Shaanxi History Museum - Exhibitions, Collections, and Visiting Tips

Located in the northwest of the ancient Chinese capital, Xi'an, Shaanxi History Museum displays a microscopic picture of all the highlights throughout Chinese history. There are 1,717,950 cultural relics in Shaanxi History Museum, dating from ancient times to 1840. Full of ancient splendor and glamorous historic relics, the museum makes visitors curious to learn about the ancient side of Xi'an.

Special Experiences in Shaanxi History Museum

  • Visit the museum and learn about Xi’an’s 5,000-year history. Xi'an was the capital of 13 dynasties; splendid cultural relics form a special display of Xi'an's history.
  • Explore priceless treasures. Precious high-quality cultural relics from different dynasties will shock you.
  • Have a better understanding of Chinese culture. Shaanxi History Museum is like a microscopic map of Chinese civilization. Visiting it is one of the best ways to enjoy a Chinese cultural feast.
xian The gate of Shaanxi History Museum

Recommended Exhibition Halls

Shaanxi History Museum is a comprehensive history museum situated in one of the most ancient cities in Chinese history. It is divided into three sections: a permanent exhibition, a topical exhibition, and the latest exhibition.

The Most Recommended Exhibition — Permanent Exhibition

  • Area: 4,600 square meters
  • Collection: over 2,000 relics
  • Seven sections: the prehistoric period, the Zhou Dynasty, the Qin Dynasty, the Han Dynasty, the Southern and Northern Dynasties, the Sui and Tang dynasties, and the Song, Yuan, Ming, and Qing dynasties
  • The permanent exhibition is designed according to the Chinese history timeline and combines relics from every historical period. Containing seven famous dynasties' highlights, the permanent exhibition vividly reflects the highest economic level in ancient times and the splendid ancient culture of Shaanxi Province.
xian

Outstanding Sections

  • The Third Unit of the First Exhibition Hall -- Theme: the Eastern Empire Time: the Qin Dynasty (221–206 BC)
  • The Fourth Unit of the Second Exhibition Hall -- Theme: the great Han Dynasty Time: the Han Dynasty (206 BC – 220 AD)
  • The Sixth Unit of the Third Exhibition Hall -- Theme: the prosperous Tang Dynasty Time: the Tang Dynasty (618–907)

The Most Distinctive Hall — Mural Treasures' Hall in the Tang Dynasty

Murals from the Tang Dynasty are the most distinctive and precious treasures in Shaanxi History Museum. There are about 600 murals, which cover an area of over 1,000 square meters. These murals vividly depict the rituals, lifestyles, dress features, forms of entertainment, and architectural styles of the Tang Dynasty. Therefore, the murals in Shaanxi History Museum are an important form of data to research the people’s lifestyles during that period, particularly the nobility’s lifestyles and the spiritual ideals.

xian

The Great Archaeological Finding in the 20th Century — the Tang Heritage Exhibition

The Tang Dynasty was the strongest dynasty in Chinese history. Gold or silver vessels and jade wares were the typical representations of applied art. Therefore, when the Tang's heritage came to light, it became a highlight in Chinese archaeological findings. There are over 30 precious Tang Dynasty jade wares and gems displayed in this exhibition, including the key treasure of this museum — an agate cup fashioned to replicate a beast's head.

Top Recommended Collections

There are 1,717,950 cultural relics in Shaanxi History Museum, and 762 of them are classed as the most precious cultural relics in China.

Bronze Wares

  • Historic value: typical bronze wares from the Shang and Zhou dynasties; inscriptions with a high historic value

Murals from the Tang Dynasty

  • Number: over 400 murals
  • Information: The tomb's owners were key royal relatives or the most important official ministers in the Tang Dynasty.
xian

Pottery Figures from Various Dynasties

  • Classifications: civil and military officials, military guards, male and female waitresses, the heavenly king, horses, and other animals
  • Periods: the Qin, Han, Northern, Sui, Tang, Song, Yuan, Ming, and Qing dynasties
  • Features: Because of the advantaged position of the ancient capital, there are a number of high-quality pottery figures. The most famous pottery figures are from the Han and Tang dynasties

Ceramics from Various Dynasties

  • Number: over 5,000
  • Classifications: living tools, ornaments, and federal vessels
  • Recommended: Yangshao culture painted pottery from the prehistoric period, china from the Western Zhou Dynasty, glazed pottery from the Han Dynasty, Tang tricolor glazed ceramics, and blue porcelain from the Song kilns
xian

Visiting Tips

  • Area: 65,000 square meters
  • Entry is free: There are 6,000 free tickets available every day. Take a form of ID to pick up a ticket.
  • Opening hours (It is closed every Monday):
  • Winter (15th November to 14th March), 9am to 5:30pm
  • Summer (15th March to 14th November), 8:30am to 6pm
  • Location: 91 Xiaozhai East Road, Xi'an
  • Bus: Take bus 527, 610, 701, or 710, and get off at Cuihua Road Station.

Buy a Ticket to Skip a Long Queue

You may find that you have to wait in a long queue to get a free ticket when you arrive at the museum. Buying a ticket (30 yuan) is a wise idea so that you can skip a long and boring queue.

xian

Hire a Guide or Rent an Audio Guide

To better understand the splendid Chinese history and culture, hiring a guide or renting an audio guide is necessary.

Hire a Guide

  • Cost: permanent exhibition, 150 yuan for an English-speaking guide; the great Tang Dynasty topical exhibition, 100 yuan for an English-speaking guide. Contact us for hiring a more professional tour guide to visit the museum.

Rent an Audio Guide

  • Cost: 30 yuan with a deposit of 100 yuan
  • Languages: Chinese, English, French, Japanese, and Korean
  • Disadvantage: It's hard to hear when there are a lot of visitors.

Related Articles

Related Tours