Travel in China
The treasury of thirteen dynasties - Tang murals, Silk Road gold, and the bronze 'flying horse' of the province.
The Shaanxi History Museum, opened in 1991, houses more than 1.7 million artefacts from the cradle of Chinese civilization. Shaanxi Province served as the capital region for thirteen dynasties - including the Zhou, Qin, Han and Tang - and the museum's collection reflects this extraordinary depth.
The museum's highlight is the Tang-dynasty mural gallery, where paintings from princely tombs depict courtiers, polo players and foreign envoys in exquisite detail. The gold and silver section displays Silk Road treasures from Hejiacun, including a Roman coin and Persian silver. The bronze gallery holds celebrated Western Zhou vessels and the water-buffalo zun vessels of the Western Zhou.
The building itself is a modern re-creation of Tang-dynasty palace architecture - a symmetrical complex of grey-brick halls around a central courtyard. The free basic exhibition covers Shaanxi's history from prehistory to the Qing; the two separately ticketed galleries (Tang murals 300 RMB, Treasures 30 RMB) are the real draw.
Highlights
The Tang Mural Gallery
Courtiers, polo players and foreign envoys from 1,300-year-old princely tombs - the finest murals in China.
The Hejiacun Gold Treasure
Silk Road gold and silver including Roman coins and Persian vessels.
The Bronze Gallery
Western Zhou ritual vessels and the famous water-buffalo zun.
The Tang Palace Architecture
The museum building itself - a modern re-creation of Tang palace style.
The Silk Road Gallery
Artefacts documenting Xi'an's role as the eastern terminus of the Silk Road.
The Terracotta Warriors (Previews)
Selected terracotta figures and weapons from the Qin mausoleum.
Photo Gallery
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