The Guizhou Provincial Museum (贵州省博物馆), spanning an area of 70,860 square meters with a total construction area of 46,450 square meters, stands as a testament to nearly 60 years of development and cultural preservation. Accumulating a collection of over 80,000 artifacts, this museum is a trove of historical significance.
Its collection is divided into three primary categories: prehistoric relics, historical artifacts, and ethnic cultural items. The museum boasts captivating exhibitions such as “Guizhou’s Mineral Resources,” “Natural Resources of Guizhou,” “Peasant Uprisings during the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom Period in Guizhou,” “Revolutionary Activities of the Chinese Workers’ and Peasants’ Red Army in Guizhou,” and “Excavated Cultural Relics in Guizhou.”
Visitors to the Guizhou Provincial Museum will encounter a fascinating array of prehistoric specimens including dragon fossils, sea dragon fossils, ichthyosaur fossils, and crinoid fossils. Additionally, there are remarkable ancient treasures unearthed within the province such as bronze chariots and horses, intricate bronze vessels like the ‘Lihua Bronze Cauldron,’ ‘Shizhaishan Bronze Drums,’ ‘Yangcan Tomb Bronze Drums,’ bronze-handled iron swords, gilded copper helmets, ancient swords, Ming Dynasty golden crowns, and colorful glazed pottery figurines.
However, the spotlight shines on the ethnic cultural artifacts displayed within the museum. Beyond showcasing over 1,000 items encompassing embroidery, batik, intricate woven fabrics, and silver ornaments, it features remarkable pieces like the Miao ethnic marriage memorial wooden tablets, Miao animal motifs inscribed on wine horns, Miao embroidered silver bells and pendants for women’s clothing with green satin and floral borders. Among the Yi ethnic treasures are the ceremonial robes of village chieftains, a handwritten copy of the “Biography of the Sixth Patriarch” in Yi script, and stone carvings of “Bronze Drums” from the funerary sites of the Shui ethnic group, all of immense cultural and aesthetic value.
Table of Contents
- Basic Information
- Location and Transportation
- Halls of Guizhou Provincial Museum
- Vlog about Guizhou Provincial Museum
- Attractions in Northwest Guiyang
Basic Information
| Estimated Length of Tour | 3 hours |
| Ticket Price | Free |
| Opening Hours | 9.00 – 17.00; Last admission: 16.00 |
| Telephone Number | 0086-0851-84811809 0086-0851-84811830 |
Location and Transportation
The Guizhou Provincial Museum is situated at 107 Lincheng East Road, Guanshanhu District, Guiyang City, Guizhou Province, China. It is located in close proximity to the Guiyang International Convention and Exhibition Center, as well as the Guiyang Urban and Rural Planning Exhibition Hall, with a road separating them. To get there, you can choose one of the following ways:
Bus: Take bus 29, 48, 58, 60, 111, 208, 218, 263, 269, 280, 290, 321, or 702 and get off at International Convention Center North Stop (国际会议中心北站).
Metro: The closest metro station to Guizhou Provincial Museum is International Ecology Convention Center (国际生态会议中心) on line 1. After getting out of the station from Exit B, walk about 500 meters to the west to reach the museum.
Halls of Guizhou Provincial Museum
Ethnic Guizhou Theme Hall
This hall is dedicated to showcasing the distinctive cultures and artifacts of various ethnic groups in Guizhou, including the Han, Miao, Buyi, and Dong ethnicities. The exhibits highlight the unique clothing, accessories, and traditional items of these communities. Notable pieces include the traditional women’s attire of the Miao ethnic group from Huaxi in Guiyang, Miao embroidered back fans featuring geometric patterns and auspicious symbols like “米” and “囍” from Guiyang, and the intricate wax-dyed costumes of the Buyi people from Liuzhi. The hall provides a comprehensive glimpse into the vibrant cultural tapestry of Guizhou’s diverse ethnic groups, featuring items such as Miao silver jewelry.
Kingdom of Ancient Organisms Theme Hall
This hall transports visitors to the ancient world through a captivating display of fossils from the Weng’an Biota, Kaili Biota, and the Triassic marine reptile fossil groups from Guanling, Xingyi, and Panxian. The exhibits in the “Kingdom of Ancient Organisms” theme hall offer a glimpse into the prehistoric marine ecosystems and the fascinating evolution of life on Earth. Fossils from various geological formations, including those from Weng’an and Kaili, contribute to a comprehensive understanding of ancient organisms, making it a must-visit for those intrigued by paleontology.
Historical Guizhou Theme Hall
This thematic hall provides a chronological exploration of Guizhou’s history, featuring key milestones and developmental trajectories. Divided into five sections—”Exploring Guanyin Cave,” “Tracing Yelang,” “The Road to Provincial Establishment,” “Cultural and Educational Development,” and “Red Marks on Qiannan Mountains,” the exhibition showcases a diverse range of artifacts. Notable items include a bronze horse-drawn carriage, Pingbo Clock, a bronze seal from the Qingjiang Xiezhong Military Department, intricately carved lion-shaped bronze belt hooks, and lacquered ear cups. These artifacts offer insights into Guizhou’s historical evolution, cultural exchanges, and the imprint of revolutionary activities.
Youth Hall
The Youth Hall is an interactive space designed for younger visitors, offering an engaging and educational experience. It synthesizes information from various aspects of the museum’s collection, including nature, history, culture, and art. Focusing on themes such as ancient organisms, human development and evolution, mythical legends of ethnic minorities, and intangible cultural heritage, the hall aims to captivate the curiosity of young minds through dynamic displays and hands-on experiences.
The Guizhou Provincial Museum may not have a large collection of artifacts, but it features a considerable number of archaeological sites.
The most important fundamental exhibition at provincial museums across the country is the development and changes of the local area from ancient times to the present. However, the Guizhou Provincial Museum features very few exhibits that highlight local characteristics. Nearly half of the exhibits from ancient history are sourced from other museums and not from the local culture, and there is almost nothing on modern history. Nonetheless, the collection of copper drums and bronze mirrors is prominently displayed and worth… Read more »
I came here for a business trip and took the opportunity to visit the Guizhou Provincial Museum. The exhibits were exquisite, and my overall experience was quite good. The only downside was that the paleontological fossils were taken down; I wonder which museum they have moved to.
The Guizhou Provincial Museum in the Guanshanhu District is conveniently located near public transportation, including buses and the subway. If you’re physically fit, you can also take the opportunity to visit Guanshanhu Park nearby. The museum is closed on Mondays, with the exception of holidays. It is open for visits from 9 AM to 4 PM, and since it’s not peak season right now, you should have enough time to explore.
The museum offers free luggage storage upon entry. Small items can be stored in lockers by scanning a QR code with WeChat, while larger items need to be registered and handed over to the staff for safekeeping (for free).
We arrived at the entrance at 11 o’clock and saw a lot of people. After waiting in line for about 20 minutes, we finally got in. Although it was quite crowded inside, we were still able to see all the attractions that we wanted to.
The Guizhou Provincial Museum is a newly renovated museum open to the public, featuring a rich collection of cultural relics with distinct regional characteristics. The exhibition is presented in a lively manner. However, the cultural and creative area is indeed quite empty, which diminishes some of the enjoyment for visitors who want to purchase souvenirs after viewing the exhibits.
The Guizhou Provincial Museum is seriously underrated. It can be said that the quality of cultural relics in the Guizhou Provincial Museum is in no way inferior to all the famous museums in China, especially when seeing several extremely precious calligraphy and painting masterpieces – such as Han Qi’s regular script scrolls… it’s truly a delightful surprise! Not only that, the design of the entire exhibition hall is very user-friendly. It’s the first time I’ve seen a design that treats… Read more »
Initially, I didn’t have high expectations for the Guizhou Provincial Museum. I didn’t set aside much time, but it turned out to be quite impressive. I even ended up spending the whole lunch hour there. The exhibition hall is relatively new and the overall display is excellent. The combination of pictures and text is very informative, and the integration of exhibits and explanations is done perfectly. There is a complete replica of the Yang Can tomb, with six real artifacts… Read more »
Free luggage storage is available.
There are free guided tours in the morning and afternoon, or you can rent an audio guide for 20 yuan. Headphones are available for purchase separately for 15 yuan.