240317 Wuhan 2-Day Trip 01

【Introduction】: Visiting Wuhan in March, I returned to the place where I went to college, and everywhere I went brought back many memories. I spent 2 days visiting the Hubei Provincial Museum and the East Lake Cherry Blossom Garden. ⛺【Must-Visit Local Spot】: Hubei Provincial Museum 🛬【Travel Guide】: The first place I visited was the Hubei Provincial Museum. Although it is free, you need to make a reservation in advance. 1. The Hubei Provincial Museum mainly exhibits the culture of the Chu State during the Spring and Autumn and Warring States periods. The Chu people revered the phoenix, so the walls of the main hall are intricately carved with phoenix totems. 2. The highlight is the Zenghouyi Exhibition Hall. Zenghouyi was the ruler of the Zeng State (also known as the Sui State), a vassal state of the Zhou royal family. The artistic level of the bronze artifacts on display is breathtaking. There are many types of bronze artifacts, each with different shapes, giving me the impression that the life of ancient nobility was quite complicated, with different utensils for eating meat, rice, and drinking wine, all with strict hierarchical distinctions. Among them, the bronze chime bells are the largest and most complete musical instruments unearthed to date. The twelve-tone system is complete, and so far, the Zenghouyi chime bells have only been publicly played three times: the first time after they were unearthed and restored; the second time during the 35th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China in 1979; and the third time in 1997 for the symphony "1997: Heaven, Earth, and Man" to celebrate the return of Hong Kong. 3. A notable detail in this exhibition hall is that the bronze artifacts indicate that Zenghouyi enjoyed the "Nine Dings and Eight Gui" ritual, which was a privilege reserved for the Zhou king. According to the Zhou ritual and music system, vassals were only allowed to use "Seven Dings and Six Gui," reflecting the decline of the Zhou royal family in the late Zhou period and the common practice of vassals overstepping their bounds. 4. The treasure of the museum is the Sword of Goujian, King of Yue. A special exhibition hall is dedicated to displaying the Sword of Goujian, and there are always long lines of people waiting to see it. The exhibition area is crowded with people. The Sword of Goujian was unearthed from another noble's tomb (not King Goujian's tomb), and because it was a personal sword, it is very well-preserved and visibly sharp. In contrast, the Spear of Fuchai, King of Wu, displayed nearby, is much less popular. However, the Spear of Fuchai was actually used as a weapon, and you can see some nicks on the spearhead up close. 5. The chime bell performance at the Hubei Provincial Museum is highly recommended. I watched it when I was in college. It features traditional Chinese instruments, and the final piece is a modern symphony played with the chime bells. It is very enjoyable and interesting. However, tickets are limited and must be purchased in advance. I couldn't get a ticket this time because I was in line to see the Sword of Goujian. 🏨【Accommodation Guide】: No need to worry about accommodation. The metro is the best choice for city transportation. Wuhan's metro system is well-developed and can take you anywhere in the city. Driving and parking are very inconvenient. 🧡【Tips】: 1. Tickets for the chime bell performance are very limited and usually sell out in the morning. If you want to watch it, the first thing you should do when you enter the museum is to buy a ticket. 2. The line for the Sword of Goujian exhibition is very long. It is recommended to go during lunchtime when there are fewer people.