Nonprofit private museum in Wuhan gains global attention

To gain systematic expertise and lay the foundation for opening a museum, Yan also pursued a PhD in Chinese art and archaeology at the University of Munich.

Now that the museum has opened, Yan is devoting much of his energy to the long-term operation of the museum.

Despite the museum's high monthly operating costs, which amount to tens of thousands of yuan, he has chosen not to charge admission fees. The expenses of the museum are covered by the income of his antique store.

"The ideal audiences for spreading knowledge about cultural relics are students and young people. If my museum charges an entrance fee, even a small amount like ten or twenty yuan, it might be a barrier for them. I want to remove that barrier," he said.

Contact the writers at pengchao@chinadaily.com.cn