37 museums in Beijing including the Beijing Art Museum, the National Museum of Modern Chinese Literature and Mei Lanfang Memorial Museum will open for free Monday to celebrate the International Museum Day which falls on May 18 every year.

Beijing Art Museum. [File Photo:ctrip]

A series of cultural activities will also be held around May 18, said Yu Ping, spokesman of Beijing's Administration of Culutral Heritage.

The capital's 64 museums will gather at the Beijing Ancient Architecture Museum to showcase their exhibits on Monday. At the same time, a large exhibition named "60 Years of Beijing Museums" will also be staged at the museum, Yu added.

Well-known antique experts will be present at the architecture museum to evaluate collections for antique lovers.

International Museum Day was designed by the International Council of Museums in 1978 to celebrate the role played by museums around the world and to help raise public awareness on the roles and functions of museums in societies.