Thirty museums in Beijing will be open to the public free of charge on May 18, for World Museum Day. Another 19 museums will offer cut price tickets to visitors.

On the day, Beijing's Ancient Architecture Museum will also invite experts from the city's Cultural Relics Bureau and the Palace Museum to talk visitors through the calligraphy, paintings and porcelain exhibits.

Activities to mark the World Museum Day, which was started by the International Museum Association in 1977 will last for about 15 days.

(CRI.com April 29, 2005)