When I visited Jiayuguan city of Gansu province last summer, I was pleasantly surprised to find a Great Wall Museum outside the historical fort that marked the western frontier of the empire in ancient times.

From complete bilingual explanations to a convenient layout of well-kept exhibits, the museum was a welcome departure from the usual neglect of local ones in remote areas of the country.

So it was a waste that the Jiayuguan museum seemed virtually empty during a peak travel season.