Bao Pinghe, a 70-year-old citizen in Zhoushan, showcases his collection of rare stones. [Photo/zhoushan.cn]

Bao Pinghe, a 70-year-old citizen in Zhoushan, Zhejiang province, runs a museum that is free to all visitors.

The Pinghe Museum, located in Yue'ao village, Zhujiajian Island, is a two-story building that houses more than 1,000 artifacts, including rare stones, time-honored items, and fossils.

The manganese crystallization stone, also known as "the King of Stones" in Zhoushan, is one of the highlights of the museum's collection. Although the stone is covered in bumps and crevices, it is surprisingly smooth to the touch. Bao, who found the rare stone on a road in 2000, said that he has gained a reputation among collectors in the city because of the stone.

He has prepared for the opening of the museum since 2012 and in 2014, Bao was finally approved to open the museum in Zhujiajian.

Zhujiajian is a 4A-level scenic area with the 5A being the highest classification in China. As such, many tourists visit the museum during the travel seasons. In 2020, Pinghe Museum received more than 10,000 visitors.

Bao has also cooperated with the Zhujiajian Cultural Center to develop the museum into an educational base and experiencing center for intangible cultural heritage items.