Located in the heart of Chengdu, the Chengdu Museum (成都博物馆) is the largest museum in the city, offering a fascinating journey through the region’s extensive history and cultural heritage. With a collection of nearly 200,000 items, the museum covers a broad timeline from the Neolithic period to the Republic of China era, providing a comprehensive understanding of Chengdu and the broader Bashu culture. Whether you are a history enthusiast, art lover, or just curious about the past, the Chengdu Museum is a must-visit destination.
Location and Transportation
Address: 1 Xiaohe Street, Qingyang District, Chengdu, Sichuan Province (四川省成都市青羊区小河街1号)
Public Transport: You can take Metro Lines 1 or 2 to Tianfu Square Station. After exiting at West Exit 1, the museum is just a short 30-meter walk.
Bus: Several buses stop at Xiyujie Station, including Bus Routes 64, 47, 13, 30, 30A, 43, and 51. The museum is a 20-meter walk from the bus stop.
Parking: The museum does not have its own parking lot, so visitors driving should look for nearby public parking spaces. Taxis are also a convenient way to reach the museum.
Admission and Opening Hours
Admission: Free, but reservations are required. You can make reservations through the Chengdu Museum’s official website or WeChat account. Be sure to book in advance, as the museum can get crowded during peak times.
Opening Hours:
- Sunday to Thursday: 8:30 AM to 7:00 PM (last admission at 6:00 PM)
- Friday and Saturday (Weekend Children’s Museum): 8:30 AM to 8:30 PM (last admission at 7:30 PM)
- Closed on Mondays
Museum Layout and Suggested Route
The Chengdu Museum is spread across several floors, each dedicated to different periods of history and cultural themes. To make the most of your visit, it is recommended to follow this route: 2F ➡ 3F ➡ 4F ➡ 5F ➡ 1F ➡ B1. Below is a breakdown of each floor and what you can expect to see:
2nd and 3rd Floors: Chengdu’s Historical Culture Exhibits (Ancient Times)
The museum’s second and third floors focus on the history of Chengdu from the Han Dynasty to the Ming Qing period. The exhibits showcase the development of the city during key historical periods, including the Han, Wei, Jin, and Northern and Southern Dynasties, as well as the Tang, Song, Yuan, and Ming periods. You will find artifacts that tell the story of how Chengdu evolved into a prosperous city, its role as a political and cultural hub, and the daily lives of its inhabitants.
- Highlights:
- Artifacts from the ancient Chengdu city walls and burial sites.
- Bronze and stone objects from the Warring States and Han Dynasties.
- Ceramic figurines and tomb relics from the Tang Dynasty.
4th Floor: China’s Historical Culture Exhibits (Modern Times and Folk Culture)
This floor features exhibits dedicated to China’s modern history and folk culture, beginning from the mid-19th century. It explores the significant social changes in China and how Chengdu played an essential role in these transformations. The exhibits showcase the cultural, social, and economic aspects of Chengdu as it navigated through times of conflict, reform, and modernization.
- Highlights:
- Documents and photographs depicting life in Chengdu during the late Qing Dynasty and early Republic period.
- Displays of traditional crafts, costumes, and local customs unique to Chengdu and the Sichuan region.
5th Floor: Chinese Shadow Puppetry and Puppet Exhibits
The fifth floor of the Chengdu Museum is dedicated to Chinese shadow puppetry and puppetry arts, which are an important part of China’s intangible cultural heritage. This exhibit traces the history of puppetry in China, showcasing different types of puppets and the evolution of these performances across various regions.
- Highlights:
- Traditional marionettes, hand puppets, and shadow puppets.
- Displays on famous puppetry performances, including string puppetry (提线木偶戏), rod puppetry (杖头木偶戏), and other traditional Chinese puppet shows.
1st Floor: Ancient Mexican Civilization Exhibition
A special feature of the Chengdu Museum is its exhibition of ancient Mexican civilizations, the first of its kind in Southwest China. This exhibit explores the rich cultural and historical achievements of ancient Mexico, providing an interesting contrast to the local Chinese artifacts.
- Highlights:
- Artifacts from the ancient Mayan and Aztec civilizations.
- Sculptures, pottery, and religious relics depicting life and rituals from pre-Columbian Mexico.
B1: Special Temporary Exhibitions and Museum Shop
Beneath the main exhibition halls, the B1 floor features temporary exhibitions that rotate throughout the year. This area is also home to the museum’s gift shop, where visitors can purchase souvenirs, educational materials, and cultural items related to the museum’s collections.
Unique Features of the Chengdu Museum: The Stamps
A fun and unique experience at the Chengdu Museum is collecting stamps as you explore the exhibits. There are more than 60 different stamps scattered across various floors of the museum, allowing visitors to collect an “eternal impression” of their visit. Each stamp has a unique design, and visitors can collect them in the order of the exhibits they explore. Here’s where you can find the stamps:
- 1F: Consultation desk (2 stamps) and cultural shop (8 stamps)
- 2F: Cultural shop (10 stamps, including numbered “Chengdu Museum Impressions”) and color stamps (3 stamps)
- 3F: Cultural shop (5 stamps)
- 4F: Cultural shop (5 stamps)
- 5F: Shadow puppetry cultural shop (3 stamps)
- 6F: Coffee bar (20 stamps)
Note: The stamp collection can get quite busy, especially on weekends, so if you’re keen on collecting them, it’s best to go either early or late in the day. During peak times, such as weekends, you may need to wait in line for an hour or more, particularly for stamps on the 2nd floor.
Museum’s Notable Artifacts
- Stone Rhinoceros: This monumental stone sculpture from the Warring States period was discovered in an excavation site east of Tianfu Square in Chengdu. It weighs approximately 8.5 tons and stands nearly 3 meters tall. It is believed to be related to the famous water conservancy project of Li Bing during the Qin Dynasty.
- Pottery Figurine: A charming figure from the Eastern Han period, this pottery figurine portrays a person sitting on a circular seat, holding a drumstick and laughing with exaggerated facial expressions. It was unearthed from the Li Family Mausoleum in Jintang, Chengdu.
- Acrylic Carved Human Figure: A beautifully carved figure from the Western Han period, this unique artifact depicts a person with intricate details of the body’s meridian lines and acupuncture points, providing insights into ancient Chinese medicine.
- Boat Coffin (载魂之舟): Dating back to the Warring States period, this boat-shaped coffin was discovered in Chengdu’s Commercial Street. This unique burial custom was prevalent in the Yangtze River basin and is distinctive to the region.
- Hollow Gold Incense Bag: A luxurious golden incense bag from the Tang Dynasty, it is exquisitely designed with intricate floral patterns. This artifact is a prime example of the Tang dynasty’s metalworking craftsmanship.
- Bronze Head Statue: This bronze head, found in the Sanxingdui archaeological site, is a remarkable example of the ancient Shu culture. It features exaggerated facial features and is one of the most iconic artifacts from the Sanxingdui site.