Northern Qi Dynasty Mural Museum: 2-Hour Efficient Viewing Guide

📍 The Taiyuan Northern Qi Dynasty Mural Museum, officially opened to the public just last December, is a specialized museum built on the original site of Xu Xianxiu's tomb. It primarily features Northern Dynasty tomb murals excavated from Lou Tomb, Jiuyuangang Tomb, and Shuiquanliang Tomb in Shanxi Province, allowing visitors to appreciate these thousand-year-old original murals up close. 📍 Ancient murals are not only the most direct way to understand the lives and beliefs of ancient people but also the best medium to appreciate their artistic imagination and aesthetic sense. 🎊 Preparation Before Visiting 📍 Historical background: Check out Chen Danqing's "Feast of Lines" on Bilibili, or "Meeting You in Shanxi" - Xu Xianxiu Tomb Mural episode 📍 Reservation: Follow the official account "Northern Qi Dynasty Mural Museum" to book free tickets up to 7 days in advance; book earlier for holidays. If daily reservations are full, there may be on-site tickets available - call the museum to inquire. 📍 Opening hours: 9:00-17:00 (last entry at 16:30), closed on Mondays (except public holidays). Check the official reservation page for closure updates. 📍 Transportation: Located in a remote area with inconvenient public transportation, relatively close to Double Pagoda Park and Taiyuan Station. Taxi or self-driving recommended! There's a parking lot at the entrance. If taking public transportation, the official recommendation is the Y7 tourist bus line. 📍 Storage: Free self-service lockers to the right of the main entrance 📍 Guide service: Gather at the entrance of Exhibition Hall 1. The free guided tour takes less than an hour (may vary depending on the guide). For more detailed information, consider hiring an external guide. There's no online audio guide on the official account, but audio guide devices are available for rent at CNY 20 each, with content mostly matching the exhibition panels. 🎊 Exhibition Halls & Featured Murals 🎢 The museum has three exhibition halls. Not very large - can be walked through in an hour, but appreciating everything in detail would take over 3 hours. 📍 Exhibition Hall 1 - Splendor of the Secondary Capital: History and cultural life of Jinyang, the Northern Qi Dynasty's secondary capital. [One] "Gate Tower" (replica) - the most complete architectural image discovered from the Northern Dynasties [Two] "Mounted Riders" (among China's first batch of cultural relics prohibited from being exhibited abroad, known as the "Chinese Mona Lisa" and "horse pooping") [Three] "Hunting Scene" [Four] "Ascension to Heaven" (highly recommended for art students! Ancient people's imagination truly exceeds expectations - the Wind God, Thunder God, Mountain Carrier, and Rain Master are all incredible) 📍 Exhibition Hall 2 - A Glimpse Through Millennia Original site of Xu Xianxiu's tomb and the museum's highlight. Main features include the tomb passage (viewed from a distance), the burial mound, and VR displays of the tomb chamber. 📍 Exhibition Hall 3 - Simple and Beautiful Northern Qi Dynasty mural art exhibition from Shanxi [One] "Seven Guests" - Lou Rui's tomb [Two] "Banquet Scene" - Shuiquanliang tomb 💕 Small TIPS [One] Have your driver drop you directly at the museum entrance (otherwise you'll need to walk up a slope); [Two] The technological displays and interactive exhibits in the museum are very interesting; [Three] The museum surroundings are still under construction with no dining options, so bring your own food; [Four] Consider visiting nearby Double Pagoda Park while you're in the area.