According to Hainan Daily, the 11th China Museum and Related Products and Technology Expo (hereafter referred to as the Museum Expo) officially kicked off at the Hainan International Convention and Exhibition Center on November 13, 2026. Centered on the theme "Museums for High-Quality Development: Empowered by Technology, Connected to the Future," the event comprehensively showcases the latest explorations in the application of technology and public services within the cultural heritage sector. Dignitaries attending the opening ceremony included Rao Quan, Vice Minister of Culture and Tourism and Director of the National Cultural Heritage Administration; Wang Bin, Member of the Standing Committee of the CPC Hainan Provincial Committee and Head of its Publicity Department; Xie Jing, Vice Governor of Hainan Province; and Luo Wenli, Director of the National Museum of China. Throughout the expo, stakeholders will engage in in-depth discussions on pathways for the high-quality development of museums, aiming to connect the future of the cultural heritage industry through technological innovation.
Guided by the National Cultural Heritage Administration and organized by the Chinese Museums Association, with support from relevant authorities in Hainan Province and Haikou City, this year's expo spans a total area of approximately 94,000 square meters, meticulously divided into 12 thematic exhibition zones. The event has brought together over 600 museums and more than 200 cultural heritage-related enterprises. This record-breaking scale in the expo's history vividly presents a panoramic view of the thriving cultural heritage industry in China. The convergence of cutting-edge technologies and innovative concepts here provides a vital window for both industry insiders and the public to observe the evolution of the cultural heritage ecosystem.
Notably, the Museum Expo has taken a significant step in international cooperation by introducing the Guest Country program for the first time, with Egypt serving as the inaugural guest country. Prestigious institutions such as the Grand Egyptian Museum, the Egyptian Museum in Cairo, and the National Museum of Egyptian Civilization are gathered in the International Museums Zone. The Egyptian pavilion not only shares its mature experience in cultural relic conservation, digital exhibition design, and public education, but also highlights its fruitful achievements in organizing international touring exhibitions and developing cultural and creative products, thereby building a bridge for in-depth dialogue between Chinese and foreign museums.
In terms of technological empowerment, the expo has specially established the Museum Digital and Smart Technologies Zone, offering a comprehensive demonstration of AI applications in core scenarios such as meticulous collection management, preventive conservation of cultural relics, digital content dissemination, and public interactive services. This reflects the accelerating trend of smart transformation across the global cultural heritage industry. Meanwhile, the expo has systematically launched the Exhibition on Achievements in Museum Accessibility for the first time. By introducing diverse assistive tools—including tactile replicas of cultural relics, Braille guidebooks, sign language interpretation videos, and AI-powered smart audio guides—the initiative effectively promotes the inclusive sharing of cultural resources, ensuring that diverse groups can equally enjoy the charm of cultural heritage. This move underscores the industry's growing emphasis on equal access to public services and humanistic care in its pursuit of high-quality development, marking the accelerated transition of museums from traditional institutions for collecting and displaying cultural relics into modern comprehensive public cultural service hubs.
As a public-benefit cultural event, the Museum Expo is open to the public free of charge. To ensure a safe and pleasant visitor experience, the organizers have implemented a robust reservation system. Visitors can make advance reservations through the official mini-program using real-name registration and enter the venue in an orderly manner with valid credentials. For those who have not made advance reservations, on-site real-name authentication is available, allowing them to queue for entry based on real-time crowd conditions.