China observed the 2026 International Museum Day on Monday, highlighting the rapid growth of the country's museum sector and its increasing role in promoting exchanges among civilizations.

According to statistics released by the National Cultural Heritage Administration, the number of registered museums nationwide reached 7,188 by the end of 2025, an increase of 142 from the previous year and more than 1,400 over the past five years. Notably, over 91 percent of all museums across the country now offer free admission to the public.

In 2025, museums across the country hosted 45,000 exhibitions and organized 583,000 educational activities, receiving 1.56 billion visits. All major indicators reached record highs while public cultural services continued to improve, according to Rao Quan, director of the National Cultural Heritage Administration.

Chinese museums have also continued to strengthen international cultural exchanges. Last year, more than 110 overseas exhibitions of Chinese cultural relics and over 240 inbound exhibitions were held, spanning over 20 countries and regions across four continents.

This year's main venue for China's International Museum Day celebrations was the Inner Mongolia Museum in Hohhot, capital of the Inner Mongolia autonomous region. The event was themed "Museums Uniting a Divided World".

Rao said the rapidly changing international landscape has made exchanges among civilizations necessary. As important institutions for preserving and passing down human civilization, museums are playing an increasingly prominent role in promoting mutual learning among civilizations and enhancing people-to-people exchanges between countries.

"The theme of 'Museums Uniting a Divided World' is therefore of great significance," he said.

During the opening ceremony, the 2026 "Civilization Bridge Program — Outstanding Overseas Exhibitions of Chinese Cultural Relics" was officially launched. The program plans to organize a series of overseas exhibitions featuring representative Chinese cultural relics to further promote cultural exchanges.

Rao also called for greater efforts to enhance the quality of museum resources and management, improve public cultural services, and optimize free admission policies so that more people can benefit from museum development.

"In recent years, China's museum sector has flourished, and public enthusiasm for cultural heritage has continued to grow. More visitors are entering museums to seek cultural roots and experience the power of civilization," said Tang Wei, deputy director of the National Cultural Heritage Administration.

Antonio Rodriguez, president of the International Council of Museums, expressed appreciation to Chinese museum professionals in a video message.

"The work you do every day inspires others. Through your dedication to museums, creativity and collaboration, you bring people together across cultures, across generations and different perspectives," he said.

A series of important announcements were also made during the opening ceremony, including the release of the annual list of China's top 10 museum exhibitions. The exhibition "Golden and Jade Brilliance, Diverse and Splendid China" also opened at the Inner Mongolia Museum on Monday, featuring 386 artifacts from 58 museums and cultural institutions nationwide.

Meanwhile, museums and cultural institutions across the country organized a variety of exhibitions, lectures and themed activities to celebrate International Museum Day.

China joined the International Council of Museums in 1983 and has organized related activities every year since then. Next year's main venue event will be held in Hangzhou, Zhejiang province.