Hubei Provincial Museum

Established in 1953, the Hubei Provincial Museum is a leading institution in Wuhan, housing a vast collection of over 240,000 artifacts, including the renowned bronze bell set of the Marquis Yi of Zeng and the Sword of Goujian. The museum offers permanent and temporary exhibitions, educational programs, and guided tours, making it a must-visit destination for history enthusiasts and tourists alike.

Planning your visit

The Hubei Provincial Museum holds two objects that would justify the trip alone. The bronze bell set of Marquis Yi of Zeng is a 65-bell chime from the fifth century BC, weighing over four tonnes, tuned across five octaves and still playable — each bell producing two distinct pitches depending on where it is struck, a feat of casting that took modern metallurgists years to explain. Replica performances are staged in the museum. The Sword of Goujian, from roughly the same era, came out of a tomb after 2,000 years underground still sharp and untarnished.

Around them sit over 240,000 artefacts covering the Chu state and the wider region — lacquerware, jade, and the contents of the Marquis Yi tomb excavated in 1978, one of the most complete Warring States burials ever found. Admission is free with advance reservation, and the museum sits by East Lake in Wuhan.

Bookable options include entry tickets with digital guides, two-hour guided tours, and guided tours with hotel pickup, which is useful given Wuhan's size. Timing a visit around a bell performance is worth doing — the schedule is limited and the sound is the point of the object. Combined city tours pair the museum with the Yellow Crane Tower, Wuhan's landmark pavilion overlooking the Yangtze, sometimes with the sky rail. Current availability is listed below.