People visit a relics show at the Capital Museum in Beijing.[People visit a relics show at the Capital Museum in Beijing.[Photo by Jiang Dong/China Daily]

In 2015, China's first national regulation for museums was released by the State Council, which aimed to better oversee and guide museum development, but the regulation also showed that systemic reforms were needed for related areas as well.

For instance, although products developed by the Palace Museum have become hugely popular among museum buffs in the past few years, Wang Yamin, deputy director of the museum, says, there are not enough incentives to boost this sector.

Wang says that this is mainly because museums are public institutions. "If a product sells well, current rules don't allow us to reward the employees."

Wang thus suggested some reforms. "The creativity department should not be restrained," he says.

Last year, the Ministry of Culture released a plan to create management councils at the country's museums.

The new system will allow the councils, comprising employees, experts and public representatives, to become decision-making bodies.

The councils will be able to plan for the development of the institutions, approve budgets, draft regulations and be involved in other major issues, and the current directors will be responsible solely for daily operations.

But, An says: "This vast change needs to be taken step by step. Museums have to make tailored plans. This is not a formula to resolve every problem."