On Thursday, the Palace Museum in Beijing opened the first 'hospital' that would treat ancient cultural relics which are at a state of disrepair using the latest technology available.
The 'hospital', or informally known as the Relic Hospital, spans 13,000 square meters and has the most-advanced restoration workshops in the country.
According to the Palace Museum's director Shan Jixiang, "It is the largest cultural heritage conservation center in China. I hope it will become a hub for nurturing expertise, not only for China, but also worldwide."
The center has a laser technology lab which was developed with the help of Greece as part of their conservation experience sharing and it also has a training center for the International Institute for Conservation of Historic and Artistic Works.
Shan adds, "Traditional craftsmanship will be combined with modern methods, and the lives of cultural relics will be prolonged by the 'doctors.'"
The hospital will also be opened to tourists in the near future but no specific date has been released or specified.
