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"Eight rivers surround Chang'an, the ancient imperial capital of a thousand years." Xi'an boasts a 3,000-year history as a city and over 1,100 years as a capital. As one of the cities with the most museums in China, you can stumble across one without even realizing it. For a quick overview of Xi'an's past and present, museums are a must-see.
As a major cultural and historical city, Xi'an has more than 100 museums of various sizes. The well-known ones include the Terracotta Warriors and Horses Museum of the Qin Shihuang Mausoleum and the Shaanxi Provincial History Museum... These must-visit museums will be crowded during holidays, so today I will list some niche museums for you to avoid the crowds and learn about this thousand-year-old capital.
The Xi'an Museum, a comprehensive museum complex encompassing historical sites, scenic spots, and urban gardens, is renowned for its precious cultural relics, the millennium-old Tang Dynasty pagoda, the melodious morning bell of the Wild Goose Pagoda, and its beautiful gardens.
The scenic area consists of three parts: the cultural relics exhibition area, the Small Wild Goose Pagoda, and the Jianfu Temple. The Small Wild Goose Pagoda and the ancient bell of Jianfu Temple are collectively known as the "Yanta Morning Bell", which is one of the Eight Scenic Spots of Guanzhong.
Cultural Relics Exhibition Hall: With the theme of "Ancient Capital Xi'an", it is divided into two parts: "Millennium Ancient Capital" and "Imperial Capital".
The "Millennium Ancient Capital" mainly reflects the scale and layout of the capitals of the Western Zhou, Qin, Han, Sui, Tang, Ming and Qing dynasties, as well as the development and changes of the city after the Tang Dynasty;
"Imperial Capital" combines the basic uses of cultural relics from various historical periods of Zhou, Qin, Han and Tang dynasties to reproduce the myriad aspects of life in the imperial capital from different perspectives.
Small Wild Goose Pagoda
When discussing the Small Wild Goose Pagoda, we can't help but mention the Big Wild Goose Pagoda. As we all know, the Big Wild Goose Pagoda was built during the Tang Dynasty to protect the Buddhist scriptures retrieved by Xuanzang. The Small Wild Goose Pagoda, on the other hand, was built for the Buddhist monk Yijing, who also traveled to India for many years and brought back over 400 Sanskrit scriptures. After returning to Chang'an, he presided over translation at Jianfu Temple. He became the most accomplished monk in Buddhism after Xuanzang. To preserve the Buddhist scriptures he brought back from India, he requested imperial funding to build the Jianfu Temple Pagoda. Because it was built later and was smaller in scale, it was named "Small Wild Goose Pagoda."
Kanfukuji Temple
One hundred days after Emperor Gaozong Li Zhi's death, the temple was built by royal relatives to offer blessings for him. It was originally named "Xianfu Temple." Later, it was changed to "Jianfu Temple." Jianfu Temple was originally located in the southern part of Kaihuafang in the Tang Dynasty's Chang'an City. In the late Tang Dynasty, Jianfu Temple was destroyed by war and later relocated to the pagoda courtyard where the Small Wild Goose Pagoda is located. This is the location you see today. Its current layout and scale date back to the Ming and Qing Dynasties.
Tips:
Tickets: Free (with ID card, one ticket per person), limited to 3,000 free tickets per day
Opening Hours:
[Peak Season: March 15th - October 31st] 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM (Clearance at 6:00 PM)
[Off-season: November 1st - March 14th] 9:00 AM - 4:30 PM (park clearance at 5:30 PM)
Closed every Tuesday (except national holidays)
Address: No. 72 West Youyi Road, Xi'an
transportation:
Public transportation: Take bus No. 7, 18, or 21 and get off at "Small Wild Goose Pagoda" station. It is a 5-minute walk away.
Subway: Take Subway Line 2 to Nanshaomen Station and walk for 7 minutes.
Play time reference: 2-3 hours
The Xi'an Stele Forest was founded in 1087 AD and has a history of more than 900 years. It was formerly the Shaanxi Provincial Museum. After the Shaanxi Museum opened in 1992, it became an independent Stele Forest Museum.
The Forest of Steles Museum is an art treasure house with the oldest and largest collection of ancient Chinese steles and stones. The name "Forest of Steles" means "steles and stones clustered like a forest." Therefore, the collections in the Forest of Steles Museum are all stones of various sizes.
According to statistics, the Forest of Steles houses over 3,000 precious stone carvings dating from the Han to the Qing dynasties, including authentic works by renowned calligraphers such as Yan Zhenqing, Liu Gongquan, Ouyang Xun, and Mi Fu. Spanning two millennia, the collection boasts a remarkable collection of works both domestically and internationally, and is considered the nation's largest in both quantity and quality.
If you are a calligraphy enthusiast, then the Xi'an Forest of Steles is definitely a must-visit place in your lifetime. The various stone tablets will definitely make you love them and find it difficult to move away. A whole day may not be enough. It is simply a dream journey.
Tips:
Tickets:
[Peak season: March 1st - end of November] 65 yuan/person
[Off-season: December 1st - end of February of the following year] 50 yuan/person
Opening Hours:
[Peak Season: March 1st - End of November] 8:00 AM - 5:45 PM (Closes at 6:30 PM)
[Off-season: December 1st - end of February] 8:00--17:15 (closes at 18:00)
Address: Xi'an Beilin Museum is located at No. 15 Sanxue Street, Xi'an, inside Wenchang Gate of Xi'an's south city wall.
transportation:
Public transportation: Take bus No. 14, 40, or 208 in the city and get off at Wenchangmen Station. It is a 3-minute walk away.
Subway: Take Line 2 to Yongningmen Station and walk for 10 minutes to the destination
Play time reference: 1 hour
Speaking of Banpo, everyone must be familiar with it. It is the place in our history textbooks - the ruins of a Neolithic village.
The site is a typical Neolithic Yangshao culture matriarchal settlement site in the Yellow River Basin, with a history of more than 6,000 years. It reflects the production and life, economic structure, marriage status, customs and habits of the time.
Banpo Museum is divided into three parts: the exhibition of unearthed cultural relics, the site hall and the auxiliary exhibition.
The unearthed cultural relics are displayed in the first and second exhibition rooms. The two exhibition rooms mainly display the production tools, daily necessities and artworks used by primitive ancestors unearthed from the Banpo site and Jiangzhai site.
The main hall of the ruins is part of a primitive village. Early houses were semi-pit-style, meaning half were underground, with the pit walls forming the walls, and the remaining half exposed above ground covered with a roof. These houses were low and damp. It was not until the late primitive period that walls were built on the ground, with wooden pillars supporting the roof, which later became the basic model for traditional Chinese housing.
The site also includes storage cellars and public warehouses. These used cellars, pottery kilns, tombs and other relics of the ancestors vividly and concretely show the arduous journey of the Banpo people in developing prehistoric civilization.
The auxiliary displays are in the third and fourth exhibition rooms, which usually host special exhibitions related to prehistory.
Tips:
Tickets:
[Peak season: March 1st - November 30th] 65 yuan/person
[Off-season: December 1st - end of February] 45 yuan/person
Opening Hours:
[Peak Season: March 1st - November 30th] 08:00-17:30 (last admission at 17:00)
[Off-season: December 1st - end of February] 09:00-17:00 (last admission at 16:30)
Address: No. 155, Banpo Road, Xi'an
transportation:
Bus: Routes 105, 406, and 913 provide direct access;
Subway: Take Subway Line 1 and get off at Banpo Station. It is a 10-minute walk to the destination.
Play time reference: 1-2 hours
When talking about the Guanzhong Folk Art Museum, some people compare it with the Terracotta Warriors of Qin Shihuang and call it the "Terracotta Warriors on Earth."
Although it sounds a bit exaggerated at first, but when you actually walk in here, you will see a dazzling array of cultural relics and labor tools that have been passed down in Guanzhong for thousands of years. You may feel that it is not an exaggeration to call it "Terracotta Warriors on the Ground". Here you can not only learn about Guanzhong's thousands of years of culture and labor tools, but also understand Guanzhong's thousands of years of culture and folk customs through these objects.
I think it is a well-deserved priceless treasure to be able to collect the historical relics, various sculptures, calligraphy and paintings of Guanzhong and build a museum about Chinese cultural heritage.
Tips:
Ticket price: ¥120
Opening hours: 08:30～18:00
Address: No. 1, South Wutaishan Road, Wutai Ancient Town, Chang'an District, Xi'an
Transportation: Subway: Take Subway Line 2 to the terminal at Quweiqu South, then take a taxi
Play time reference: 1-2 hours
The Shaanxi Natural History Museum is adjacent to the Xi'an TV Tower. The building is spherical in shape and is also a landmark building in Xi'an.
The exhibition hall houses biological fossils dating back billions of years and more than 20,000 specimens, adding indispensable taste and profound cultural heritage to Xi'an, an international metropolis.
The exhibition hall currently consists of three halls and two theaters, namely the Nature Exhibition Hall, the Light of the Sea of Coal Exhibition Hall, the Science and Technology Exhibition Hall, the Dome Cinema, and the 5D Motion Cinema.
The Natural History Museum includes the Geological Wonders, Paleontological Gallery, Magical Qinling Mountains, Insect Kingdom, and Light of Life Exhibition Hall. It mainly displays more than 230 rare animal specimens such as giant pandas and crested ibis, as well as fossils of paleontology dating back hundreds of millions of years, such as ichthyosaurs, pterosaurs, Mamenchisaurus, turtles, dragonflies, etc., as well as precious plant specimens such as Unifolia.
The Light of the Sea of Coal Exhibition Hall is the only exhibition hall in Shaanxi Province that focuses on displaying the formation, exploration, mining, utilization and ecological protection of coal. It consists of five major parts: "Gifts from Nature", "Exploring Treasures in the Earth", "Coal Mining Benefits the World", "Enlightening Future Generations" and "Utilizing Nature".
The first floor of the Science and Technology Exhibition Hall is a science and technology corridor with 54 high-tech exhibits such as robot Rubik's Cube solving, flight experience, 3D printer, etc. There is a sound and light tunnel on the second floor.
The dome cinema is located on the third floor of the Science and Technology Exhibition Hall. It is the only spherical cinema in Northwest China with 175 seats and a 30-degree tilted screen. The visual experience is very shocking and spectacular.
The Shaanxi Natural History Museum is a haven for young people and tourists alike to learn about the history of nature and connect with nature. Through innovative science plays and shows, it inspires children's interest in and passion for cutting-edge science and technology. If you're traveling with children, this is a must-see.
Tips:
Tickets:
Tickets for the Nature Pavilion are RMB 30, half-price tickets are RMB 15, and tickets for the Science and Technology Pavilion are RMB 20, half-price tickets are RMB 10, and tickets for the Dome Cinema + Science and Technology Pavilion are RMB 40, half-price tickets are RMB 35.
Note: Ticket offices are located in the Science and Technology Pavilion and the Nature Pavilion. There is no ticket office at the Dome Cinema.
Opening Hours:
Wednesday to Sunday 9:00-17:00 (ticket sales stop at 16:00)
Closed on Mondays and Tuesdays
Address: No. 88, Chang'an South Road, Xi'an
transportation:
Bus: Take Bus No. 9, 215, 217, 239, 616, etc. to Convention and Exhibition Center Station or Eighth Hospital Station, then walk to Shaanxi Natural History Museum and take a boat trip around the island.
Subway: Metro Line 2: Convention and Exhibition Center Station Exit B directly into the exhibition hall
Play time reference: 1-3 hours
In recent years, people have paid more and more attention to intangible cultural heritage, because it is the crystallization of the wisdom of generations of ancestors, and it is not easy to be passed down to this day.
Although the Xi'an Intangible Cultural Heritage Museum is not large, it houses more than 20,000 works and tools provided by more than 1,000 folk artists and inheritors in Xi'an, including semi-finished products, raw materials, and graphic materials.
The exhibition hall is mainly divided into three parts: the ninth floor is the first exhibition hall, which mainly displays Xi'an's national intangible cultural heritage projects; the eighth floor is the second exhibition hall, which mainly displays Xi'an's provincial intangible cultural heritage projects; the seventh floor is the third exhibition hall, which displays some Xi'an's municipal intangible cultural heritage projects.
The museum displays many models carved by craftsmen, the carvings are very delicate;
Here you can see many old objects that are hard to find in modern life, such as spinning wheels, hand-pushed wheelbarrows, bellows, straw sandals, granaries, compass carts, blacksmithing and ancient papermaking tools, as well as traditional paper-cutting, embroidery, kites, dough figurines, clay figurines, doll whistles and walnut carvings.
The artistic spirit and craftsmanship exuded by these things left by our ancestors make people wonder: "Are we making progress now? Or are we regressing?"
Tips:
Admission: Free
Opening Hours:
Tuesday-Sunday: 10:00-16:00
Closed on Mondays
Address: No. 1, Wenyi North Road (Inside Xi'an People's Art Museum)
transportation:
Bus: Take bus No. 14, 40, 208, 213, 258, etc. and get off at Wenchangmen Station.
Subway: Take Line 2 to Yongningmen Exit D2 and walk for 15 minutes
Play time reference: 1 hour
With the airing of "The Longest Day in Chang'an," the Tang West Market in Xi'an has also topped trending searches and become a hot topic among netizens. As the starting point and center of the Silk Road, the Tang West Market served as a window to the world of Chang'an during the heyday of the Tang Dynasty and a hub for political, commercial, and cultural exchange between the Western Regions.
The Tang West Market Museum is a unique modern site museum and China's first and only non-state-owned "national first-class museum". Its main themes are the culture of the prosperous Tang Dynasty, the culture of the Silk Road and commercial culture.
The museum houses over 20,000 cultural relics, including bronzes, ceramics, pottery figurines, gold and silver wares, silk, jade wares, currencies from different historical periods and countries, as well as epitaphs, religious and architectural relics, dating from the Shang and Zhou dynasties to the Ming and Qing dynasties.
The museum is mainly divided into five exhibition areas: basic exhibition, special exhibition, temporary exhibition, special exhibition and Silk Art Space Experience Center.
The basic exhibits introduce the important status of Xishi as the starting point of the Silk Road in history, the types of trade, commercial culture and prosperous scenery, reflecting the culture of all aspects of life in the prosperous Tang Dynasty.
The special exhibition showcases the colorful monetary culture and reflects the historical glory of the "Silk Road".
The temporary exhibition showcases China's excellent traditional culture and the civilization and customs of the Silk Road countries.
The special exhibition preserves several historical events and social phenomena. These epitaphs provide valuable new materials for the study of ancient society, literature and art, especially the history of the Sui and Tang dynasties.
The Silk Space Experience Center provides visitors with an interactive experience platform, which is an extension of the Silk Road Cultural Exhibition and a real experience of silk art and creative activities.
While the former prosperity of the Tang West Market has faded, its beautiful memories endure. At the museum, you can journey back in time to the heyday of Chang'an and relive the splendor of the Tang Dynasty West Market, the starting point of the Silk Road.
Tips:
Tickets:
Permanent exhibitions and temporary exhibitions (1st to 3rd floor exhibitions) are open to the public free of charge (one ticket per person, with ID card required). A maximum of 2,000 free tickets are issued per day.
Special exhibition ticket price: 60 yuan/person (temporarily half price, i.e. 30 yuan/person).
Ticket price for the epitaph collection: 150 yuan per person (please make an appointment with the ticket office in advance).
Opening Hours:
Winter: 9:00-17:00 (ticketing stops at 16:00)
Summer: 9:00-17:30 (ticketing stops at 16:30)
Closed every Monday and New Year's Eve (except national holidays)
Address: No. 118, Laodong South Road, Lianhu District, Xi'an City, Shaanxi Province
transportation:
Bus: Take bus No. 224 to Zhulixiangkou, Qujiangchi South Road, and walk for 5 minutes to the destination
Subway: Take Line 4 to Qujiangchi West Exit C and walk 2.2 kilometers to the destination
Play time reference: 1-3 hours
Qin Shi Huang is a familiar figure. Qin Ershi (Qin Ershi) was his eighteenth and youngest son. Hu Hai, also known as the Second Emperor, was the second emperor of the Qin Dynasty. Qin Ershi's life was short, ending at the age of 24. This explains the museum's name, "Qin Shang," where "Shang" means premature death.
The park is divided into two major areas: the exhibition hall area and the ruins area. The exhibition hall area mainly includes the visitor service center, the Qin Shang Exhibition Hall, and the Qujiang New District Unearthed Cultural Relics Exhibition Hall. The ruins area includes the original remains of the mountain gate, the main hall, and the tomb of Emperor Qin II, Hu Hai.
The Qin Shang Hall uses the major historical events of Qin Ershi's life as the main narrative line, and the rise and fall of Qin civilization as the background clues of the entire story. While displaying the Qin Dynasty civilization, it also objectively describes the historical process of Qin civilization from its peak to its decline under the rule of Qin Ershi.
A modern exhibition hall combining historical stories with contemporary technology was created using sound, light, electricity, images, models, props, cultural relics and other technological means.
Tips:
Ticket price: 20 yuan/ticket
Opening Hours:
Summer 9:00-18:00 (ticket sales end at 17:30)
Winter 9:00-17:30 (ticket sales stop at 17:00)
Address: No. 252, Qujiangchi South Road, Yanta District, Xi'an
Transportation: Bus: Take bus No. 24, 43, 106, 201, 322 in the city and get off at "Datang Xishi" station. It is a 2-minute walk away.
Play time reference: 1 hour
"Qin bricks and Han tiles" hold an important position in the architectural and ceramics industry of the Qin and Han dynasties, and are of great value for artistic appreciation and cultural research. The so-called "Qin bricks and Han tiles" not only refer to the bricks of the Qin Dynasty and the tiles of the Han Dynasty, but also to the glory and prosperity of architectural decoration during this period that later generations have used to commemorate and illustrate.
Qin bricks and Han tiles, as distinct cultural symbols and important representatives of the flourishing Qin and Han dynasties in China, reflect ancient Chinese culture, life, and historical scenes. Every brick and tile here carries a profound cultural heritage and interprets thousands of years of history.
Each tile is a page of history, an intriguing story; therefore, when we appreciate the art of tile ends, it is like reading a history of ancient Chinese civilization.
Tips:
Ticket price: 35 yuan per person
Opening hours: 9:00-17:00 (open all year round)
Address: Dahan Shanglinyuan (Duling) Cultural and Ecological Scenic Area, No. 1 Yanxiang Road, Qujiang New District, Xi'an
Transportation: Take bus No. 525 from the city center to the "Han Xuandi Mausoleum" stop and walk for 3 minutes to the destination
Play time reference: 1-3 hours
The Daming Palace Ceramic Art Museum is located just a short walk from the Danfeng Gate of the Daming Palace. While it may seem unassuming, many tourists passing by might miss it. However, in an ancient city like Xi'an, with its rich history and profound cultural heritage, this privately run museum shouldn't be underestimated.
The museum is divided into two parts: the exhibition hall and the boutique hall; the exhibition hall is divided into three exhibition units: pottery, Tang Sancai and porcelain from famous kilns in history. The collections range from primitive society to modern society, spanning more than 5,000 years; the boutique hall mainly exhibits blue and white porcelain from the Yuan and Ming dynasties, among which several Yuan blue and white porcelains are extremely precious.
If you love ceramic culture, this is a good place to visit and learn about the ceramic art of various dynasties.
Tips:
Tickets: Exhibition Hall: 30 yuan/person
Boutique Hall: 100 yuan/person
Opening Hours:
Summer: 8:30-18:00
Winter: 9:30-17:30
Address: No. 585, Ziqiang East Road, inside the palace wall east of Danfeng Gate, Daming Palace Ruins Park
Transportation: Take bus No. 46, 2, 216, or 703 to Daming Palace National Heritage Park
Subway: Take Line 2 to Anyuanmen Exit B and walk 1.8 km
Play time reference: 1-2 hours
