Hunan Museum is located at No. 50 Dongfeng Road, Kaifu District, Changsha City, Hunan Province, in the heart of Changsha, at the northwest corner of Changsha Martyrs Park. It is the largest historical and art museum in Hunan Province and also a topographical museum. The total area of the museum complex is 112,469 square meters, including 91,252 square meters for the main exhibition building, 10,408 square meters for the South Courtyard, and 8,896.3 square meters for the under-construction Miluo Base. As one of the first batch of national first-class museums in China and one of the eight national key museums co-constructed by the central and local governments, Hunan Museum holds an important position in the field of cultural heritage.
History and Culture
The history of Hunan Museum can be traced back to the 23rd year of the Guangxu period in the Qing Dynasty (1897) when the Chenzhou Society established the Chenzhou Society Museum, which was short-lived due to the failure of the Wuxu Reform. In the 30th year of the Guangxu period (1904), advocated by Zhao Erxun, the Governor of Hunan, gentry like Liang Huankui and Long Furui raised funds to establish a museum in the provincial capital, co-located with the library and education museum, officially named "Hunan Library and Educational Museum". It mainly displayed human and animal models, and the educational museum part was abolished about a year after opening. On June 24, 1924 (the 13th year of the Republic of China), the Hunan Provincial Education Association Museum opened. In March 1951, the Preparatory Office of Hunan Provincial Museum was established at Baiqin Garden in Liufangling, Changsha, and in 1956, Hunan Provincial Museum was completed and opened in Martyrs Park in the northwest of Changsha.
In the early days of its establishment, aiming to build a "topographical museum", it carried out the collection and display of cultural relics and specimens, holding six major exhibitions such as "Hunan Mineral Resources", "Hunan Agricultural Resources", "Hunan Handicrafts", and "Hunan Chu Cultural Relics". The excavation of the Mawangdui Han Tombs from 1972 to 1974 became a significant milestone in the museum's development. Thousands of exquisite cultural relics and a well-preserved Han Dynasty female corpse were unearthed, making the museum a global focus and significantly enhancing the quality of its collections and exhibitions. Since then, the museum gradually shifted from equal emphasis on natural and historical collections to focusing on historical collections and displays. The new exhibition building was completed in 1999, the new museum officially opened to the public on November 29, 2017, and on July 30, 2022, Hunan Provincial Museum was officially renamed Hunan Museum.
Main Attractions
Exhibition of Mawangdui Han Tombs in Changsha
Located in the 3rd-floor exhibition hall of the museum, covering an area of 5,243.8 square meters, it is divided into a preface hall and four units: Amazing Excavation, Life and Art, Bamboo and Silk Texts, and Dream of Immortality. It displays a large number of precious cultural relics unearthed from the Mawangdui Han Tombs, such as the Plain Gauze Dress and the T-shaped Silk Painting from Mawangdui Tomb No.1, vividly presenting the living styles and cultural art of the Han Dynasty.
Hunan People - Sanxiang Historical and Cultural Exhibition
In the 2nd-floor exhibition hall of the museum, it displays Hunan's history and culture from the first-person perspective of "Hunan People". The first part, "Homeland", interprets the natural environment and development outline of Hunan people's life; the second part, "Where Do I Come From", tells the formation of the current residents of Hunan; the third part, "Dongting Fish and Rice Township", shows how Hunan people obtain living resources; the fourth part, "Footprints of Life", presents the living conditions and customs in different historical periods; the fifth part, "Xiang Soul", explains the spiritual temperament of Hunan people.
Bronze Exhibition Hall
The hall displays numerous Shang and Zhou bronze wares, such as the Human-Faced Square Ding. These bronzes feature unique shapes and exquisite craftsmanship, reflecting the superb casting technology and cultural connotations of the time.
Ceramic Exhibition Hall
It displays fine ceramic works from various dynasties, including monochrome glazed porcelain from ancient times to the present, reflecting traditional Chinese aesthetic concepts and the development process of ceramic craftsmanship.
Calligraphy and Painting Exhibition Hall
It collects and displays a large number of calligraphy and painting works from different dynasties and styles, presenting the charm of calligraphy and painting art to visitors.
Craftsmanship Exhibition Hall
It displays various exquisite handicrafts, demonstrating the traditional craftsmanship level and artistic characteristics of the Hunan region.
Delicacies
Glutinous Rice Zongzi
A traditional Hunan food, made by wrapping glutinous rice with fillings like red dates and bean paste, then steaming. It has a soft and sweet taste.
Bamboo Shoots and Tofu Skin
Using bamboo shoots and tofu skin as main ingredients, it is cooked to be crispy and delicious.
Chopped Chili Fish Head
This dish uses fish head as the main ingredient, covered with a thick layer of chopped chili, and steamed. It features bright red color, tender fish meat, and a fresh and spicy taste, being one of the classic representatives of Hunan cuisine.
Spiced Dried Duck
Ducks are marinated with various spices and then baked. The meat is firm, with a rich spiced aroma and mellow taste.
Stinky Tofu
A characteristic snack in Changsha, tofu is fermented and then fried, with a crispy exterior and tender interior. Paired with special sauce, it smells stinky but tastes delicious.
Spiced Dried Small Fish
Mainly made from small fish through pickling and frying, it is crispy, spicy, and savory, a popular snack.
Juewei Spiced Duck Neck
Duck necks are carefully braised, spicy and refreshing, with chewy meat, leaving a lingering aftertaste.
Sugared Ginger Slices
Made from ginger through sugar curing, it is sweet and spicy, with effects of appetizing and dispelling cold.
Kudzu Root
It can be made into foods like kudzu root powder, with effects of clearing heat and detoxifying. It has a delicate taste and is often used as a health food.
Tickets
The museum implements a policy of free admission with reservation. Visitors need to make an appointment in advance through the official website or WeChat public account. After successful reservation, enter the museum with a valid ID during the appointed time.
Search for the official WeChat public account "湖南博物院" to get the latest updates or make online reservations.
Opening Hours
Open from 9:00 to 17:00 every Tuesday to Sunday, with entry closed at 16:00. Closed every Monday (except national legal holidays).
Tour Route
First, visit the "Hunan People - Sanxiang Historical and Cultural Exhibition" on the 2nd floor to comprehensively understand the historical and cultural context of Hunan; then go to the 3rd floor to view the "Exhibition of Mawangdui Han Tombs in Changsha" and appreciate the glory of the Han Dynasty; subsequently, visit the Bronze, Ceramic, Calligraphy and Painting, and Craftsmanship Exhibition Halls in order to admire various precious cultural relics and artworks. During the tour, you can deeply appreciate key exhibits according to personal interests, and the whole tour is expected to take 3-5 hours.
Transportation
- By Bus: Take bus routes 112, 131, 136, 146, 150, 358, 901, etc., and get off at Hunan Museum Station.
- By Metro: Take Metro Line 6, exit from No.3 Exit of Martyrs Park West Station, and walk about 800 meters to reach.
- By Car: Parking lots are available around the museum, but parking may be tight during the tourist peak season; green travel is recommended.
Must-Visit Attractions
- Exhibition of Mawangdui Han Tombs in Changsha: It has many national treasure-level cultural relics unearthed from the Mawangdui Han Tombs, such as the Plain Gauze Dress weighing only 49 grams, as thin as a cicada's wing; and the T-shaped Silk Painting from Mawangdui Tomb No.1, with rich content, of extremely high value for studying Han Dynasty funeral culture, etc.
- Hunan People - Sanxiang Historical and Cultural Exhibition: It displays Hunan's history and culture from multiple dimensions. Through rich cultural relics and scene reproductions, it vividly presents the development and changes of the Hunan region, helping visitors deeply understand the roots of Xiang culture.
- Bronze Exhibition Hall: The Human-Faced Square Ding is one of its important exhibits. The square ding is embossed with a deformed human face pattern on each of the four sides, with a unique shape, a treasure among Shang Dynasty bronzes, reflecting the unique culture and artistic style of the time.
Tour Tips
- Make an appointment for tickets in advance on the official platform to avoid being unable to visit due to sold-out tickets.
- Learn about the background knowledge of exhibits through the museum's official website or related books before visiting to enhance the visiting experience.
- You can rent a commentary device or participate in regular guided tours to better understand the history and culture behind the cultural relics.
- Smoking and loud noise are prohibited in the museum; follow the visiting order and protect cultural relics and public facilities.
Notes
- Do not carry dangerous items such as flammable, explosive materials or controlled knives into the museum.
- Do not use flash when taking photos to avoid damaging cultural relics.
- Catering areas are set up in the museum, but bringing your own food into the exhibition halls is prohibited.
- In case of an emergency, follow the instructions of museum staff to evacuate in an orderly manner.