A candidate design of the new museum released by the Forbideen City in April 2015. (Photo/Beijing Evening News)

The Forbidden City in Beijing, also known as the Palace Museum, will build a new museum to exhibit more of its huge collection, said the site's director, Shan Jixiang, at the 2016 International Smart Tourism Conference in Hangzhou on Oct. 23, China News Service reported.

The Forbidden City is the world’s largest timber architectural complex. It is also the world’s largest collection of cultural relics, and boasts the most visitors.

Shan said the Forbidden City is currently facing a major problem: most of its massive collections can’t be displayed. Usually, 10 to 20 percent of the collections of major international museums are displayed at any given time. Although the Forbidden City holds over 70 exhibitions every year, only 0.5 percent of its collections have the opportunity to be put on display for visitors. Relevant authorities have therefore approved a new museum for the Forbidden City.

Located 25 kilometers from the Forbidden City, the new museum will be situated between the Old Summer Palace and the Ming Tombs and Great Wall. The first stage of the project will cover an area of 125,000 square meters. In addition to displaying many more relics, the cultural relic restoration process will also be showcased in this new museum.

“The new museum will be a green and modern strucutre with zero emissions,” Shan additionally reported.

Currently, 76 percent of the Forbidden City is accessible to visitors; by 2025, the figure is set be 85 percent. 

A candidate design of the new museum released by the Forbideen City in April 2015. (Photo/Beijing Evening News)