Located in the Tibetan capital of Lhasa, The Tibet Autonomous Region Museum, began to digitally catalogue its collections three years ago. To mark China's National Cultural Heritage Day last Saturday, the museum has opened up an exhibition presenting visitors with some exquisite pieces that are unique to the region.
Established in 1999, the Tibet Autonomous Region Museum was the first modern museum in southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region.
It boasts a collection of over 520,000 pieces. But scientific research and archaeological explorations have taken a back seat due to the outdated cataloging system of the museum.
But in 2013, that slowly started to change with the digitalization of the museum's collection. That same year, Tibet began a three-year survey of the region's portable cultural relics.
The documentation includes a list of details from the objects' name, what category it belongs to, and dates, down to its texture, size, and preservation conditions, as well as photographs and identification numbers.
"Here we have a porcelain buddha statue from the 13th century. After consulting with historians we believe it was manufactured in Tibet, and this could change people's view that local artisans lack the technique of making porcelain," said a man.
According to museum officials, more than 100,000 cultural relics have been documented so far, with plans for more items to follow suit in the future.
