The six-strong delegation held four one-day seminars in four different cities – Shanghai, Beijing, Guangzhou and Chongqing – which included talks by Chinese museum experts as well as the six UK representatives.

Edwards said: “Our mission was to visit the four cities in order to hold seminars that would benefit both the UK and Chinese museum and science centre industries.

“The seminars given by UK delegates concentrated on issues such as collection management, how to add value to existing exhibitions, the importance of developing strategic visions and sustainability concerns.

“The idea was to offer museum management know-how to a country which is in the midst of a huge economic boom.

“As a networking opportunity, the visit was a phenomenal success. The strong ties made on the trip could help UK companies to benefit from getting involved in China’s ongoing push to provide cultural attractions – including museums and science centres – for the 2008 Beijing Olympics and the 2010 Expo in Shanghai.”

Linda Conlon, one of the delegates, said: “China currently has around 2,000 museums and plans to build another 1,000 by 2010, aiming to have at least one fully-functional museum for every large or medium-sized city.”

The delegates – Melanie Quin, executive director of ECSITE-UK; Tristram Besterman, director of the Manchester Museum; Linda Conlon, director of Life Science Centre; Stephen Pizzey, director of Science Projects and Herstmonceux; Moira Gemmill, head of design at the Victoria & Albert Museum and Juliana Delaney, director of Continuum Group – returned from the two-week visit on 14 August.

The visit was organised by the Chinese National Collaboration Project on the Science Museum Industry.

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