Chinese museum shut down over alleged fake exhibits

JIZHOU, China, July 18 (UPI) -- Authorities in a Chinese city said they have shut down a museum following allegations that most of the facility's exhibits were fraudulent.

Jizhou city authorities said the Jibaozhai Museum was shut down and is being investigated after Beijing writer Ma Boyong posted a blog entry alleging many of the museum's exhibits were fake, China's state-run Xinhua news agency reported Thursday.

An official from Hebei Provincial Cultural Heritage Bureau, identified by the surname Li, told the Global Times the province is also investigating the museum.

"Jibaozhai has no qualification to be a museum as its collections are fake and it hasn't reported to my department for approval," Li said.

The Jibaozhai Museum was opened in 2007 at a cost of $88 million. It was declared a Grade 3A scenic spot and a patriotic education center by local authorities.

Wang Zongquan, the museum's curator, has been accused by villagers of filling Jibaozhai with fake exhibits and misusing the public funds he was given for the facility.