Shaanxi History Museum

Introducing Shaanxi History Museum
Shaanxi History Museum is one of the first national museums with modern facilities in China. Shaanxi History Museum was opened to the public in 1991 and its appearance recalls the architectural style of the Tang Dynasty, with a hall in center, storied buildings in corners. Shaanxi was the ancient imperial capital of China, having been the seat of more than 13 feudal dynasties, including the Western Zhou, Qin, Western Han, Sui and Tang dynasties. Shaanxi History Museum is famous for its collection of Zhou Dynasty bronze wares, pottery figurines of Qin and Han Dynasties, Tang Dynasty gold and silver wares, and mural paintings from Tang Dynasty tombs.

Shaanxi History Museum Fast Facts
• Chinese Name: Shaanxi Li Shi Bo Wu Guan 陕西历史博物馆
• Best Time to Visit: All year round
• Recommended Visiting Hours: About 2 to 3 hours
• Opening Hours (closed on Monday)
  Mar 15 to Nov 14 08:30-18:00 (last entry at 16:30)
  Nov 15 to Mar 14 09:00-17:00 (last entry at 16:00)
• Entrance Fee:
  Basic Exhibition Hall: Free
  Treasures of the Great Tang Dynasty: CNY30
  Mural Paintings of the Tang Dynasty: CNY300
• Address: No. 91 Xiaozhai East Road, Yata District, Xian

What to expect at Shaanxi History Museum
Shaanxi History Museum occupies an area of 65,000 square meters (16 acres). Shaanxi History Museum is a grand complex of buildings imitating the architecture style of the Tang Dynasty (618-907). A colossal two-storied hip-roofed ancient Chinese palace style building stands in the center, and secondary pavilions of varying heights are distributed orderly around it. With black, white and grey as the predominant colors, the buildings have a solemn and grandiose charm. Shaanxi History Museum is furnished with central air-conditioning and multi-functional lighting system to ensure the protection of the culture relics. Shaanxi History Museum boasts more than 1710,000 exhibits of different times and kinds. Among which 18 exhibits are classified as China’s National Treasure. Shaanxi History Museum is divided into the following three main exhibition halls: Basic Exhibition Hall, Theme Exhibition Halls, and Temporary Exhibition Hall.

Basic Exhibition Hall
The Basic Exhibition Hall is composed of the No 1 exhibition hall, the No 2 exhibition hall and the No 3 exhibition hall, marked by time order. The No 1 exhibition on the first floor hall displays the articles used during the period from 1.7 million years ago to 206 BC of the Qin Dynasty (221 BC-206 BC). This exhibition contains rough stone tools used by the ape man, the pottery, bronze sacrificial vessels, weapons and terracotta figures. By visiting the No 2 Exhibition Hall on the second floor, you will gain a general understanding of the historical process from 206 BC in the Han Dynasty (206 BC-220AD) to 589 AD in the Northern and Southern Dynasties (386-589). Papermaking, one of China’s great inventions, and some important historical events are portrayed on the scroll painting. The No 3 Exhibition Hall on the second floor is dedicated to articles in the dynasties: the Sui (581- 618), the Tang (618-907), the Song (960-1279), the Yuan (1271-1368), the Ming (1368-1644) and the Qing (1644-1911). The model of the grand Chang’an City (Xian) during the Sui and the Tang, the shiny silver and gold utensils, pottery figures and the high-quality chinaware all await to be relished by the eyes.

Theme Exhibition Halls
• Exhibition Hall for Mural Paintings of the Tang Dynasty
Murals from Tang Dynasty Tomb are most featured collections in Shaanxi History Museum. Covering over 1,000 square meters, there are about 600 murals themed with Tang-style architecture, concise but vivid human figures, distinguished featured wares and sprightly natural landscape. They make a great contribution to studying the social life especially the material life and spiritual pursuit of the nobilities.

• Exhibition Hall for Treasures of Great Tang
Tang Dynasty is the most powerful dynasty in China’s history and gold ware, silver wares and jade articles are the symbol of Tang Dynasty. In 1970, more than 1,000 relics were discovered in Hejia Village in Shaanxi and they are exhibited in Shaanxi History Museum. These exhibits attract a mass of history-enthusiasts with its high quality, ample variety and good protection.

Temporary Exhibition Hall
It is used for contemporary exhibitions of high quality. The duration of the exhibitions varies depending on the exhibition theme. The various exhibition themes, high-grade exhibition design and lively exhibition forms will surely please your eyes. Exhibitions of the frescos, the culture relics, the folkways, the fine arts and the calligraphy are conducted continuously.

How to get to Shaanxi History Museum

By Metro
Take Metro Line 2 or Line 3 to Xiaozhai Station. Walk about 11 minutes to get the Museum.
Take Metro Line 4 or Line 3 to Dayanta Station. Walk about 10 minutes to get the Museum.

By Bus
Take Bus No. K5, 19, 24, 26, 27, 30, 34, 271, 400, 401, 521, 527, 701, 710, 721, 722, or Tourism Line 8 (610) and get off at Cuihua Lu Station.

Additional travel advice on Shaanxi History Museum
• The Museum is closed on Monday expect Chinese public holidays.
• Ticket reservation should be made on official website in advance.
• The museum issues 6,000 free ticket a day (3,000 tickets in the morning and 3,000 tickets in the afternoon).
• Keep your passport on you to claim the ticket.
• Photography is permitted but using flash is prohibited.