As International Museum Day rolls around on May 18, the Palace Museum and Forbidden City authorities will allow children of migrant workers residing in Beijing to tour the historic site free of charge. A museum official stated this move was to thank the children's parents for their efforts in improving Beijing's urban development. 

 

The honor will first be bestowed upon Xingzhi Primary School in Haidian District from where 500 students and teachers have been invited. The Palace Museum has announced the free tours would extend to more such children in the future but did not provide any details.

 

Due to coming from low-income backgrounds, migrant workers' children are rarely given the chance to view the marvels of such sites as the Forbidden City. As an extra treat, famed cultural relics expert Xie Chensheng will be on hand to welcome the children and introduce them to the history of the Forbidden City.

 

(Xinhua News Agency May 16, 2007)