In the current trend of "county-focused travel" and the rising popularity of museum visits, many museums located in smaller cities are gradually becoming cultural hubs. A National People's Congress representative has suggested actively promoting small and medium-sized museums as new landmarks for local cultural tourism consumption, aiming to reshape the tourism ecosystem of smaller cities and achieve both cultural preservation and economic growth in county-level regions.

Small and medium-sized museums account for 70% of all registered museums nationwide. "We should enable these museums to spark a cultural tourism boom in their cities," the representative stated. First, it is essential to define a precise positioning and create a unique cultural IP for each county. As deep explorers and communicators of regional culture, small and medium-sized museums should strive for "small but beautiful, specialized yet refined" development. They ought to focus on the most distinctive local historical and cultural resources, organizing well-themed exhibitions centered around key artifacts or cultural elements to offer visitors a window into the area’s history and traditions.

Second, enhanced coordination among provincial, municipal, and county authorities is needed. Establishing alliances among cultural and museum institutions would facilitate the exchange of artifacts, allowing more high-quality cultural resources to reach grassroots levels and addressing the limited resources often faced by smaller museums.

As tourists shift from sightseeing to in-depth cultural experiences, the representative emphasized that small and medium-sized museums should leverage digital technologies such as virtual reality to create digital exhibitions. This approach can bring historical relics, archaeological sites, and cultural classics to life, enhancing interactivity and immersion. Expanding cross-sector integration by developing intangible cultural heritage workshops, experiential learning programs, cultural creative products, and specialty dining options can also improve museums' ability to convert visits into consumption.

Additionally, regional collaboration should be strengthened. Integrating museums into county tourism routes and linking them with scenic spots and commercial districts can collectively create new entry points for cultural tourism consumption.