Shanxi Museum

Shanxi Museum is situated on the west bank of Fenhe River in Taiyuan, the capital city of Shanxi Province. It is composed of one main exhibition building in the center and four-corner annex buildings. The main building is shaped like a tripod, symbolizing the bumper harvest, prosperity and stability in Chinese culture. About 400,000 pieces of precious cultural relics are collected inside,  spanning from the Paleolithic Age to Qing Dynasty (1644 - 1911), including fossilized teeth of primitive people, bronze wares, Buddha statues, calligraphies, paintings, and so on. They are displayed in 7 history and culture exhibition halls and 5 arts exhibition halls. In addition, the attached library has more than 160,000 books and over 110,000 ancient books.
 Located in the middle reaches of the Yellow River and the hinterland of China, Shanxi province is the cradle of Chinese civilization. This exhibition hall mainly exhibits the life of primitive people by their teeth fossils, bone fossils, stone tools, potteries, etc.
 China’s first dynasty, Xia Dynasty was established in the 21st century BC. The southern Shanxi is a political and cultural center of Xia, with densely distributed Xia cultural relics. Also, the unearthed bronzes and the complete ancient city in early Shang Dynasty there indicate that place was strategically important in the Shang dynasty. The exhibitions here include pottery wares and bronze wares.
 This exhibition hall inside Shanxi Museum tells the history of Shanxi from 1,033 BC to 376 BC, when the area was firstly a fief and then an independent state. The 600-year-old Jin State laid the cornerstone of Shanxi's history and culture. The bronze wares displayed are very exquisite.
 During this time period, the battels, conflicts and communications never stopped between northern ethnic minorities and the Han nationality of central plains. Shanxi, especially the northern Shanxi located at the boundary, witnessed many of the events, which also promoted the melting of different nationalities. The best exhibitions here include bronze wares, stone carvings, wood paintings, golden accessories, and glass wares, etc.
 This exhibition hall mainly displays various Buddha statues, Buddhism scripts, and pagodas from Northern Dynasties (386 - 581 AD) to Tang Dynasty (618 - 907 AD).
 Chinese operas originated from the song and dance performances in the prehistoric religious ceremonies. These primitive performances absorbed other acting forms and finally developed into operas, a comprehensive acting form chiefly featuring singing and talking. Shanxi was one of the cradle of Chinese operas. The exhibitions in this hall of Shanxi Museum include brick carvings, mini opera stages, pottery figures, opera book and other opera-related relics.
 During the Mind and Qing dynasties, Shanxi merchants did business not only in China, but in Europe and Shanxi was reputed the financial center of China at that time. Visitors can learn their history by the account books, ancient notes, coins, etc.
 Tiles, bricks, wooden roof parts…
 jade sacrificial supplies, jade accessories, jade daily supplies, jade home decorations…
 The exhibitions mainly from Tang (618 - 907 AD), Yuan (1271 - 1368 AD), Ming (1368 - 1644 AD) and Qing (1644 - 1911 AD).
 The collected coins are from 17th century BC till Qing (1368 -1911), including sea shells, bronze coins, and “golden cakes”, etc.
 Include both the simple white ones and colorful complicated ones.
 1. Take Bus Line 6, 602, 803, 807, 831, 845, 866, get off at Yifen Bridge Western Station, and walk southward for about 1,000 meters (1,100 yards) along the Wangjing Road;
2. Take Bus Line 865 and get off at Shanxi Museum Station;
3. Take Bus Line 69 and get off at Shanxi Provincial Museum Station;
4. Take Bus Line 1, 38, 611, 618, 809, 813, 822, 818, 848, 855, 859, 863, 308, get off at Yingze Bridge Western Station, and walk northward along the Binhe West Road for 1,000 meters. 
 

Admission Fee	Free, but visitors need to show their passports to get an entry ticket first.
English Tour Guide Service	CNY 100 / 1 – 10 people CNY 150 / 11 – 15 people CNY 200 / 16 – 20 people CNY 250 / 21 – 25 people, CNY 300 / 26 – 30 people It is provided by the service desk on the first floor of the main building; The explanation only includes the 7 history and culture exhibition halls; The explanation lasts for around an hour, and the extra fare is CNY 50 per hour.
Opening Time	9:00-17:00; last entry at 16:00; closed on Mondays except Chinese holidays, Chinese New Year’s Eve and Chinese New Year’s Day
Recommended Time for a Visit	2-3 hours

 Fenhe River: The Fenhe River is the second largest tributary of the Yellow River. Right now, the both sides of the river nearby Shanxi Museum have been developed into parks for people to entertain and get relaxed.