The Qingdao Museum (青岛市博物馆), covering an area of 105 mu (approximately 7 hectares), boasts a building area of 30,000 square meters, with over 7,000 square meters dedicated to exhibitions. It stands as a comprehensive local historical and art museum. The main building comprises three above-ground floors and one underground level, housing 13 exhibition halls and a circumferential corridor. The architectural design exudes elegance, featuring a graceful circular corridor structure, azure-colored roofs, spacious plazas complemented by water fountains, and verdant lawns, creating a modern urban landscape.
The museum’s collection includes over 100,000 artifacts spanning more than thirty categories, such as calligraphy, painting, ceramics, bronzeware, jade, coins, seals, oracle bones, and bamboo and wood carvings. After exploring Qingdao’s natural beauty, visitors can delve into the city’s ancient and modern history here. With its rich assortment of exhibits, the Qingdao Museum offers a glimpse into the cultural heritage and historical evolution of the region, providing visitors with a deeper understanding of Qingdao’s past and present.
Table of Contents
- Basic Information
- Location and Transportation
- Highlights of Qingdao Museum
- Vlog about Qingdao Museum
- Attractions near Qingdao Museum
Basic Information
| Estimated Length of Tour | 1 – 2 hours |
| Ticket Price | Free |
| Opening Hours | 9.00 – 17.00; Last admission: 16.30 (1st May – 31st October) 9.00 – 16.30; Last admission: 16.00 (1st November – 30th April) Closed on Mondays |
| Telephone Number | 0086-0532-88896286 |
Location and Transportation
The Qingdao Museum is located at 51 Meiling East Road, Laoshan District, Qingdao City, Shandong Province. To get there, you can choose one of the following ways:
Bus: Take bus 230, 382, 386 Loop Line, 418, 501, 606, or 610 and get off at Exhibition Center Stop (会展中心站)
Metro: The closest metro station to Qingdao Museum is Exhibition Center (会展中心) on line 11. After getting out of the station from Exit E, you will be standing right in front of the entrance to the museum.
Highlights of Qingdao Museum
Exhibitions on the First Floor
Starting on the first floor, visitors encounter the “Ancient Echoes” section of the large-scale permanent exhibition titled “Qingdao Stories.” This section, known as “Timeless Charm,” is divided into six units: “Tracing the Origins of Dongyi Civilization,” “Qi State as an Economic Center,” “Qin and Han Dynasty Exploration,” “Northern Port Through the Ages,” “Taoism Thriving in Laoshan,” and “Ming and Qing Coastal Defense.” Through hundreds of precious artifacts excavated from Qingdao’s archaeological sites and handed down through generations, this exhibition portrays the region’s ancient history from the Neolithic period to the pre-establishment of Qingdao, highlighting significant historical events.
Exhibitions on the Second Floor
Moving to the second floor, visitors explore the “Reflections of Time” section of “Qingdao Stories,” which delves into the city’s modern history. This section is divided into six units based on historical periods: “Establishment of Qing Dynasty Defense,” “German Colonial Development,” “Japanese Occupation and Plunder,” “National Sovereignty Return,” “Eight-Year Anti-Japanese War,” and “People’s Liberation.” Through over 200 historical photographs and artifacts, this floor provides a comprehensive overview of Qingdao’s urban development, economy, culture, education, and scientific research from its establishment to the liberation in 1949. Additionally, this floor features a special exhibition of calligraphy and painting, showcasing works by renowned artists from the Ming and Qing dynasties.
Exhibitions on the Thrid Floor
The third floor hosts an exquisite display of Ming and Qing dynasty porcelain, a highlight of the museum’s collection. Visitors can admire a diverse array of porcelain masterpieces, including pieces from renowned kilns. Additionally, this floor features dedicated galleries showcasing ancient crafts such as lacquerware, jade carving, inkstones, and enamelwork. Special exhibitions on Shandong folk woodblock prints and calligraphy and painting by Qingdao-born artist Gao Fenghan are also featured. Notably, the western hall of the museum houses two priceless Northern Wei stone Buddhas, each standing six meters tall and over 1500 years old. These well-preserved statues showcase exquisite craftsmanship and lifelike expressions. Originally housed in the Longquan Temple in Linzi, these statues narrowly escaped being looted by the invading Japanese forces during World War II.
