(CNN) — Chinese travelers can’t visit their country’s museums right now. So the museums are bringing the exhibits to them — virtually.
Museums around the country have been forced to temporarily close their doors due to the Wuhan coronavirus outbreak.
In response, China’s National Cultural Heritage Administration (NCHA) has asked them to stay active on social media and offer their services digitally.
China’s National Cultural Heritage Administration has asked museums across the country, including Beijing’s Palace Museum, to offer digital tours.
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As a result, many museums have opened the doors of their galleries virtually, including Beijing’s world-famous Palace Museum, which sits inside the Forbidden City.
A special team is in charge of coordinating with China’s museums, gathering resources that are already available and developing a one-stop platform.
Virtual tours of famous attractions
Beijing’s Palace Museum is closed until further notice due to the coronavirus outbreak.
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With the Forbidden City celebrating its 600th anniversary in 2020, the Palace Museum had planned an impressive line-up of exhibitions for the year. On January 23, museum staff announced that it would be closed until further notice due to the coronavirus outbreak.
Other institutions have also created virtual tours, allowing visitors to move through their halls and galleries freely.
The public can now tour the Nanjing Massacre Memorial Hall online.
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Learn about Wuhan’s history
Regardless of the outbreak, these new online resources also offer culture seekers an opportunity to experience museums in less-visited cities, including historically rich Wuhan, where the coronavirus broke out.