Jinsha Site Museum in Chengdu, Sichuan province, plays host to celebrations during Spring Festival, including a lantern show, parades of Egyptian culture and performances by local opera troupes. [Photo provided to China Daily]

Children get a treasure-trove brochure to follow and discover the collections. A smart guiding system using advanced technology and tablets allows visitors to be connected with the exhibits within a certain distance.

"So that visitors who are not familiar with the halls can be guided freely as they move," Qin says.

Li Bei, a cultural official for Sichuan province, says: "The exhibition offers a chance for East-West dialogue at a time when exchanges along the countries and regions covered by the Belt and Road Initiative are not only about trade but a combination of values that will be created through investment, culture and technology."

As Chinese museums look for ways to attract more visitors and play a bigger role as cultural venues, more people are choosing museum visits for holidays.

Officials hope for a growth in the trend.

Long lines formed outside the Chengdu Museum on the city's central Tianfu Square during the festival to see the exhibition on Dunhuang and Buddhism, Spirit of Silk Road: Dunhuang Art Exhibition and Treasures from the Land of Abundance.

That show continues through April 10.

Contact the writer at meijia@chinadaily.com.cn