Shanxi Museum
Photo: Own work — CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Established in 2005, Shanxi Museum in Taiyuan, China, houses 400,000 cultural relics and 110,000 ancient books, offering free admission to visitors.
Planning your visit
Shanxi was the heartland of early Chinese bronze casting and the base of the Jin state, and the provincial museum in Taiyuan holds 400,000 relics and 110,000 ancient books.
The bronzes are the outstanding collection. Shanxi tombs have produced ritual vessels of the first rank, including the bird-shaped zun that is the museum's emblem, and the Jin state material covers the Spring and Autumn period in exceptional depth.
Buddhist sculpture is the second strength: Shanxi holds the Yungang Grottoes and a remarkable concentration of surviving timber temple architecture — including the oldest wooden buildings in China — because the province's isolation protected them.
Ming and Qing merchant culture features too. Shanxi bankers ran China's first draft banking system, and their fortified courtyard compounds are a regional landmark.
Admission is free with reservation. Allow two hours. The main booking is an entry ticket. Current availability is shown below.
Before you book
Where is Shanxi Museum?
Shanxi Museum is in Taiyuan, China. The map on this page marks its exact location.
How long should I allow for Shanxi Museum?
Allow two hours. That is the time the collection itself takes at an unhurried pace, before any queue.
Do I need to book Shanxi Museum in advance?
Tickets can be bought on the door at quiet times, but booking ahead fixes the date and avoids the queue at busy ones. Live availability is shown on this page.