Hubei Provincial Museum Day Tour [Includes Admission Ticket + 2-Hour Guide + Wireless Headsets - Lunar New Year Pre-sale]

On the shores of Wuhan's East Lake stands a cultural landmark bearing the millennia-old Jingchu civilization—the Hubei Provincial Museum. As a museum jointly established by central and local authorities, it serves not only as the central hub for the collection, preservation, research, and exhibition of cultural relics in Hubei but also, with its rich collections, profound historical heritage, and distinctive architectural style, has become a must-visit destination for visitors from around the world to explore the threads of Chinese civilization.

The architectural complex of Hubei Provincial Museum is ingeniously designed, blending the elegance of traditional Chu-style architecture with the simplicity of modern design. The vermilion columns paired with blue-gray tile eaves not only showcase the majestic grandeur of Chu culture but also embody the traditional philosophical concept of "round heaven and square earth." With a total area of 113,000 square meters and exhibition halls covering 49,000 square meters, the museum provides vast and professional spaces for artifact displays, allowing each treasure to shine in an appropriate environment.

The museum houses a total collection of over 240,000 cultural relics (sets), including nearly 1,000 national treasures (sets), spanning various categories such as prehistoric stone tools, bronzeware, ceramics, paintings and calligraphy, jadeware, and lacquerware. The timeline of these artifacts stretches from the Paleolithic Age a million years ago to modern times. These relics are like scattered pearls that string together the long scroll of civilization in the Jingchu region from ancient times to the present. Among them, the four most renowned treasures of the museum are the Chime Bells of Marquis Yi of Zeng, the Sword of Goujian (King of Yue), the Yunxian Man Skull Fossil, and the Blue-and-White Prunus Vase with Four Scenes of Admiration from the Yuan Dynasty. Each of these is considered a national treasure-level artifact, with awe-inspiring historical stories behind them.

The Bianzhong chime bells of Marquis Yi of Zeng are undoubtedly the "treasure of the museum" at Hubei Provincial Museum. This set of Warring States period bronze chime bells, unearthed from the tomb of Marquis Yi of Zeng in Suizhou, consists of 65 individual bells with a total weight of 2,567 kilograms. With a musical range spanning five and a half octaves and complete twelve semitones, it can perform various musical pieces from ancient to modern times, both Chinese and foreign. Not only is it a masterpiece of ancient Chinese bronze casting technology, but also a miracle in the history of world music. Today, the Bianzhong performance has become a distinctive cultural brand of Hubei Provincial Museum, allowing audiences to travel through millennia with the melodious ancient music and experience the ritual and musical civilization of the Warring States period.

The Sword of Goujian, the King of Yue, has astonished the world with its razor-sharp edge capable of "cutting iron like mud" and its exquisite decorative patterns. The entire blade gleams with a dark green hue, remaining completely rust-free despite over two thousand years of existence. The eight bird-script inscriptions reading "Made for the personal use of Goujian, King of Yue" are still clearly visible on the blade. The extraordinary craftsmanship of its casting is truly breathtaking, making it not only a vital testament to the history of the Yue State but also an outstanding representative of ancient Chinese bronze weapon-making techniques.

In addition to its precious collection of cultural relics, the Hubei Provincial Museum has meticulously curated a variety of permanent and temporary exhibitions. The permanent exhibition "Chu Culture Exhibition" systematically showcases the history, culture, art, and technological achievements of the Chu State, offering visitors an in-depth understanding of the profound Chu civilization. The "Tomb of Marquis Yi of Zeng Exhibition" presents a comprehensive display of the excavation process and unearthed artifacts from the tomb, vividly reconstructing the social landscape of the Zeng State during the Warring States period. Furthermore, the museum frequently hosts outstanding cultural relic exhibitions from both domestic and international sources, providing visitors with diverse and enriching cultural experiences.

As a modern museum integrating artifact collection, preservation, research, exhibition, and education, the Hubei Provincial Museum is committed to inheriting and promoting China's outstanding traditional culture. It serves not only as a cultural landmark for Wuhan and Hubei but also as a vital cultural bridge connecting the past, present, and future. It attracts countless domestic and international visitors to explore the mysteries of Chinese civilization and experience the unique charm of Chu culture.