."

Xu Jianmin, spokesman of Shenyang municipal government, echoed the visiting scholar's comments.

Xu told China Daily that the local government was looking for an international design company to help polish the city's image.

(China Daily December 19, 2006)