The Gansu Museum (甘肃博物院), covering a total area of 43,000 square meters, is architecturally designed in the shape of the Chinese character for “mountain” (山). The central part of the building is five stories high, flanked by three-story wings. The museum houses over 80,000 valuable historical artifacts and natural specimens, showcasing Gansu’s rich cultural heritage from ancient times to the modern era. Notably, the collection features exceptional items such as Neolithic painted pottery, Han Dynasty bamboo and wooden slips, Silk Road treasures from the Han to Tang dynasties, Buddhist art, and ancient fossils.
Due to Gansu’s strategic location along the Silk Road and its position at the intersection of Han Chinese and Tibetan cultures, the museum’s artifacts reflect a diverse range of influences from the Western Regions, Central Plains, and Tibetan areas. This cultural diversity makes the Gansu Provincial Museum a fascinating place to visit.
The second-floor Silk Road exhibition is the highlight of the museum, featuring the renowned bronze sculpture “Galloping Horse Treading on a Flying Swallow” and the brick painting of a postal courier, which serves as the emblem of China Post. Additionally, the Buddhist Art Gallery showcases the distinctive Buddhist cultures of the Han, Tibetan, and Western Regions, including remarkable stone carvings from Dunhuang and Tianshui.
Visitors to the Gansu Museum can enjoy a comprehensive exploration of the region’s historical and cultural evolution, making it a must-see destination for anyone interested in the rich tapestry of China’s past.
Table of Contents
- Basic Information
- Location and Transportation
- Highlights of Gansu Museum
- Vlog about Gansu Provincial Museum
- Attractions near Gansu Provincial Museum
Basic Information
| Estimated Length of Tour | 2 hours |
| Ticket Price | Free |
| Opening Hours | 9.00 – 17.00; Last admission: 16.30 Closed on Mondays |
| Telephone Number | 0086-0931-2339133 0086-0931-2339131 |
Location and Transportation
The Gansu Provincial Museum is located at No. 3 Xijin West Road, Qilihe District, Lanzhou City, Gansu Province. To get there, you can choose one of the following ways:
Bus: Take bus 31, 32, 53, 58, K102, or K58 and get off at Provincial Museum Stop (省博物馆站).
Metro: The closest metro station to Gansu Provincial Museum is Xizhan Shenzi (西站什字) on line 1. After getting out of the station from Exit A, walk about 500 meters to the east to reach the museum.
Highlights of Gansu Museum
Silk Road Civilization Exhibition
Located on the second floor, the Silk Road Civilization Exhibition is the centerpiece of the Gansu Provincial Museum. Here, visitors can marvel at the famous bronze sculpture known as the “Galloping Horse Treading on a Flying Swallow.” This sculpture, depicting a horse with one hoof on the back of a bird, is not only a masterpiece of ancient bronze casting but also an iconic symbol of Chinese tourism. Another highlight is the “Postal Courier Brick Painting,” featuring an image of a postal courier, which has become a symbol of China’s postal industry.
The exhibition also showcases numerous precious artifacts from the ancient Silk Road, reflecting the cultural exchanges between the Central Plains, Western Regions, and even Europe. Visitors can explore artifacts representing Central Plains culture, treasures brought from Western civilizations via the Silk Road, and cultural artifacts left by Islamic influences in ancient China. Some areas of the exhibition use methods like sand tables to recreate the lifestyles and customs of ancient Western Regions, offering insights into the diverse ethnicities that thrived along the Silk Road.
Gansu Buddhist Art Exhibition
On the third floor, the Gansu Buddhist Art Exhibition is another key highlight of the museum. Visitors are treated to replicas of Buddhist grottoes from the Mogao Grottoes and Maijishan Grottoes, showcasing monumental white stupas and prayer wheels. Stepping into this exhibition feels like entering a grand and glorious Buddhist temple. The exhibition features exquisite Buddhist statues, ritual implements, and artifacts representing both Han and Tibetan Buddhist traditions.
This exhibition is particularly noteworthy for its display of religious artifacts unique to Gansu, a region where Han Chinese and Tibetan cultures have historically blended. The artifacts provide a glimpse into the rich tapestry of Buddhist art and culture that flourished along the ancient Silk Road routes passing through Gansu.
Gansu Colored Pottery Exhibition
Located on the third floor, the Gansu Colored Pottery Exhibition transports visitors back to ancient times, resembling a tribal community from millennia ago. The exhibition meticulously recreates ancient thatched houses and tribal people engaged in daily activities, with remarkably lifelike human figures that create an immersive experience. The exhibition features a diverse array of pottery artifacts from cultures such as the Majiayao, Qijia, and Yangshao cultures, dating back four to five thousand years. Despite their antiquity, these pottery pieces display exquisite craftsmanship, adorned with intricate patterns and unique forms that reflect the artistic sophistication of their time. Visitors can explore the evolution of pottery-making techniques and styles across different ancient cultures in Gansu.
Other Exhibitions
The museum’s Paleontology Exhibition is divided into two sections. On the second floor, the Fossil Exhibition showcases fossils of ancient organisms like dinosaurs, including the renowned Yellow River Mammoth fossil, one of China’s largest mammoth fossils ever discovered. The exhibition provides insights into ancient ecosystems and the evolution of life on Earth. On the third floor, the Dinosaur and Mammoth Models Exhibition features life-size models that vividly recreate scenes from the prehistoric world, offering an engaging experience especially enjoyed by children.
The Red Gansu Theme Exhibition, also on the second floor, focuses on revolutionary history, highlighting artifacts and documents from the Nanliang Base Area and the Shaan-Gan-Ning Border Region during the revolutionary period. This exhibition provides a glimpse into the revolutionary struggles and cultural heritage of Gansu during China’s modern history.
