Guided by the Art Exhibitions China (AEC) and calculated by the Museum & Art News, the Chinese Museum Trending Searches (CMTS) released its second-quarter list of China's top 100 most-searched museums on July 8, 2025. 

Seven specialized sub-lists were unveiled simultaneously, including the "Top 10 Most-searched Museums," "Top 50 Municipal Museums," "Top 50 District or County-level Museums," "Top 50 Thematic Museums," "Top 50 Natural Geological Museums," "Top 50 Archaeological Site Museums," and "Top 30 Arts & Crafts-related Intangible Cultural Heritage Museums." Over 300 museums from across the country made the lists. 

The rankings were determined using a scientific algorithm featuring "four major dimensions and 15 indices," covering all registered museums nationwide. According to the Museum & Art News, the data was collected from annual reports, databases on newly opened museums, historical data samples, and databases using innovative observation methods, to offer the public an accurate "cultural venue and museum trend indicator."

Several museums from Hunan made the lists, including the Hunan Museum, the Changsha Museum, and the Hunan Geological Museum. Notably, the Changsha Museum ranked 3rd among the country's top 100 most-searched prefecture-level city museums.

The national top 100 museums list became the highlight of the lists. The Hunan Museum ranked an impressive 13th, leading the province's other candidates and showcasing its charm as a cultural hub. Changsha Museum followed closely, ranking 28th in the national top 100, with its popularity continuing to rise.

The Hunan Geological Museum secured 18th place among the top 50 most-searched natural geological museums, drawing numerous science enthusiasts with its dinosaur fossils and an exhibition on the mystery of the Earth. Meanwhile, the Changsha Intangible Cultural Heritage Exhibition Hall shone brightly in the top 30 arts & crafts-related intangible cultural heritage category. The exhibition hall is committed to carrying forward "living heritage" through intangible cultural heritage projects such as Xiang Embroidery and Flower-drum Opera, becoming a must-visit spot for locals.

This article is from the Hunan Provincial Government www.enghunan.gov.cn. 

Translator: Kuang Zhenzhen

Chinese source: Changsha Evening News