#Shaanxi Archaeology Museum Travel Recommendations for 2024 (Updated in Jul)
#3 of Family-friendly Attractions in Shaanxi
Address:
Northeast side of the intersection of Wenyuan South Road and Zhongnan Avenue, Chang'an District, Xi'an
Opening times:
Open today at 09:00-17:00(Admission ends at 16:20)Opening Soon
Recommended sightseeing time:
2-4 hour
Phone:
029-89251666
Shaanxi Archaeological Museum
The Shaanxi Archaeological Museum is located on the northeast side of the intersection of Wenyuan South Road and Zhongnan Avenue in Chang'an District, Xi'an City, Shaanxi Province, covering an area of 250 mu, with a total construction area of 35,000 square meters, an indoor exhibition area of 5,800 square meters, and an outdoor exhibition area of 10,000 square meters. It is the first archaeological-themed museum in China.
In 2012, Shaanxi Province began to prepare for the construction of China's first archaeological museum. On April 28, 2022, the Shaanxi Archaeological Museum opened for trial operation. As of April 2022, the Shaanxi Provincial Institute of Archaeology, the construction entity of the museum, has collected over 200,000 cultural relics and artifacts unearthed from sites and tombs dating back to the Paleolithic era and from various historical periods.
The permanent exhibition of the Shaanxi Archaeological Museum is themed 'The Glorious Chapter of Archaeology in Shaanxi,' divided into four sections: 'Archaeological Journey,' 'Cultural Lineage,' 'Archaeological Discoveries,' and 'Cultural Heritage Science and Technology.' The Shaanxi Archaeological Museum plays a significant role in enhancing the protection, utilization, and management of Shaanxi's cultural heritage, strengthening the international influence of Chinese culture, and promoting the development of Shaanxi's cultural industry.
Location: Northeast side of the intersection of Wenyuan South Road and Zhongnan Avenue, Chang'an District, Xi'an City, Shaanxi Province
Transportation
Route 1: Metro Line 2 Weiqu South D Exit -- Bus 738 to Wenyuan Road South
Route 2: Metro Line 2 Changning Palace B Exit - Recommended to take a taxi
Isabella Thompson+7
The breathtaking photo spots you missed in Xi'an
The breathtaking photo spots you missed in Xi'an
The beauty of Guanzhong has settled in the passage of time, enveloping a thousand years. Despite the passage of time, traces can still be found everywhere. If you come to Xi'an, if you go to Nanwutai to appreciate the immortal aura of the Zhongnan Mountains, it is recommended to visit the Guanzhong Folk Museum. The museum features elements of ancient Guanzhong architecture from the Zhou, Qin, Han, Tang, Ming, and Qing dynasties, a botanical garden design with plants flowering and fruiting in each season, set against the majestic Qinling Mountains, offering a rich aesthetic experience that dazzles the eyes. A complete collection of ancient-style materials for photography is available. Although the ticket price is slightly higher compared to other public museums in Xi'an, what you see, feel, learn, and capture is absolutely worth it.
Each courtyard has its own style, but there is one obvious common feature: the brick carvings on the buildings are extremely vivid and interesting. In the third picture, 'Where does the phoenix dwell?', I was simply stunned! Isn't that the prototype of the phoenix of Shen Li, the great king Shen? It's exactly the same!
NebulaHunter_234
The first national archaeology-themed museum in China (Xi'an)
The location is quite remote, nearly thirty kilometers from the city center. It opened to the public in 2022. Although it's not as popular as the provincial museum, its fame is growing day by day.
This is a museum specifically focused on archaeology. The main hall is divided into three floors, with permanent exhibitions divided into four sections: 'Archaeological Process,' 'Cultural Lineage,' 'Archaeological Discoveries,' and 'Cultural Heritage Science and Technology.' From the names of the exhibition halls, it is clear that this is a professional exhibition venue that uses cultural relics as a medium to showcase the results of a series of works by cultural heritage workers in the archaeological surveys, explorations, excavations, and research on the land of Sanqin.
Compared to the China Archaeology Museum that opened last year in Beijing, whether in terms of scale, the preciousness of the cultural relics, or the level of facilities, it is slightly inferior. However, the overall level is still leading in China . But it's understandable, one is collecting treasures from all over the country, and the other can only collect from within the province. It is worth mentioning that the Shaanxi Archaeological Museum has done a very good job with interactive experiences, which are suitable for children to visit without feeling too dull. Moreover, the overall layout of the exhibition is clearer and definitely worth a visit.
The exhibits may not be as spectacular as those in the Shaanxi History Museum, but there are quite a few highlights, especially some ceramic relics that are particularly outstanding. Images 1-10 have selected some ceramic relics that I personally find quite exquisite, and those interested can pay attention.
Please note that the museum is closed every Wednesday. Remember to make a reservation in advance to avoid a wasted trip, especially since the location is indeed quite remote
agleam.brianna
Let's talk about the burial figurines of the Tang Dynasty, Tri-colored glazed pottery of the Tang Dynasty is not just for burial purposes!
During the Tang Dynasty, the practice of lavish burials was prevalent. The Tang people would place tomb-guarding beasts and Heavenly King figurines symmetrically inside the tomb gates during burials.
The tomb-guarding beasts originated from the ancient Chinese directional deities, considered to be the spirits of mountains and rivers, serving the purpose of guarding the tomb and warding off evil. Scholars have verified that the four guardian spirits of the Tang Dynasty tombs can be identified as 'Dang Cun', 'Dang Ye', 'Zu Ming', and 'Zu Si'.
Among them, 'Dang Cun' and 'Dang Ye' are a pair of Heavenly King figurines, 'Zu Ming' is a beast-headed tomb-guarding creature, hence it can be inferred that 'Zu Si' is the human-headed tomb-guarding creature.
The Heavenly King figurines are a new type of burial figurine that appeared during the Tang Dynasty, with one leg standing on the body of a bull, and the other stepping on the bull's head. The military attire worn by the Heavenly King figurines is similar to that of the contemporary warriors, reflecting the sinicization and secularization of Buddhism, and they are full of a sense of power and imagination.
Pagoda-shaped jars, which are made in the shape of pagodas, were mainly used as burial objects during the Tang Dynasty.
Tri-colored glazed pottery of the Tang Dynasty belongs to lead-glazed ceramics and was not solely used for burial purposes; it was also used for daily life and exported to foreign countries.
The figurines of the Tang tri-colored glazed pottery often have 'open faces', meaning that the heads of the figurines are not glazed, and after firing, facial features are painted on with pigments, making them more vivid and lifelike.
enigma_1528
The Significance of Archaeology—Giving the Past a Future
Giving the Past a Future... I really like this motto of the Shaanxi Archaeological Museum. A few simple words not only express the significance of archaeology but also make the entire history become three-dimensional and extended. Mr. Liang Qichao once said in 'The Youth China': 'There are thousands of ages past, and the wilderness is vast. The future is like the sea, and the days to come are long.' Perhaps, only with such a breadth of spirit, standing from the perspective and height of history, can one face life objectively and broadly, can the past have a future, and the future have long days to come... Shaanxi Archaeological Museum
ALLEN PITTMAN
The golden age of Chang'an, this is the prosperous Tang Dynasty!
The entertainment of the Great Tang, after accumulating momentum from the Qin and Han dynasties, also introduced exotic skills from the Western Regions, offering a rich variety of genres. In addition to singing, dancing, acrobatics, and magic, there were also instrumental music, comedy, and animal training.
The venues for watching these entertainments became increasingly fixed, mainly concentrated in palaces, temples, and markets. Emperor Xuanzong of Tang was known as the 'Music Emperor', fond of string and woodwind music, skilled at playing the drum, established the Imperial Music Bureau, and set up the 'Pear Garden'.
Horse riding became a fashion in the Tang Dynasty, with both men and women wearing foreign attire, riding fine horses, and civil and military officials were all keen on horseback riding. The people of the Tang Dynasty were very fond of foreign horses, and besides tributes and gifts, they often exchanged horses through trade.
The practice of hunting was prevalent in the Tang Dynasty, and ordinary people could also participate in hunting activities, regardless of gender.
Hunting activities not only maintained ritual and military training purposes but also had an entertainment function, which was deeply loved by the rulers. The royal nobility often equipped themselves with 'animal trainers' during hunts, bringing along hunting dogs, falcons, and other animals to assist in the hunt.
There were numerous Buddhist temples in Chang'an, showing characteristics of being densely distributed in the west and sparse in the east, dense in the north and sparse in the south. The Qinglong Temple, an important site for the Esoteric Buddhist sect, and the Ximing Temple, one of the three major translation sites in Chang'an, were both famous Buddhist temples in Chang'an.
Qinglong Temple was the 'ancestral temple of Esoteric Buddhism' in Japan, and among the Japanese 'Eight Entrants to Tang', six had studied there. Dao Ci once studied at the 'national translation site' Ximing Temple, and after returning to Japan, he became a promoter of the Japanese monastic discipline reform. Taking Ximing Temple as a model, he presided over the reconstruction of the Da'an Temple in Heijō-kyō.
MichelleParker234$
If you can't make a reservation for Shaanxi History Museum, come here and you'll still feast your eyes!
Nowadays, it's getting harder and harder to book a ticket for the Shaanxi History Museum, so let me recommend this museum—the Shaanxi Archaeological Museum.
It is the first archaeological museum in China that took ten years to prepare, housing over 200,000 cultural relics unearthed from sites and tombs dating back to the Paleolithic Age, covering various historical periods.
The museum's important collections include a small bronze pot from the Spring and Autumn period Ruiguo site, used for holding men's skincare powder or cream (photo 4), the tomb epitaph of Luo Wanshun, the Twenty-Eight Mansions chart, and many more. Among them, you'll find numerous adorable and durable bronze, pottery, and clay artifacts.
If you can't book a visit to the Shaanxi History Museum, coming here will still be a visual feast, and compared to the visiting lineup at the Shaanxi History Museum, it's relatively quieter here, at least there's no need to queue 😄.
📍The Shaanxi Archaeological Museum is located on the northeast side of the intersection of Wenyuan South Road and Zhongnan Avenue in Chang'an District, Xi'an City, Shaanxi Province.
🚌In Xi'an city, take the subway line 2 to Weiqu South Station, then transfer to bus 960 to Zhoujiazhuang Station, and walk south for 800 meters; or transfer to bus 738 to Wenyuan Road South Entrance Station.
🅿️There is a paid parking lot about 200 meters to the right after turning right at the crossroad to the right of the museum's main gate (museum's west gate).
🕙9:00-17:00, stop checking tickets at 16:00, closed on Wednesdays (except for statutory holidays).
💰Free
EthanHenderson18
Shaanxi Archaeological Museum
Life is too short, yet a moment can feel so long. Thankfully, those silent fragments are salvaged by warm, living hands from the long river of history, even if it takes a lifetime, the torch is passed on. What dazzles is not just the artifacts, but the enduring spirit of Chinese civilization that shines through the ages. Archaeology gives the past a future.
Transportation: Self-driving parking fee is 10 yuan per day
Explanation: A gentleman is extensive in learning. Praise our guide for this tour, fantastic~ Cultural and creative products: There are many notebooks, but the ones with the characteristics of the Shaanxi Archaeological Museum were only the Xizun notebooks for 29 yuan each when we visited. I bought a set of fridge magnets but forgot how much they cost. Stamps: 18 stamps in total, all in all, the trip was worth it~
Benjamin Hernandez
Shaanxi Archaeological Museum
The Shaanxi Archaeological Museum is located in Chang'an District, Xi'an. On April 28, 2022, the Shaanxi Archaeological Museum opened to the public, showcasing the development history of Shaanxi archaeology and narrating the theoretical methods of the discipline. The exhibitions here are themed 'Archaeological Holy Land: Splendid Shaanxi,' displaying a total of 4218 groups of 5215 cultural relics. If you can't make a short-term reservation for the Shaanxi History Museum, you might consider visiting the Archaeological Museum.
TrekkingTales
Archaeological Holy Land ~ Shaanxi Archaeological Museum
As a display of the annual archaeological achievements of the Shaanxi Archaeological Research Institute. In terms of exhibition methods, visitor experience, and quality of exhibits, it has taken a big step forward.
🌵🌵【How to get there]??
🌺Route 1 Subway Line 2 Wei Qu South D Exit - 738 Bus Wen Yuan Road South Exit (40min per bus)
🌸Route 2 Subway Line 2 Changning Palace B Exit - It is recommended to take a taxi, which will save some time.
🌲🌲
The exhibition hall needs to be booked in advance, please remember to bring your ID when entering the park. (!!
Tickets are released at 8 o'clock every day, and can be booked 5 days in advance)
🌳🌳【Visiting Time]
The exhibition hall is open from 09:00 to 17:00, and stops checking tickets and admitting visitors at 16:20. Shaanxi Archaeological Museum sos Wednesday!!! Closed on Wednesdays
You can book an explanation on the right hand side of the entrance, human explanation: cost: 200 yuan per batch (no more than 10 people)
Electronic explanation: cost: 30 (an additional deposit of 100 is required) both can be paid electronically
🌴🌴【Cultural and Creative Shop & Stamping]
You can stamp in the cultural and creative area on the first floor, you can buy a notebook on site or bring your own, and there is also cultural and creative ice cream for sale.
🌿🌿❗❗Special attention
1、There is no place to eat nearby, it is recommended to bring your own lunch, or go in the morning, when there are fewer people.
2、The exhibition hall closes at 17:00 in the afternoon, and stops checking tickets at 16:20, pay attention to the time, the explanation is usually about 2 hours.
3、Bring your own snacks and water, the tour will be longer.
4、The signal in the museum is poor, you can connect to Wi-Fi
5、If possible, be sure to rent an explanation, otherwise you will really regret it.
☘️☘️
The Xiangji Temple is the closest to the museum, one of the famous eight temples of Fanchuan in the Tang Dynasty
TIFFANY MYERS
Xi'an Treasure Land | Shaanxi Archaeological Museum②
| Shaanxi Archaeological Museum②. {Shaanxi Archaeological Museum②} The archaeological museum is divided into three floors, plus an ancient mural temporary exhibition, the content is exceptionally rich. My daughter and I like to appreciate the cultural relics freely and quietly, so we each borrowed a guide. The guide content is complete and orderly, following the category of the exhibition hall, you can hear detailed explanations (except for temporary exhibitions). We actually saw Yan Zhenqing's early calligraphy in it. If you study Yan's style, this is an interesting example. Next door is Shangguan Wan'er's tombstone inscription, which is a good supplement for my daughter who knows her appearance but does not understand her bones.
The museum has a lot of popular science about archaeology, knowledge, literature and equipment, and many interactive installations, which are very suitable for children's research and exploration. My daughter studied the 28 constellations and the digital restoration of the mural temporary exhibition for a long time.
In the museum, you can truly feel the change of dynasties. Those loud names are ultimately the fireworks of the times, blooming in the memory of history, either admiring or regretting. The big river goes east, and now we can face it quietly in the museum, how fortunate and sigh. In short, one day is not enough to see the Shaanxi Archaeological Museum!
👍Most recommended:
The exhibits on the first and second floors are all fine products, worth savoring slowly.
The third floor has a lot of archaeological popular science content, friends who like archaeology must not miss it.
📝Note tips:
There are museum professionals on the first floor for explanation, and guides for rent, which is very convenient.
Wyatt.Roberts^38
Xi'an niche museums, how fun is the Shaanxi Archaeological Museum
If you can't make a reservation for Shanli Museum
It is recommended to go to the Shaanxi Archaeological Museum
Probably only in a cultural capital like Xi'an in a big cultural province, there can be such a large high-quality archaeological museum. It has moved the entire ancient tomb into the museum, it's free + easy to get tickets + large venue + exquisite exhibits + less crowded, I am willing to call it a substitute for Shanli Museum
📸Must-see exhibits
✅ Pucheng Donger Mengyuan Mural Tomb: It's just above your head (cover)
✅ Shangguan Wan'er Tomb Epitaph: "Inscription of the Late Tang Dynasty's Zhaorong Shangguan"
✅ Li Chong's Phoenix Crown: A Tang Dynasty princess's gold crown inlaid with 370 gems
✅ Doorkeeper figurine: The largest Sui Dynasty pottery figurine in China
✅ Xizun: Shang and Zhou Dynasty bronzes, deer body, phoenix pattern, tiger claws...
✅ Various facial expression packs
✅ Qin figurines: Civil official figurines unearthed around the Qin Mausoleum, without armor and military uniforms, not the terracotta warriors and horses unearthed from those three pits
✅ Sixteen Kingdoms Music Figurines: Qin, Se, Xiao, Sheng, Drum...
✅ Han Dynasty brick chamber mural tomb: Twenty-eight constellations
✅ Spring and Autumn Rui State Lord's tomb goldware: The positions during the burial have been restored
📌tips: You need to make a reservation in advance, but it's not difficult; you must bring your ID; the visit takes about three hours, and some interactive sessions are really interesting; closed every Wednesday❗️Don't run in vain, it's not Monday