Shenyang authority to launch museum drive

China's Shenyang province is set to begin a museum construction drive with an aim to build 100 by 2010, according to state media.

The Shenyang culture bureau noted that an industrial museum, a construction museum and a prisoner of war camp were all planned.

Liu Zhenchao, an official at the Shenyang Cultural and Historic Research Institution, told the Xinhua news agency: "These museums will not only help us display our cultural wealth, but also increase our research potential.

"Museums will bring together the city's culture and history. They have immediate and far-reaching significance."

The region was ruled by the last dynasty to survive in China, with the Qing Dynasty lasting from 1644 to 1911.

Shenyang's Imperial Palace was given world heritage status in 2004 and the authority is planning to make this part of its history highly prominent.

Tourism is increasingly important to China as a way of continuing long-term growth in its economy should the well publicised production boom in the country begin to decline.