Former Palace Museum curator Shan Jixiang introduces the restoration of a Thangka painting Photo: Luo Yunzhou/GT

Shan Jixiang, former curator of the Palace Museum, delivered a speech on the use of digital technology to enliven cultural relics and exhibitions at a forum organized by the Emlyon Business School on Saturday.

During the past several years, the Palace Museum has made many breakthroughs in digital technology. Ten apps have been released so far, including The Palace Museum Community, 365 Days of Masterpieces and the Palace Museum Exhibitions. Shan explained that 365 Days of Masterpieces has operated for more than five years. "If some meticulous users would take screenshots of the relics we send to them every day, they would have a mini Palace Museum stored in their phones," Shan said.

The most impressive application of digital technology is the use of virtual reality, which is able to overcome the limitations of display space to give users access to relics that are not currently on display at the museum. Shan also pointed out that 5G technology will also be widely used in the Palace Museum, which will enable tourists to get the most detailed information about exhibitions and facilities through their phones.

Although the Palace Museum has accumulated vast experience with digital technology, Shan told the Global Times that it is better for a museum to explore their own path to digitalization based on their own unique advantages and the demands of visitors by learning from other museums instead of outright copying them. 

Shan is currently director of the Palace Museum Institute. He recalled that the most challenging part of directing the Palace Museum was breaking from the traditional attitudes as the Palace Museum is a long-established organization which previously complied with fixed disciplines. The transition from an administration-oriented facility to a user-friendly one was the biggest challenge.