BEIJING: The China Ceramics and Glass Museum in Zibo, Shandong province has become a vivid example of how cultural tourism is driving consumer spending in this central Shandong city, as record-breaking visitor numbers and soaring sales of cultural products reflect a broader consumption upgrade.
At the museum, visitors queue for photos with a piece of glass artwork representing the flowers of each month, making it one of the many attractions that have turned the museum into a cultural hotspot. As of Monday, it had received 2.2 million visits in 2026, a record high, with more than 70 percent of visitors under 35, highlighting the strong appeal of traditional craftsmanship to young consumers.
The museum’s popularity is part of a broader trend in Zibo, where cultural and tourism integration has become a key driver of consumption. From the bustling Badaju Market which has transformed from a neighborhood food market into a nationally renowned cultural landmark to the city’s thriving ceramics and glass industry, Zibo is leveraging its rich cultural heritage to attract visitors and boost spending.
Among the museum’s highlights is a glass phoenix crown created by artisan Sun Qiye. The crown comprises nearly 5,000 components, including 4,800 handcrafted glass pearls as small as 2.5 mm in diameter.
“Every petal and decorative piece requires repeated firing, shaping, and assembling,” Sun said. The crown now draws crowds of visitors, many of whom are eager to purchase cultural products inspired by such exhibits.
The museum has developed over 400 kinds of cultural and creative products, with sales hitting new highs, said curator Liu Lianjing. Zibo boasts a complete ceramics and glass industry system. In the first half of this year, daily-use and artistic ceramics enterprises above designated size generated 518 million yuan in revenue, up 16.9 percent year-on-year, while the artistic glass sector posted nearly 100 million yuan, a 9 percent increase, said Sun Yaozu, director of the city’s traditional industry development center. –The Daily Mail-China Daily news exchange item
