Hotan Museum is located at No. 8 Kunlun Road, Hotan City, Hotan Prefecture, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region (about 290 meters northeast of Gujiangbage Anji Middle School in Hotan City). It is a comprehensive museum with a total construction area of over 13,493 square meters and three floors. The museum began to prepare related cultural relic exhibition rooms in 1979, was officially established in 1995, was identified as a national 4A-level tourist attraction in November 2020, and was recognized as a national second-class museum in August 2024. The museum has a rich collection of cultural relics. As of 2022, the number of collections has reached 20,553 pieces/sets, including many precious cultural relics.
History and Culture
In ancient times, the Hotan area was the land of Pishan, Yutian, Qule, Jingjue, and Shulu states. It is the largest oasis on the southern edge of the Taklimakan Desert, one of the birthplaces of ancient Xinjiang civilization, and an important town on the ancient "Jade Road" and "Silk Road".
Approximately 3,000 years ago, Yutian established a country. During the Western Han Dynasty, the Yuchi family became kings to rule Yutian. In 60 BC, it came under the jurisdiction of the Western Regions Protectorate and was officially included in China's territory. In the mid-7th century, the Tang Dynasty set up the Pisha Military Governor's Office in Yutian. During the Yuan Dynasty, it was a fief of Mongolian princes. In the 24th year of the Qianlong reign of the Qing Dynasty, a Hetian Affairs Minister was appointed. After Xinjiang became a province in 1884, a Hetian Prefecture was established. After the founding of the People's Republic of China, Hotan Prefecture was established.
About BC, Buddhism was introduced into Yutian. Due to the devout belief and promotion of the Yuchi family, Yutian became a Buddhist holy land. A large number of Mahayana scriptures were spread from here to the Central Plains, making it the birthplace of Mahayana Buddhism in the Central Plains. During the Sui and Tang dynasties, the "Dashi and Xiaowei Chi" brought the Buddhist painting skills of Yutian to the Central Plains. The unique style of the "Yutian Painting School" influenced the development of Buddhist art in China.
From the late 19th century to the 1930s, many foreign "explorers" and "archaeologists" came to excavate cultural relics, resulting in the destruction of ancient sites in Hotan and a large number of cultural relics being scattered overseas. Through field investigations, there are about 156 cultural relic sites in Hotan Prefecture, and more than 10,000 cultural relics have been unearthed. Hotan Museum treasures some cultural relics unearthed from the sites, providing precious physical materials for the study of the history of Chinese Western Regions civilization.
Main Attractions
Hotan History and Culture Exhibition Hall
Located on the 1st-2nd floors of the museum, it is divided into 7 parts, including "The Lofty Kunlun Reflects China", "The Hometown of Gold and Jade Promotes Agriculture", and "Ancient Roads Connect the East and West". In the form of chronological narration, through cultural relic display and interpretation, immersive experience spaces, holographic images, miniature landscapes and other means, it shows the history of Hotan since the Paleolithic Age. Here, you can see various cultural relics reflecting the long history and splendid culture of the Hotan area, and understand the political, economic, cultural, living and customs of Hotan in different historical periods.
Niya Ruins Thematic Exhibition Hall
Located on the right side of the third floor, it mainly displays the cultural relics unearthed from the Niya tomb ruins of the Jingjue State site. There is the Kharosthi divorce judgment, which records a marriage dissolution in Kharosthi and is an important material for studying the social system and culture at that time; the "dougong" (corbel bracket), a traditional Chinese architectural component, reflects the influence of Central Plains culture on the Hotan area; there are also female ornaments, showing the aesthetic and technological level at that time; the "Yuanhe First Year" brocade pouch with a clear chronology is of great significance for dating research; and the glass rhyton with a unique shape, reflecting the cultural exchanges between China and foreign countries at that time.
Temporary Exhibition Hall
Located on the left side of the third floor, various temporary exhibitions are held from time to time, which may include the display of newly unearthed cultural relics, cultural relic exchange exhibitions from other regions, or special cultural exhibitions related to Hotan, bringing different cultural experiences to visitors.
Cultural and Creative Experience Hall
Here, visitors can participate in some cultural and creative product production experience activities, integrating Hotan's cultural elements into the items they make by hand, such as making handmade ornaments with Hotan characteristic patterns, painting with Hotan cultural relics as the theme, etc. They can also purchase various Hotan characteristic cultural and creative products, such as keychains, bookmarks, postcards, etc., designed based on the museum's collections.
Food
Samsa (Baked Bun)
Made with flour as the skin and mutton as the filling, adding appropriate seasonings, wrapped into a bun shape and baked in a nang pit, with a crispy skin and tender meat. It can be tasted in some traditional Uyghur restaurants or snack stalls around the museum, usually priced at 2-5 yuan per piece.
Lamb Skewers
Fresh lamb is cut into small pieces and skewered on iron sticks, roasted over charcoal fire, and sprinkled with chili powder, cumin and other seasonings during the process, with a rich aroma. The general price is 3-10 yuan per skewer, varying according to the quality of lamb and the location of the shop.
Nang (Uygur Bread)
There are various types, such as sesame nang and scallion nang. It is made by traditional craftsmanship. After the flour is fermented, it is made into a dough cake and sprinkled with various ingredients, then baked in a nang pit until cooked, which is easy to carry and store. The price of ordinary nang is 3-10 yuan per piece.
Hand-grabbed Rice
Braised with rice, mutton, carrots, onions and other ingredients. The mutton is tender, and the sweetness of carrots and onions melts into the rice, which is rich in nutrition. In nearby restaurants, a portion of hand-grabbed rice is about 15-30 yuan.
Yogurt Shaved Ice
Yogurt is mixed with shaved ice, and honey, jam, etc., can be added according to personal taste. It is sweet and sour, cool and refreshing. In street shops or restaurants, a portion is priced at 8-15 yuan.
Tickets
Free admission. No reservation is required, just enter with an ID card.
Opening Hours
Off-season (generally from November to March of the following year): 10:00 - 13:30 and 16:00 - 19:30; peak season (generally from April to October): 10:00 - 13:30 and 15:30 - 19:00. The museum stops admitting visitors 30 minutes in advance. It is closed on Mondays (postponed in case of holidays) and from New Year's Eve to the second day of the Lunar New Year.
Tour Route
After entering the museum, you can first go to the Hotan History and Culture Exhibition Hall on the 1st floor, starting from the Paleolithic Age, and successively understand the development and changes of Hotan in each historical period and appreciate various cultural relics. Then go to the 2nd floor to continue visiting the subsequent parts of the Hotan History and Culture Exhibition Hall. After that, go to the 3rd floor, first visit the Niya Ruins Thematic Exhibition Hall to deeply understand the stories behind the cultural relics unearthed from the Niya tomb ruins of the Jingjue State site. Then go to the Temporary Exhibition Hall to watch the current temporary exhibition. Finally, go to the Cultural and Creative Experience Hall to participate in cultural and creative production experiences or purchase cultural and creative products.
Transportation
- Bus: Check the bus routes in Hotan City, take the bus that can reach the vicinity of Kunlun Road, and walk to the museum after getting off.
- Taxi: Take a taxi in Hotan City and tell the driver to go to Hotan Museum directly. The starting price of the taxi is 5 yuan, the starting distance is 2.5 kilometers, and it is 1.5 yuan per kilometer without a fuel surcharge.
- Self-driving: Set the destination as Hotan Museum (No. 8 Kunlun Road, Hotan City, Hotan Prefecture, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region) through the navigation software. There are parking lots around the museum for parking.
Must-visit Attractions
- Hotan History and Culture Exhibition Hall: It comprehensively shows the history of Hotan from the Paleolithic Age to the present, with rich and diverse cultural relics. It is the core area to understand Hotan's history and culture.
- Niya Ruins Thematic Exhibition Hall: It gathers precious cultural relics unearthed from the Niya tomb ruins, allowing you to intuitively feel the cultural characteristics of the Jingjue State, such as the Kharosthi divorce judgment and glass rhyton with extremely high historical value are exhibited here.
- Cultural and Creative Experience Hall: You can participate in cultural and creative production, take Hotan culture home, and the unique experience can deepen the understanding and memory of Hotan culture.
Tour Tips
- It is recommended to spend 2-3 hours visiting, which can fully visit each exhibition hall, listen to explanations, and deeply understand Hotan's history and culture.
- You can understand the relevant historical materials and exhibition information of the museum in advance to better understand the stories behind the cultural relics during the visit.
- You can rent a commentary device or follow a commentary team during the visit to have a more comprehensive understanding of cultural relic knowledge.
- Reserve a certain amount of time in the Cultural and Creative Experience Hall to participate in production and purchase cultural and creative products.
Notes
- Abide by the museum's visiting regulations, do not touch the cultural relics, and flash photography is prohibited.
- Keep quiet in the museum and do not make loud noises to avoid affecting other visitors.
- Take care of the museum's environment, do not spit or litter.
- Visitors with children should take good care of their children to avoid running and playing in the museum.
- Pay attention to the opening and closing times to avoid missing the visit time.