Aksu Prefecture Museum is located at No. 11 Youyi North Road, Chang'an Community, Hongqiao Street, Aksu City, Aksu Prefecture, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, situated by the beautiful Duolang River. It is a national 4A-level scenic spot and a national second-class museum. The museum's exterior design showcases the charm of the Han and Tang Dynasties, with a majestic and solemn atmosphere, integrating Chinese tradition, local characteristics, and the spirit of the times. The museum has a construction area of 18,000 square meters and an exhibition area of 9,000 square meters, with a total of 11,324 pieces (sets) of cultural relics in its collection, including 93 pieces (sets) of precious cultural relics. The building has four floors, consisting of four permanent exhibition halls: Aksu History and Culture Hall, Ancient Xinjiang Currency Hall, Aksu Natural Geography Hall, and "Sailing from the Red Boat, Chasing Dreams Forward - Exhibition of the History of the Communist Party of China", as well as two temporary exhibition halls, a digital exhibition hall, a restored Kucha Grotto exhibition hall, a youth activity area, a tourist service and experience center, etc. It is a comprehensive museum integrating history, art, folklore, nature, and leisure.
History and Culture
Aksu Prefecture has a profound historical and cultural heritage and is an important passage of the ancient Silk Road. The historical and cultural exhibits in the museum are rich and diverse. The unearthed cultural relics cover stone tools, pottery, woodwork, bronze wares, bone tools, ironware, silk fabrics, Buddha statues, etc., systematically and comprehensively reflecting the historical development context of the local area. The ethnic and folk cultural relics exhibition displays the production and living utensils, costumes, documents, etc., of ancient ethnic groups, reflecting the historical development context of various ethnic groups. The exhibition of ancient Xinjiang coins, from the Han Dynasty Wuzhu coins and Han-Qiu dual-script coins to the Qing Dynasty Xinjiang red coins, and the gold, silver, copper coins, and banknotes of the Republic of China, fully demonstrates the important role of ancient coins in proving and supplementing history, and clearly proves the effective jurisdiction of the central government over Xinjiang since the Han Dynasty. A large-scale projection of the "Han Guiyi Qiang Chang Yin" (Seal of the Han Dynasty's Envoy to the Qiang) is displayed in the foyer. This seal was unearthed from the Wushikat Ancient City in Aksu Prefecture, is a national first-class cultural relic, and is currently collected in the National Museum of China. It witnesses the governance of the Han Dynasty over the Western Regions and ethnic integration, and also highlights the important position of Aksu on the ancient Silk Road.
Main Attractions
Aksu History and Culture Hall
It displays 300 pieces (sets) of various cultural relics, supplemented by 20 sand tables, plane reliefs, scene models, holographic phantom display cabinets, etc., showcasing the magnificent development history of Aksu in a panoramic way, as well as the glorious course of all ethnic groups being blood-related, close as siblings, supporting each other, and developing prosperously.
Ancient Xinjiang Currency Hall
It displays numerous coins unearthed, collected from cultural relics sites in the prefecture, and collected from the public since the Western Han Dynasty established the "Protectorate of the Western Regions", including Han Dynasty Wuzhu coins, Han-Qiu dual-script coins, Qing Dynasty Xinjiang red coins, and gold, silver, copper coins, and banknotes of the Republic of China, forming a complete red coin system, demonstrating the important role of ancient coins in proving and supplementing history.
Aksu Natural Geography Hall
It displays the natural landscape of Aksu Prefecture and exhibits wild protected animals such as snow leopards, golden eagles, vultures, griffon vultures, goitered gazelles, Siberian ibex, and argali sheep, allowing visitors to understand the natural ecological environment of Aksu.
"Sailing from the Red Boat, Chasing Dreams Forward - Exhibition of the History of the Communist Party of China"
This is the first special exhibition area in Xinjiang that comprehensively displays the glorious course of the Communist Party of China's century-long struggle, carries forward the Red Boat spirit, and inherits the original mission.
Digital Exhibition Hall
It uses modern high-tech means, such as multimedia displays, to allow visitors to more intuitively and vividly understand the historical culture and regional characteristics of Aksu Prefecture.
Restored Kucha Grotto Exhibition Hall
It restores the scene of Kucha grottoes, allowing visitors to feel the unique charm of Kucha Buddhist culture up close.
Delicacies
Kuqa Naan
As a characteristic food of Aksu, its production technique is listed in the national intangible cultural heritage representative project list. The naan is relatively large, bigger than a face, with a golden color, crisp taste, rich wheat fragrance, and is easy to preserve and carry.
Aksu Apple
Nourished by the snow water of Tomur Peak, the highest peak of the Tianshan Mountains, and experiencing the temperature difference between day and night, it has formed a unique quality of bright and natural color, sweet taste, and rich juice, with a crisp and sweet taste and rich nutrition.
Thin-skinned Baozi
The skin of the baozi is very thin and translucent, and the filling is generally mutton and onions, etc. It has a fresh and tender taste, fresh and fragrant flavor, and is not greasy when eaten. It is usually eaten with noodle soup and is a common breakfast food locally.
Museiles
This is a beverage brewed from grapes and various medicinal materials, light coffee in color, sweet and sour in taste, fragrant in smell, containing trace amounts of alcohol, between wine and grape juice, and can also be said to be a medicinal wine, with a unique flavor.
Poxikala
It is one of the traditional diets in Yaman Su Township, Wushi County, and belongs to unique-flavored cream pancakes. With diverse production materials, complex and exquisite procedures, rich nutrition, and unique taste, it is a food used by hosts to entertain guests when relatives and friends gather, and its production technique has been included in the regional intangible cultural heritage protection list.
Admission
Free admission.
You can search for the official WeChat public account "阿克苏地区文博院 博物馆" to get the latest updates.
Opening Hours
Summer: Tuesday to Sunday 10:30—19:30 (stopping admission at 19:00); Winter: Tuesday to Sunday 10:30—19:00 (stopping admission at 18:30).
Tour Route
Visitors can start the tour from the foyer, first watch the large-scale projection of the "Han Guiyi Qiang Chang Yin" to understand the important historical position of Aksu. Then visit the Aksu History and Culture Hall, Ancient Xinjiang Currency Hall, and Aksu Natural Geography Hall in turn to comprehensively understand the history, culture, and natural landscape of Aksu. Then go to the "Sailing from the Red Boat, Chasing Dreams Forward - Exhibition of the History of the Communist Party of China" to feel the century-long struggle history of the Communist Party of China. If time permits, you can go to the Digital Exhibition Hall and Restored Kucha Grotto Exhibition Hall to deeply understand the cultural characteristics of Aksu Prefecture through modern technology and restored scenes. After the visit, you can rest in the youth activity area or tourist service and experience center and experience relevant cultural activities.
Transportation
- Bus: You can check the local bus routes and choose a suitable bus route to go there.
- Self-driving: Enter "Aksu Prefecture Museum" in the navigation software, and you can navigate to the destination. There is a parking lot near the museum.
Must-visit Attractions
- Aksu History and Culture Hall: It comprehensively displays the historical development of Aksu, allowing visitors to deeply understand the past of Aksu through rich cultural relics and diverse display means.
- Ancient Xinjiang Currency Hall: It has a large number of ancient coins, forming a complete red coin system, which is of great value for the study of ancient currency culture and history.
- "Sailing from the Red Boat, Chasing Dreams Forward - Exhibition of the History of the Communist Party of China": As the first such special exhibition area in Xinjiang, it has important educational significance and enables visitors to systematically understand the development course of the Communist Party of China in Xinjiang.
Tour Tips
- Understand the museum's exhibition information and explanation times in advance to better arrange the tour itinerary.
- You can rent a guide device or follow the museum's guides during the visit to deeply understand the historical and cultural connotations of the exhibits.
- Since there are many exhibition halls, it is recommended to wear comfortable shoes for better tour.
- You can carry a notebook and pen to record the interesting contents and knowledge points.
Notes
- Abide by the museum's visit regulations, do not touch the exhibits, keep quiet, and do not make loud noises.
- Please do not smoke or eat in the museum to keep the environment clean.
- Visit according to the specified opening hours, avoid being late or leaving early, so as not to affect the visit experience.
- Take care of the elderly and children, avoid running or playing in the museum, and ensure the safety of the visit.
- If taking photos is needed, please do not use a flash to avoid damaging the exhibits.