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China orders museum emergency checks after Xian blackout
The National Cultural Heritage Administration said some museums have not had sufficient risk assessment or emergency response mechanisms during peak summer visits.
China’s National Cultural Heritage Administration has ordered museums nationwide to strengthen emergency management during the summer peak visiting season after operational failures raised safety concerns, including a sudden power outage at the Terracotta Warriors museum in Xian last week, SCMP Economy reports.
In a notice published Monday, the agency pointed to recurring problems such as blackouts, air conditioning failures, and severe overcrowding at some museums, saying a small number of cultural and museum institutions lack sufficient risk assessment, emergency preparedness, and smooth response mechanisms during peak summer attendance.
The notice follows the blackout at the Terracotta Warriors museum on August 4, according to the report. Social media posts and videos showed visitors continuing to view exhibits in pitch-black halls using their phone flashlights, and Chinese media said staff did not inform visitors there was an issue while checking entry tickets, continuing to let people in.
The museum is on the mausoleum site of China’s first emperor, Qin Shi Huang, and houses the Terracotta Army created as a burial offering, SCMP Economy notes. The authority also proposed corrective measures aimed at protecting both visitors and cultural relics.