Shaanxi History Museum
The Shaanxi Local History Hall displays seven major periods of history, from Lantian Man through to the Opium War: prehistoric, Zhou, Qin, Han, Wei–Jin–Northern and Southern Dynasties, Sui–Tang,…
Shaanxi History Museum, Xi'an · AI illustration for China Trip
Key facts
- Admission
- Free admission, but reservations are required via the WeChat official account
- Opening hours
- 8:30–18:00 (15 March–14 November); 9:00–17:30 (15 November–14 March of the following year); closed on Mondays
- Time needed
- 2–4 hours
- Getting there
- Near Shaanxi History Museum bus stop, Xiaozhai bus stop and Xiaozhai subway station
- Guidebook rating
- 5 / 5
From China Self Guided Travel 2025, page 636. Open in Google Maps
About Shaanxi History Museum
The Shaanxi Local History Hall displays seven major periods of history, from Lantian Man through to the Opium War: prehistoric, Zhou, Qin, Han, Wei–Jin–Northern and Southern Dynasties, Sui–Tang, and Song–Yuan–Ming–Qing. It houses over 370,000 precious cultural relics unearthed in the Shaanxi region, making it the best place to understand the true culture of Shaanxi.
Tips from the guidebook
- Murals: The museum now holds more than 400 Tang tomb murals, of which “Polo Game” and “Hunting Excursion” have been designated national treasures.
Frequently asked questions
How much does Shaanxi History Museum cost?
Admission to Shaanxi History Museum is Free admission, but reservations are required via the WeChat official account, as listed in the 2025 guidebook. Prices can change; check the official channel before you go.
What are the opening hours of Shaanxi History Museum?
Shaanxi History Museum is open 8:30–18:00 (15 March–14 November); 9:00–17:30 (15 November–14 March of the following year); closed on Mondays.
How do I get to Shaanxi History Museum?
Near Shaanxi History Museum bus stop, Xiaozhai bus stop and Xiaozhai subway station
How long should I spend at Shaanxi History Museum?
Plan on 2–4 hours for Shaanxi History Museum.
Where is Shaanxi History Museum?
Shaanxi History Museum is in Xi'an, Shaanxi Province, in the Northwest of China.
More places in Xi'an
Museum of the Terracotta Army of Emperor Qinshihuang
Standing before the Terracotta Army, the irresistible astonishment, fascination, delight and emotion that every attentive visitor feels is the highlight of any trip to Shaanxi. Nowhere else in the world has so many soldiers stood waiting for you for so long. Today the Terracotta Army Museum covers more than 20 hectares. Pit 1 covers 16,000 square metres and Pit 2 more than 6,000 square metres. A comprehensive exhibition building of over 17,000 square metres has been built over Pit 2 and serves as the main exhibition venue. Hall 1 in particular displays about 6,000 life-size terracotta warriors and horses. Along the walkways you can still see the black traces left when Xiang Yu's army set fire to Xianyang. The figures are vivid and lifelike, with well-proportioned and accurate bodies, and no two are alike. The sculpting is meticulous: even the stitching on the soles of the cloth shoes is evenly spaced, and the hair, beards, belts and the subtle expressions at the corners of the mouths, some angry and some smiling, make it feel as though you are facing an ancient army frozen by magic. The 360-degree cinema screens a film of several dozen minutes that outlines the process of the Qin unifying China and then falling. The scenes are grand, especially the thousands of troops fighting all around you in 360 degrees, which makes you feel as if you are right in the middle of the battle. It is a pity the sound quality is poor, which seriously undermines the sense of presence. However, the film is screened on a continuous loop, so you don't have to worry about missing a showing.
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Giant Wild Goose Pagoda and Small Wild Goose Pagoda
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Xi'an City Wall
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Xi'an Beilin Museum (Forest of Stone Steles Museum)
The Xi’an Beilin Museum (Forest of Stone Steles) was first built in the Northern Song dynasty and has a history of more than 900 years. It was originally established to preserve stone steles inscribed by Yan Zhenqing, Liu Gongquan and others, which had been abandoned in the markets during the chaos at the end of the Tang and the Five Dynasties. Today it holds nearly 3,000 steles and epitaphs, from the Han dynasty to the present day, the largest collection in China. It is not only a repository of ancient Chinese classics carved in stone, but also a gathering place for the calligraphy of famous masters through the ages.
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Cuihua Mountain
Cuihua Mountain has a history of more than two thousand years, dating back to the Qin dynasty. Over the centuries it served as the 'Shanglin Park' and 'Imperial Garden' of successive dynasties. The Cuihua Mountain scenic area consists of three parts: Bishan Lake Scenic Area, Tianchi Scenic Area and Shanbeng Shihai (Rockslide Sea) Scenic Area. The most popular attraction is Qiuchi Pool at the summit. On its north side is Ice Cave, where ice stalactites hang year-round, and on its west side is Wind Cave, the remains of a rockslide. Temples are scattered throughout the area, including Laojun Hermitage and Shengmu Palace. Every year, from the 1st to the 3rd day of the sixth lunar month, the Cuihua Temple Fair is held and is extremely lively.
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