Beijing has registered 140 museums, with approximately every 100,000 residents sharing one, official statistics show.

At least 40 museums have opened to public in Beijing over the past decade, a fast growing period compared with the fact that 100 museums were established from 1949, when the People's Republic of China was founded, to 1997, according to Shu Xiaofeng, deputy director of Beijing Municipal Administration of Cultural Heritage.

The ratio of the number of museums against population is close to that of the developed countries, said Shu.

Just in the first half of this year, seven new museums began to receive visitors, bringing more opportunities for the 13 million local population and mushrooming tourists.

Shu attributed the rapid development of museums to people's increasing demand for cultural activities and the active role played by more individuals, enterprises and organizations in investment.

In the first half of this year, non-governmental investors have established museums highlighting Chinese movies, post and stamps, telecommunications, folk customs and China's imperial civil examination system in Beijing.

(Xinhua News Agency August 17, 2007)