The Shaanxi History Museum: A Journey Through 1 Million Years of History
Shaanxi History Museum, China’s first modern national-level museum standing on Xiaozhai East Road, to the northwest of the Giant Wild Goose Pagoda. Known as the “Pearl of Antiquity” and the “Treasure House of Chinese Civilization”, it houses more than 1.7 million pieces of cultural relics, from the primitive stone tools used by early humans, to the exquisite relics passed on from Xi‘an‘s 13 dynastic capitals (including the Zhou, Qin, Han, Sui, and Tang dynasties).
It was founded in 1983 and opened for visit in 1991. A little different from the Xi’an Museum, Shaanxi History Museum provides a broader and more comprehensive view of Xi’an’s ancient civilizations. The museum is 65,000 square meters large, and 8000 square meters for exhibition space. Its extensive collections show over 1 million years of human history. If Xi’an is a dreamed destination along the Silk Road trip, then Shaanxi History Museum is a must-see attraction on this land of old charming.
Fast Facts about Shaanxi History Museum
- Location: No. 91 Xiaozhai East Road, Yanta District, Xi’an, Shaanxi Province
- In Chinese: 陕西历史博物馆
- Tickets: Free (excluding some exhibition halls)
- Opening hours: Tuesday to Sunday. 8:30 AM – 6:00 PM (Last entry at 4:30 PM) for Summer (March 15 – November 14); 9:00 AM – 5:30 PM (Last entry at 4:00 PM) for Winter (November 15 – March 14)
- Time needed: 1-3 hours
Reservation Process
Reservations must be made in advance through the official website or WeChat official account “Shaanxi History Museum Ticketing System” to ensure entry. Online bookings can be made up to 7 days in advance, and tickets are only valid during the reserved time slot.
Layout & Architectural Features
The Shaanxi History Museum features a grand architectural design, modeled after the Tang Dynasty style, with a two-story main hall surrounded by four sacrificial halls. The design features symmetrical axes, offset heights, a central hall, and tall corner pavilions. The colours of the building are mainly black, white and grey, which produce an atmosphere of deplooming and clearness, ancient and beautiful.
The whole exhibition area of Shaanxi History Museum includes a preface hall, a basic exhibition, a thematic exhibitions, a temporary exhibitions, and a central hall which is an international exhibition hall. The basic exhibition has a title of “Ancient Civilization of Shaanxi,” covering an area of 4,600 square meters and consists of three exhibition halls. It is divided into 12 parts based on different dynasties. More than 2,000 rare, precious cultural relics are exhibited here.
What to See in the Museum – Highlights
Unique Artifacts Outside the Museum
Before entering the Shaanxi Provincial History Museum, don’t rush in—there are many ordinary yet precious cultural relics hidden outside the museum. On the eastern lawn lies a large stone with a significant background. It is a stone whale from Emperor Wu of Han’s Taiye Pool, AKA the “most low-key” cultural relic. A replica of this stone lies in the central pool, drawing a lot of attention from visitors. On each side of the pool are two large lawns. Both of them have a pair of stone horses that is said to once guard the tomb of Emperor Yizong of the Tang Dynasty.
Diverse Cultural Relics
The Shaanxi History Museum is home to a varied and impressive collection. The exhibition “Ancient Civilization of Shaanxi” presents a wide spectrum of cultural relics reflecting the changes in the historical past of Shaanxi.
The painted pottery basin with human and fish patterns from the Banpo site, the Western Zhou bronze vessel Qiang Pan, and the Tang Dynasty tri-colored camel figurine with musicians are just a few of the exquisite pieces that leave visitors in awe. The exhibition “Treasures of the Tang Dynasty—Cultural Relics from the Hejia Village Hoard” is a must-se, as national treasures like the agate cup with a gold-inlaid beast head, the gilded silver pot with a dancing horse holding a cup, and the mandarin duck lotus petal-patterned gold bowl are displayed there. All of them stand as a testimony to the luxury and artistic achievements of the Tang Dynasty.
Magnificent Murals
The Tang Mural Gallery is situated at the east side of the basement floor. The dim lighting inside the gallery creates an atmosphere akin to a mysterious ancient tomb. Murals from the Tang Dynasty Murals Collection, such as “Envoys” and “Palace Ladies,” demonstrate the prosperity of the Tang Dynasty. The gallery not only displays the glory of the ancient civilization, but can bring tourists back to the ancient capital as if time were reversed. Whether you are a history enthusiast or a curious traveler, Shaanxi History Museum provides an unforgettable experience of the Silk Road tour‘s legacy.
Best Time to Visit Shaanxi History Museum
The museum is located indoors, so it is basically suitable for visits all year round. However, it is essential to avoid visiting during the Chinese Spring Festival. During the winter, the number of visitors is relatively lower compared to the peak season. The best time to visit is after 2 p.m., when there are fewer crowds.
How to Get to
Shaanxi History Museum Transportation
| Mode of Transport | Detailed Info. |
| Subway | Take Metro Line 2 or Line 3 to Xiaozhai Station, exit from Exit D, and walk east along Xiaozhai East Road for about 800 meters to reach the destination. Alternatively, take Metro Line 3 or Line 4 to Dayanta Station, exit from Exit A, and walk west along Xiaozhai East Road for about 800 meters to get there. |
| Bus | Take buses No. 26, 5, 30, 24, 27, 401, 271, 521, Tourist Line 8, 19, 34, 400, 701, 527, etc., and get off at Shaanxi History Museum Station or Cuihua Road Station to reach the destination. |
Get to Shaanxi History Museum from Other Attractions
| From | How to get to |
| Xian North Railway Station | Subway 1: Take subway Line 2 from Xi’an North Railway Station to Xiaozhai Station. Walk east along Xiaozhai East Road to reach the Shaanxi History Museum.Subway 2: Take Line 4 from Xi’an North Railway Station to Dayanta station. The Shaanxi History Museum is just 10-minute walk west down Xiaozhai East Road. |
| Airport | Take the airport shuttle bus from Xian Xianyang International Airport directly to Shaanxi History Museum. |
| Muslim Quarter | Subway: Take Line 2 at the Bell Tower Subway Station near Muslim Street to Xiaozhai Station. Take Exit D and walk eastward along the Xiaozhai East Road for around 7 minutes.Bus: Take buses No. 12, 102, 46, or 604 from the Bell Tower South Station. Get off at Xiaozhai Station and walk east along Xiaozhai East Road for about 7 minutes to reach the Shaanxi History Museum. |
| Giant Wild Goose Pagoda | Walk north from Giant Wild Goose Pagoda along Yan Tower Road to Xiaozhai East Road, and then walk east along Xiaozhai East Road for about 10 minutes. |
| Terracotta Army | Subway: Walk from the Terracotta Army Station to the Zhicheng Transportation Hub Station, take Line 1 of the subway to Beidajie Station, then transfer to Line 2 and get off at Xiaozhai Station.Shuttle bus+subway: You can take a direct shuttle bus from the Terracotta army to the Bell Tower or Big Wild Goose Pagoda in the city center of Xi’an. Then take subway Line 2 or Line 3 to Xiaozhai Station. |
Nearby Attractions
- Muslim Quarter: Also known as Huimin Jie in Chinese Pingyin. A great ood streets to stroll down in Xi’an, full of delicious Islamic food and interesting culture.
- Giant Wild Goose Pagoda: A famous pagoda of Buddhism in the Tang Dynasty housing various scriptures and Buddhist relics that were imported from India. It is elegantly designed and is of considerable historical value.
Essential Travel Tips
- Admission to the museum is free and is open to the public from Tuesday through Sunday. But noted that it is closed all day on Monday.
- It is not allowed to use flash photography, eat and drink, and make loud noises or play around inside the exhibition halls.
