The National Expo has been suspended! Can this type of research group still be enrolled? Explanation | Society | National Museum

Recently, the National Museum issued a notice that starting from July 16th, no unit or individual is allowed to carry out explanatory activities inside the museum without permission. Prior to this, many educational institutions launched third-party explanation services and supported ticket booking, which were welcomed by parents. After the new regulations of the National Museum were introduced, some businesses have suggested that tourists consult and make appointments after July 16th.

Multiple museums establish rules for "explanation"

On July 9th, the National Museum issued a notice on regulating the order of lectures in the museum. Starting from July 16th, no unit or individual is allowed to conduct lectures in the museum without the permission of the museum; Units that conduct lecture activities within the museum due to work needs must submit an application 5 days in advance, reporting materials such as lecture content, lecture personnel, activity process, safety responsibilities, etc.

Prior to the National Museum, several provincial-level museums in Henan, Liaoning, Guangdong, and other provinces had clear management measures for tour guides and social education institutions to provide explanations, and in principle, social figures were not allowed to organize explanation activities in the exhibition halls of the museums.

Screenshot taken from the official website of the National Museum

The ban on social lectures in museums has caused significant controversy. As early as 2018, citizens took friends to visit the Gongwang Mansion Museum in Beijing to introduce relevant historical knowledge to their friends, but were discouraged by the staff. Many people at that time believed that the museum's approach was inappropriate. The Gongwang Mansion Museum has explained that it prohibits external tour guides from giving lectures in order to prevent confusion during museum visits and the dissemination of incorrect historical information by "wild tour guides". And the reason for stopping the citizen from explaining to friends was because the sound was too loud when explaining in the exhibition hall.

After the National Museum issued the above notice, many netizens also raised questions about how to distinguish between social explanation activities and interactive communication among tourists? China News Network consulted with the relevant staff of the National Museum regarding this matter, and they said that the main focus at present is on whether there are navigation equipment, and specific details will be released before July 16th.

How do you view third-party tour guides when booking tickets on behalf of others?

For many tourists who enjoy visiting museums, explanation is a necessary experience. Most museums provide tour guide services for tourists, which can be divided into two categories: public welfare and fee based. Taking the paid explanation items announced on the official website of the National Museum as an example, for a 2-hour basic exhibition of "Ancient China", the premium explanation group charges 100 yuan per person per hour, with a maximum of 15 visitors per group.

China News Network has found on e-commerce platforms that some academic institutions and businesses can provide museum tour services, with prices ranging from 168 to 388 yuan and tour times ranging from 2 to 3 hours. For example, in the "Ancient China" exhibition at the National Museum, a certain organization charges 388 yuan per person for a 3-hour explanation, with an average of 129 yuan per hour. The number of members in a group starts from 12, and the total number of members is 25. This institution promises to provide ticketing services without the need for tourists to make reservations themselves, ensuring smooth entry.

Explanation of fees and standards for exhibitions in ancient China. Screenshot taken from the official website of the National Museum

The National Museum does not charge admission fees, but successful booking is not an easy task, so many tourists purchase third-party tour services mainly for the convenience of obtaining tickets. During the summer, many parents bring their children to visit museums. According to the regulations of the National Museum, tickets need to be reserved 7 days in advance. In the store review, some consumers said, "It is not easy for children to enter the museum smoothly when they cannot book tickets at all."

After the introduction of new regulations by the National Museum, can these third-party institutions continue to ensure smooth entry for tourists and provide interpretation services? Some merchants have expressed that they are currently unclear about the relevant details and suggest that tourists come back for consultation after July 16th.

Third party organizations on e-commerce platforms explain pricing

Stop jokingly talking about history

Museum explanations need to be standardized

Although some third-party explanation agencies claim to guarantee the quality of their explanations, on social media platforms, some anchors claim to be explanation personnel, conducting live broadcasts in museums and even making loud noises; There are also some tour guides with unknown origins who attract tourists by jokingly telling history and distorting the true value of cultural relics.

Not long ago, the Forbidden City implemented new regulations: prohibiting self media live streaming and recording activities in exhibition halls; Without permission from the Palace Museum, it is prohibited to engage in various non sightseeing activities such as performances, publicity, interviews, social investigations, religious activities, selling goods or services, commercial filming, etc.

Last August, the Beijing Municipal Bureau of Cultural Heritage issued guidance on standardizing museum interpretation work, establishing rules for museum interpretation services. The opinion is clear that social organizations and individuals conducting explanatory services within the museum must undergo assessment and training. The museum will establish a whitelist and standardize the management of those who pass the assessment.

In cases where the explanatory ability of our museum is insufficient, the museum may allow social organizations and individuals to provide explanatory services within the museum, formulate relevant management measures, conduct pre training, filing, and post supervision, review and control the interpreters and explanatory words, standardize the order of explanations, and ensure the dissemination of scientific, accurate, and correct content and values to the audience.

In response to the controversy surrounding social groups and individuals conducting social lectures in museums, the Beijing Municipal Bureau of Cultural Heritage stated that each museum should promptly formulate relevant management measures to standardize social lecture work, especially to promptly stop uncivilized social lecture behaviors such as distorting historical facts, jokingly telling history, or violating visiting order, in order to avoid adverse social impacts.