Jilin City Museum (吉林市博物馆) was established in 1962 and merged with the Jilin City Exhibition Hall in 1978, sharing the same premises until 1996. In 1990, it also became home to the newly founded Jilin City Meteorite Museum. A new building was constructed on the original site in 1996, with the new museum officially opening in 1998. The museum currently features 8 permanent exhibition halls, with a total exhibition space of 18,600 square meters. As of May 2020, Jilin City Museum houses a collection of 18,836 artifacts, with a focus on archaeological items and meteorite specimens. Among its most notable exhibits is the Jilin No. 1 meteorite, the heaviest known stony meteorite in the world, which was part of a meteor shower event that occurred near the city on March 8, 1976.
Table of Contents
- Basic Information
- Location and Transportation
- Exhibitions in Jilin City Museum
- Other Attractions in Jilin Urban Area
Basic Information
| Estimated Length of Tour | 1 – 2 hours |
| Ticket Price | Free |
| Opening Hours | 9.00 – 16.30 |
| Telephone Number | 0086-0432-66072028 |
Location and Transportation
Jilin City Museum is located at 100 Jilin Street, Fengman District, Jilin City, Jilin Province, China. To get there, you can take bus 3, 33, 61, 130, 301, 313, 333, 334, or 335 and get off at Century Square stop (世纪广场站).
Exhibitions in Jilin City Museum
Jilin Meteorite Rain Exhibition
The Jilin Meteorite Rain Exhibition is one of the permanent exhibits at the Jilin City Museum and, as of 2020, remains the only exhibition in China dedicated to meteorites. It features specimens from the meteor shower that occurred in Jilin on March 8, 1976, incorporating sound, light, and multimedia effects to illustrate the history of the event and humanity’s curiosity about the universe and scientific discovery.
The exhibition space spans 2,060 square meters and is divided into four sections: the Vestibule, Time-Space Tunnel, Exploration Hall, and Main Exhibition Hall. The Main Hall is 18 meters high, 54 meters long, and 32 meters wide. The exhibit is organized into four main themes: “Meteorites and the Universe,” “Meteorites and Earth,” “Jilin Meteorite Rain,” and “Meteorites and Humanity.” Highlights include the domestic and international meteorite displays, Jilin No. 1 meteorite showcase, a recreation of the Jilin No. 1 meteorite crater, and interactive exhibits such as virtual imaging of the No. 3 meteorite and rotating planetary models.
Niu Zihou and Peking Opera Art Exhibition
This exhibition focuses on Niu Zihou, a prominent businessman from Jilin who funded the establishment of the Xi (Fu) Liancheng Opera Company, contributing significantly to the development of Peking Opera.
Through original artifacts, over 200 historical photographs, and reconstructed scenes, the exhibition tells the story of Niu Zihou’s efforts to promote Peking Opera and highlights his role as a Confucian merchant dedicated to the flourishing of Chinese opera art. It offers an insightful glimpse into the connection between Niu Zihou and the historical evolution of Peking Opera.
Songhua Lake Driftwood Root Carving Art Exhibition
This exhibition is a unique display of local cultural heritage in Jilin City. Jointly organized by the Jilin City Driftwood Association and the Jilin City Museum in 1999, the exhibition features 127 pieces of root carvings created by members of the Songhua Lake Driftwood Art Research Association. These works showcase the intricate artistry of driftwood root carvings native to the region.
Jilin City Historical Exhibition
The Jilin City Historical Exhibition is divided into two sections: Ancient and Modern History. The ancient section outlines the evolution of Jilin City from its early settlements in the primitive society to the formation of the modern city. The modern section is subdivided into four parts: Modern Jilin (1810–1911), Jilin under Warlord Rule (1912–1931), Jilin during the Occupation (1931–1945), and Jilin in the Liberation War (1945–1948).
This part of the exhibit uses old photographs and historical documents to narrate the city’s transformation from a traditional fortress to a modern city, detailing its shift from feudalism to a semi-feudal, semi-colonial society. It highlights the struggles of the Jilin people against imperialism, feudalism, and bureaucratic capitalism, as well as the city’s evolution from an agricultural to an industrial and urban society.
