​Beijing, May 18 (IANS) The number of registered museums in China has reached nearly 4,700, with more than 85 percent of them free to visit, a national cultural official said on Wednesday.

By the end of 2015, 4,692 museums were registered and more than 20,000 exhibitions were held annually, drawing 700 million visitors, Xinhua news agency quoted Liu Yuzhu, head of the State Administration of Cultural Heritage, as saying.

"As public cultural services, museums are significant in displaying civilisation, boosting cultural exchanges and improving morality, science and culture," Liu said.​