China's Biggest Ethnic Museum Now Complete

The southern section of the China Nationalities Museum, also named Beijing Ethnic Culture Park, is now open, though finishing touches will continue until the end of September. It has taken about 10 years to complete the highly colorful 800-million-yuan project, whose northern section was opened to the public in 1994.

In the museum, 300 buildings in a diverse range of architectural styles show exactly where and how minorities live. In the main exhibition hall, guests at the opening ceremony were able to learn much about minorities?lifestyles and cultures by viewing a total of 60,000 artifacts and relics, including artistic works. Among the most stunning exhibits is China's largest iron-cast sculpture, along with simulated tropical forests, limestone caves and waterfalls.

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