TWENTY-SIX museums in Beijing will be open free to the public on May 18 to celebrate International Museum Day, Beijing Morning Post reported today.

Exhibitions in museums like the Beijing Ancient Numismatic Museum, the Baita Temple and Beijing Museum of Ancient Architectures will all be open free to visitors on Friday week, the report said.

International Museum Day, designated by the International Council of Museums in 1978, is meant to heighten public awareness of the important role that museums play in communities.