The Chinese capital will build more large-scale museums in the next few years, Director of the Beijing Cultural Heritage Administration Mei Ninghua said over the weekend.

Mei said that before 2008, when Beijing will hold the Olympic Games, the National Museum, National Art Gallery and museums of agriculture, movies and automobiles will be built. The number of museums will then be increased from the current 118 to 150.

The city is also considering construction of museums dedicated to science fiction, environmental protection and ecology, Mei said.

So far, there are five private museums in Beijing.

(People's Daily 09/09/2001)