Museums of China

From imperial palaces to modern exhibition halls, these institutions safeguard the material legacy of one of the world's oldest civilizations.

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The Palace Museum (Forbidden City)

The Palace Museum (Forbidden City)

Home to the world's largest collection of preserved ancient wooden structures and imperial treasures spanning 600 years of Chinese history.

Beijing, Beijing1,860,000 items
Sanxingdui Museum

Sanxingdui Museum

A mysterious Bronze Age civilization that rewrites the history of ancient China, featuring enigmatic bronze masks and a towering bronze tree.

Guanghan, Sichuan50,000 items
National Museum of China

National Museum of China

The world's most visited museum, chronicling 5,000 years of Chinese civilization through over 1 million artifacts.

Beijing, Beijing1,050,000 items
Shaanxi History Museum

Shaanxi History Museum

Gateway to the ancient Silk Road, housing treasures from 13 dynasties that once called Xi'an their capital.

Xi'an, Shaanxi370,000 items
Shanghai Museum

Shanghai Museum

One of China's finest museums of ancient art, renowned for its bronze, ceramics, calligraphy, and painting collections.

Shanghai, Shanghai120,000 items
Hubei Provincial Museum

Hubei Provincial Museum

Home to the legendary Bianzhong of Marquis Yi of Zeng — a 2,400-year-old musical instrument that still plays today.

Wuhan, Hubei260,000 items
Museum of Terracotta Warriors and Horses

Museum of Terracotta Warriors and Horses

The legendary underground army of Emperor Qin Shi Huang — 8,000 life-sized warriors guarding China's first emperor for over 2,200 years.

Xi'an, Shaanxi8,000 items
Nanjing Museum

Nanjing Museum

One of China's three great museums, blending traditional and modern exhibition spaces across six specialized halls.

Nanjing, Jiangsu430,000 items