Xinjiang Museum新疆博物馆
The Xinjiang Museum, founded in 1959, is the region's largest comprehensive museum, with a collection of over 50,000 objects spanning Xinjiang from remote antiquity to modern times. Its Han and Tang silks, ancient mummies, Buddhist art and ethnographic holdings are the most treasured, and its two permanent exhibitions — the historical relics show and the ethnic customs show — are the most authoritative window onto Xinjiang's history and cultures.
Urumqi · Visitor Guide2026-10-19
Quick Answer
Is Xinjiang Museum worth visiting?
Xinjiang's largest comprehensive museum, with more than 50,000 artifacts telling the story of the region's history and Silk Road civilizations.
Quick facts
| Ticket | Free entry; reserve with your ID |
|---|---|
| Hours | 10:00-18:00 (last entry 16:30); closed Mondays |
| Recommended duration | 2-3 hours |
| Best time to visit | Year-round |
| How to get there | Metro Line 1 to Xinjiang University station; buses 2, 7, 51, 68 and 153 to the museum stop |
| English signage | Yes |
| Wheelchair accessible | Yes |
| Founded | 1959 |
| Collection | Over 50,000 objects |
| Highlights | Han-Tang silks, ancient mummies, Buddhist art |
| Exhibition space | 15,000 sq m |
| Rating | National first-class museum |
| Star exhibits | The "Five Stars" brocade and the Loulan Beauty mummy |
What to expect
The Xinjiang Museum is the most authoritative place to understand the region's history. Its permanent exhibition of Xinjiang historical relics runs chronologically from the pre-Qin era to modern times, in sections covering primitive society, ancient civilization, the Silk Road and the modern period, with bronzes, pottery, jade, gold and silver wares, textiles and more.
The museum's most famous exhibit is the Loulan Beauty, a female mummy excavated at the Loula site some 3,800 years old and astonishingly well preserved — a key specimen for the study of ancient Xinjiang. The "Five Stars" brocade, a masterpiece of Han dynasty weaving inscribed "Five stars rise in the east, benefit Zhongguo," is a national first-class artifact.
The ethnic customs exhibition presents the traditional cultures and ways of life of Xinjiang's 13 indigenous ethnic groups — dress, tools, household objects and festivals — through objects, models, photographs and multimedia, painting a full picture of the region's cultural diversity.
How to get there
Metro Line 1 to Xinjiang University station Exit A, then a 10-minute walk. Buses 2, 7, 51 and 68 stop at the museum.
Best photo spots
- The museum building itself
- The "Five Stars" brocade on display
- The Loulan Beauty mummy
- The ethnic customs galleries
Tips
- Pick up a floor map at the ground-floor information desk first
- Free guided tours run at 10:00 and 15:00
- Dining options nearby are thin — bring snacks or eat downtown afterward
- Closed Mondays; don't make the trip for nothing
Scams to avoid
- No notable scam risks
Frequently asked questions
Do I need to book ahead?
You can get a ticket on site with your ID, or reserve in advance through the official WeChat account.
Can I take photos in the museum?
Most exhibits may be photographed without flash; some special exhibitions bar photography entirely.
Are there guided tours?
Free talks run on a schedule, and self-guided audio devices are available for rent.
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