Shaanxi History Museum: a great option when you tour Xian

A Few Interesting Facts About The Shaanxi History Museum

The Shaanxi History Museum in Xian is known for its architectural buildings and numerous exhibits which makes it well worth a visit for anyone keen to tour Xian. There are three main exhibition halls in the primary pavilion. The museum houses thousands of relics from the different dynasty periods. The museum is a tribute to Shaanxi's glamorous imperial past and very popular with both locals and Xian Travel enthusiasts who like to get the most out of their Xian tours.

The primary structures are built to reflect the architectural style of the Tang Dynasty. Smaller buildings surround the main one at different heights. The museum is equipped with modern conveniences and a lighting system that was designed to preserve the historic artifacts inside.

The display areas are divided into historical eras: Prehistoric Age, Wei Jin Southern and Northern, Zhou, Qin, Han, Sui, Tang, Song, Yuan, Ming and Qing Dynasties. Over 113,000 historic and cultural relics discovered in Shaanxi occupy the Shaanxi History Museum. The exhibits boldly depict the Shaanxi Province history from 1,150,000 years ago to 1840 AD. Over the course of history, fifteen dynasties created their capitals in the Shaanxi Province. There were more dynastic capitals created in this province than any other, lasting over 1,500 years. It has been suggested that the ancient history of Shaanxi is a microcosm of Chinese history.

Shaanxi has been an important source of information to the Asian race's origin. Some exhibits in the Prehistoric Age display have been dated back as far as 7,000 years. They offer a glimpse into the life of early Chinese people, the spirit and fortitude they required to overcome the difficulties of living during the Stone Age. Some relics from this period include tip-bottomed bottles, harpoons, bone arrows, painted pottery utensils from the Yangshao era and the fossil of an Ape-man skull.

The development of China's bronze culture was during the West Zhou Dynasty. Over 3,000 bronze vessels have been discovered and displayed by the Shaanxi History Museum which has 2,000 of them safely preserved in their displays. There are utensils that were used in daily chores, musical and ritual instruments, tools for production and weapons. The Qin Dynasty was China's first feudal dynasty. This exhibition hall displays many different weapons, terracotta warriors and horses and chariots of bronze. These relics tell the story of the unprecedented wealth and development of this dynasty in their military affairs, economy, science and culture.

Agriculture and animal husbandry developments happened during the Han Dynasty rule. Pieces that are included in this exhibit at the Shaanxi History Museum are pottery chicks, iron farm tools, pottery oxen and utensils with grain. There was social upheaval and national unity during the Wei Jin South and North Dynasty. The artifacts discovered from this period show the different races. It was during this period that Buddhism and Buddhist art developed. The jade, bronze, silver and gold Buddhist statues displayed in the museum reveal their prominence at that time.

The Tang and Sui Dynasties display a rich life for most during this period in the Shaanxi Province. The exhibits show people enjoying a bountiful and stable life. Some of the relics are pottery musicians and singing figurines and pottery hunters on horseback pieces. The Tang Dynasty was rich with gold and silver wares. During the Song Dynasty, Xian lost its place as the national capitol. However, it did remain the center of politics, economy, culture and military in Northwest China. During the Yuan Dynasty porcelain production was developed.

The Chinese government spent 144 million Yuan building this museum because of the important role Shaanxi has played in China's history. The Shaanxi History Museum in Xian has been a valuable asset in preserving these ancient cultural relics. It has also played an important role in education, foreign cultural exchange and scientific research, and is a nice addition to any Xian tours itinerary.

Tips
The Shaanxi History Museum is now free entrance however you need to remember to take your ID card or passport in order to get a ticket. We advise getting there early and avoid visiting on public holidays and weekends if possible, otherwise be prepared to queue for a while - it is a popular place with locals and rightly so. It is possible to pay to purchase a ticket if you do not want to spend time standing in a queue. There is a limit of 4000 visitors each day. Inside you may want to consider hiring a guide or getting the headset as most of the lengthy exhibit explainations are in Chinese language only.

The Exhibits
Zhou bronze, Han Dynasty, Tang Dynasty, Qin (including the only warriors which were unearthed with original paint). A fantastic snap shot of ancient Xi'ans rich history. Click on an image to enlarge.