The recently announced list of selected entries for the "Museums for Everyone: Innovative Practices in Accessibility and Inclusion" initiative, launched jointly by UNESCO and the China Museum Association, includes submissions from two Chinese museums: the Qin-Han Civilization Museum (a branch of the Shaanxi History Museum) and the Emperor Qinshihuang's Mausoleum Site Museum. These selected cases will be featured in a publication under the same title.

Pic from: www.UNESCO.org

Qin-Han Civilization Museum (The branch of the Shaanxi History Museum)

The Qin-Han Civilization Museum opened to the public on May 18, 2024. From the beginning of its design, the museum aimed to create a fully accessible environment for visitors. This approach included integrating accessible exhibition experiences, viewing routes, and content guides into its construction. The museum is also equipped with a wide range of fully accessible facilities and resources, ensuring an inclusive experience for all visitors.

The Qin-Han Civilization Museum features a dedicated accessible entrance and several accessible tour routes. An accessible visitor guide can be found on the museum's website, and accessible signage is displayed along all routes. Additionally, the museum offers augmented reality (AR) glasses and a multi-sensory 4D cinema, creating an all-audio environment for visually impaired visitors.

Emperor Qinshihuang's Mausoleum Site Museum

Since 2017, Emperor Qinshihuang's Mausoleum Site Museum has been implementing the "Internet + Chinese Civilization" action plan, actively promoting the open sharing of cultural relic information resources. The museum has collaborated with institutions such as the Smithsonian Institution and the Chinese Language and Culture Education Foundation of China to launch a series of innovative digital accessibility projects.

Various digital education programs were designed accordingly, such as "Terracotta Warriors Digital Education", "Online Terracotta Army Classroom" and the "VR Virtual Tour of the Terracotta Warriors", making cultural heritage accessible to global audiences.Improving accessible online resources allows museums as important educational venues to enhance their educational function.