一、Introduction

 

The Hunan Provincial Museum is one of the largest museums of history and art in Hunan Province. As a cultural landmark and a repository of rich historical artifacts, it holds significant importance.

 

Established in the early 1950s, it is located in the Kaifu District of Changsha with an area of 51,000 square meters. The museum is renowned for its abundant collections, featuring cultural relics excavated from the marvelous Mawangdui Han Tombs, including the bronze wares of the Shang and Zhou Dynasties and the Kingdom of Chu, pottery and porcelain works in past dynasties, calligraphy works and paintings, as well as modern cultural relics.

 

The new exhibition building is simple in form yet magnificent in grandeur. It is a multi-functional and well-equipped building that showcases six permanent exhibitions and many temporary exhibitions.

 

As a major cultural institution, the Hunan Provincial Museum attracts millions of visitors and serves as a unique window for people to understand the development of civilization in Hunan province and appreciate the mysteries of Hunan culture. With over 180,000 artifacts in its collection, it is a treasure trove of historical and artistic wonders.

二、Location and Accessibility

Location

The Hunan Provincial Museum is located in the Kaifu District of Changsha, at the northwest corner of Changsha Martyrs Park.

Accessibility

The museum offers several transportation options for visitors. Bus Nos. 112 and 136 are available for those who prefer public transportation. Additionally, visitors can also reach the museum by metro. Metro Line 1: get off at Peiyuanqiao Station Exit No.2, and then take the buses No.112 or No. 222, or No. 901 to reach the museum. Metro Line 2: get off at Yingbin Road Station Exit No.5, and then take buses No. 131, or No. 113, or No. 146 to reach the museum. From the airport, visitors can take the airport shuttle bus at Changsha Huanghua International Airport to the Civil Aviation Hotel and then transfer the Bus No.136 to the Hunan Museum. Another option is to take the maglev train from Changsha Huanghua International Airport and arrive at Changsha South Railway Station. Then transfer Metro Line Two and get off at Yingbin Road Station. Take buses No.131 or No. 113 to get off at the Hunan Museum bus stop. Walk to the north for about 300 meters, and then you can arrive at the gate of the museum.

三、Exhibitions

Exhibition of Han Tombs at Mawangdui

The excavation of three tombs of the Western Han dynasty at Mawangdui is truly one of the major archaeological discoveries in the twentieth century. Over 3,000 cultural relics and a well-preserved female corpse were unearthed here. Among the relics are bright-colored lacquer wares that represent the highest level of workmanship at that time. Fine silks astonishingly display accomplished weaving techniques. Silk paintings with romantic themes of the Kingdom of Heaven and the craving for eternity, along with silk inscriptions demonstrating the knowledge and wisdom of the ancient people, are also part of this remarkable collection. The well-preserved female corpse is an absolute miracle in human antisepsis. As mentioned in the materials, 2000 years after her burial, the famous Mawangdui Han Dynasty Tombs were excavated, and Xin Zhui's tomb is part of it. When Xin Zhui was excavated, her body hadn't corrupted. Her skin was still soft and moist, looking as if she was just in a sleep.

Exhibition of Shang and Zhou Bronzes found in Hunan Province

Hunan Province has a long history of bronze culture. The earliest bronzes found here were excavated from several Shang Dynasty sites (over 3,500 years ago) in Tonggushan of Yueyang City and Zaoshi of Shimen County. The museum has a large collection of bronzes of the Shang and Zhou Dynasties. The Exhibition of Shang and Zhou Bronzes found in Hunan Province displays 72 carefully selected bronzes and 11 jade objects unearthed together with the bronzes. This exhibition reflects the sequence of development of bronze culture in Hunan Province and offers knowledge of the bronze Nao (a musical instrument) and animal-shaped bronze utensils, enriching the connotation of China's bronze culture.

Exhibition of Ceramics from Famous Kilns in Hunan Province

The ceramics industry in Hunan Province has a unique position after a long history of development. The ten-thousand-year old pottery shards unearthed at Yuchanyan in Dao County are among the earliest ever-discovered in China. More than 400 kilns ranging from the Eastern Han Dynasty to the Qing Dynasty have been discovered in Hunan Province. The brilliantly colorful ceramic art of Hunan has added a bright vista to ancient ceramics in China.

Exhibition of Calligraphies in the Ming and Qing Dynasties

Calligraphy in China is an old and unique traditional art. The museum has a large collection of calligraphy works of the Ming and Qing Dynasties, especially the works of celebrities from Hunan Province. These works show the elegant and distinct demeanor of Hunan calligraphy. The displayed collection epitomizes the continuation, innovation and development of calligraphy in Hunan Province along with the other parts of China.

Exhibition of Paintings Created in the Ming and Qing Dynasties

The history of Chinese painting art has a long course with unique national style and profound cultural information. Based on the development of painting art in the Tang and Song Dynasties, the painting art of the Ming and Qing Dynasties has a tendency of individuation, leading to various schools of paintings with different styles. This exhibition has a large collection of paintings of the Ming and Qing Dynasties. Among them, there are works of painters that have never been shown anywhere else in the country, showing the basic development of the painting art and the artistic style of Ming and Qing Dynasties.

Exhibition of Ten New Major Archaeological Discoveries in Hunan Province

The Exhibition of Ten New Major Archaeological Discoveries in Hunan Province with 133 artifacts showcases the ten new great archaeological discoveries in Hunan Province over the past ten years. Eight of these have been included in Annual Ten New Major Archaeological Discoveries in China and three have been included in the Hundred Greatest Archaeological Discoveries of the Twentieth Century in China. The excavation of an ancient city site from the Warring States to the Qin and Han Dynasties in Liye of Longshan County is regarded as one of the greatest archaeological discoveries of the twenty-first century in China. This exhibition shows rich and various aspects of artifacts, including quantity, variety, form, cultural meaning, historical and scientific value and so on.

四、National Treasures

 

The Hunan Provincial Museum houses several remarkable national treasures. One of these is the Coffin with Painted Design on Black Lacquer Coating. Though buried for over two thousand years, it still shines in dazzling colors, a testament to the superb craftsmanship of ancient times.

 

The Tang Dynasty Copy of "Lan Ting Xu" (the Brown Silk Paper Scroll) allows us to glimpse the style of early Tang Dynasty calligraphy while admiring the artistic beauty of Wang Xizhi's calligraphy.

 

The T-shaped Painting on Silk is a masterpiece. In 1972, it was uncovered on the inner coffin lid of the Han Dynasty tomb at Mawangdui. Drawn on a single layer of fine silk, it features a T-shape with a brown background. The painting showcases motifs representative of the cosmos and afterlife, including legendary figures from Chinese mythology such as Nuwa and Chang'e. It is widely regarded as one of the earliest masterpieces featuring gongbi zhongcai, or fine-brush with heavy color.

 

The Gauze Gown is another precious treasure. Its delicate craftsmanship and fine materials reflect the advanced textile skills of ancient times.

 

Finally, the Square Bronze Ding with Human Mask Design and Inscriptions of da he is a magnificent piece. Its unique design and inscriptions provide valuable insights into the bronze culture of ancient China.

五、Admission and Opening Hours

Admission

Admission to the Hunan Provincial Museum is free, except on Mondays.

Opening Hours

The museum is open from 8:00 am to 17:45.

六、Services

 

Guided Tours

The Hunan Provincial Museum arranges docents or volunteers to provide free guided tours during open hours. These guided tours last about 1.5 hours, allowing visitors to gain in-depth knowledge about the museum's exhibits and history.

Audio Guide

Visitors to the Hunan Provincial Museum can use the APP WeChat to scan the QR code in the gallery for exhibit information and audio guide. This convenient feature enables tourists to explore the museum at their own pace and gain a better understanding of the various artifacts on display.

English Services

The museum also offers excellent English services. There are English-speaking volunteers available to assist visitors. Additionally, every introduction board has English translations, ensuring that international tourists can fully appreciate the significance and beauty of the exhibits.