Abstract

In recent years, China has experienced social, cultural, political and economic transformations. In order to stabilise the country in the midst of dramatic change and to legitimise the continuing rule of the Communist Party, the government has promoted nationalism and the building of a common sense of cultural identity among the people. One of the most familiar and available means to do this is to remind people of China’s ancient past. This chapter focuses on the field of archaeology to show how growing interest in cultural heritage work has produced new ways of bringing the past to the people. New ways of making the past accessible to the masses will be introduced in this chapter. These include the construction of new museums, the popularisation of archaeological discoveries, and focus on new target groups through mobile digital museums.

Keywords: archaeological site museum, cultural identity, mobile digital museum, popularisation of cultural heritage

Museum exhibitions on history aim at bearing witness to the past. The presentation of lessons from the past will serve for the present, and they will inspire future generations. Making exhibitions means to compile and revise history. Let cultural relics tell their story, and teach the people about the wisdom of history. Let them inspire our sense of national pride and self-confidence, so to ensure that all the people make China strong and powerful again, and to have the confidence and determination to realise the China Dream. (Capital Museum 2014, author's translation).