A delegation of representatives of over 100 internet media outlets across the country visited the Tang West Market Museum in Xi'an on May 24.

The delegation visits the Tang West Market Museum in Xi'an, capital of Shanxi province, on May 24. (Photo/xiancity.cn)

West Market was flourishing during the Tang Dynasty (618-907) as a center of international trade. According to historical records it had over 40,000 shops offering 220 kinds of businesses covering every aspect of residents' lives.

A model of the West Market during the Tang Dynasty. (Photo/chinadaily.com.cn)

The Tang West Market Museum is built at the historic site of West Market, which was the starting point of the Silk Road. It was China's first civilian-run museum to be built on a historical site.

An exhibit shows the Silk Road. (Photo/chinadaily.com.cn)

The historic site of West Market houses the museum's main collection, and is its most important feature. An exhibition hall is set to display the site as it used to be in the Tang Dynasty. Thanks to China's leading protection methods and world advanced display technologies, the site will be well protected. The West Market will come alive once more.

The museum has over 20,000 artifacts that illustrate the Silk Road culture and the culture of the flourishing period of the Tang Dynasty. When it was upgraded into a national first-class museum checks and evaluations were made of over 900 items.

"This wonderful museum can be regarded as a great success in conserving Chinese cultural heritage," said the former chairman of the International Council on Monuments and Sites.