Shaanxi History Museum陕西历史博物馆
Shaanxi History Museum is China's first large modern museum, with permanent galleries themed on Zhou, Qin, Han and Tang civilization and over 1.71 million relics. The Hejiacun Tang treasure, Tang tomb murals and gold and silver pieces are the star exhibits.
Xi'an · Visitor Guide2026-10-18
Quick Answer
Is Shaanxi History Museum worth visiting?
China's first large modern history museum, opened in 1991 in Xi'an with over 1.71 million relics; free with 3-day advance booking, Hejiacun exhibit 30 yuan, murals hall 270 yuan.
Quick facts
| Ticket | Free (reserve 3 days ahead on the official WeChat account); Hejiacun Treasure exhibit ¥30, Tang Mural Hall ¥270 |
|---|---|
| Hours | 08:30-18:00 (to 18:30 in summer), last entry 16:00, closed Mondays |
| Recommended duration | 3-4 hours |
| Best time to visit | Good all year; tickets go fast in peak season. Off season (Nov-Feb) reservations are easier to get |
| How to get there | Metro Line 1/2 to Xiaozhai Station Exit F, then about 15 minutes on foot. Buses 5/19/24/26/27/521 to the Shaanxi History Museum stop |
| English signage | Yes |
| Wheelchair accessible | Yes |
| Opened | |
| Collection | Over 1.71 million relics |
| Grade | National First-Grade Museum |
| Floor area | 56,000 m² |
| Galleries | 3 permanent + 3 special exhibition halls |
| Tourism rating | National AAAAA (5A) scenic attraction |
What to expect
Shaanxi History Museum stands northwest of the Big Wild Goose Pagoda in Xi'an's southern suburbs — China's first large modern history museum, designed by Zhang Jinqiu in a style that blends Tang architecture with modern function. Its permanent exhibition, Ancient Civilization of Shaanxi, presents the province's history from prehistory to the Qing in chronological order.
The collection spans more than a million years, from the simple stone tools of early humans to objects of modern life. Western Zhou bronzes, Qin pottery figurines, Han stone carvings and Tang murals are the highlights; the gold cakes, silver pieces and jade of the Hejiacun Tang hoard are astonishingly fine.
Do the Hejiacun Treasure special exhibit (¥30) first, then the permanent galleries. Audio guides rent for ¥30 and are worth it. The permanent exhibit follows a timeline — grab a floor plan and plot your route. The museum cafe works for a break; the Big Wild Goose Pagoda and Datang Everbright City nearby combine well.
How to get there
Metro Line 1 or 2 to Xiaozhai Station Exit F, then walk west along Yanta West Road about 15 minutes. Buses 5, 19, 24, 26, 27, 521 and 701 to the Shaanxi History Museum stop.
Best photo spots
- The Tang-style facade of the museum
- Hejiacun Treasure gallery (close-ups of the gold cakes and silver pieces)
- Tang Mural Hall (no photography inside — an exterior shot only)
- The entrance hall with the Four Great Inventions sculpture backdrop
Tips
- Free tickets are fiercely contested — book exactly at midnight 3 days ahead
- Bring your original ID card for entry once the reservation is made
- Hejiacun Treasure tickets can be bought directly — no need to compete for the free ones
- Arrive at opening to dodge the tour-group peak (10:00-11:30)
Scams to avoid
- No authorized third-party ticket sellers exist — beware fakes
- Unlicensed guides around the entrance give poor commentary; use the official audio guide
Frequently asked questions
How do free tickets differ from the paid exhibits?
Free tickets cover the 3 permanent galleries. The Hejiacun Treasure (¥30) and the Mural Hall (¥270) are special exhibits with finer, more unusual pieces.
Do I need to race for tickets?
Free tickets are highly sought after — reserve 3 days out, earlier for holidays. If you strike out, a Hejiacun exhibit ticket also gets you inside.
Can I store luggage?
Yes, there is a free cloakroom; large bags can be left east of the south gate.
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Other things to do in Xi'an
Anren Fang (Tang Dynasty Residential Complex)
One of the 108 warded quarters of Tang Chang'an, now an archaeological park where ordinary Tang residents lived and traded; new exhibit areas opened in 2023.
Banpo Neolithic Museum
A 6,000-year-old Neolithic village excavation on Xi'an's eastern edge — walkways over the pits of a 45-house settlement of the Yangshao culture, plus a re-creation village with thatched huts.
Banpo Museum
A 6,000-year-old Yangshao-culture village of a matrilineal clan — the essential stop for understanding China's Neolithic. Admission CNY 47, students CNY 27.
Beilin Museum
Xi'an's Stele Forest Museum holds China's greatest collection of ancient inscribed stelae — a pilgrimage site for calligraphy lovers. Admission CNY 65. A five-star must for anyone who loves the brush.
Bell Tower
The landmark at the very centre of Xi'an, built in the Ming dynasty. Admission CNY 30 to climb, or CNY 50 combined with the Drum Tower 200 m away. The night view is superb.
Big Wild Goose Pagoda
7th-century Buddhist pagoda built to house scriptures brought from India by the monk Xuanzang (the real Tripitaka). ¥50. Evening fountain show is free.
Xi'an City Wall
China's most complete ancient city wall: Ming-built, 13.7 km around the old city, with a full circuit by bike in about 2 hours. Admission CNY 54. A must-see.
Da Ci'en Temple
A Tang-dynasty royal monastery built under Master Xuanzang and home to the Giant Wild Goose Pagoda. Admission CNY 40; a memorial to the great monk.
Drum and Bell Towers
Two 14th-century Ming-dynasty towers anchoring Xi'an's old-city centre — the Bell Tower (1384) at the crossroads, the Drum Tower (1380) at the Muslim Quarter gate. ¥30 each to climb, 1-1.
Drum Tower
A Ming-dynasty landmark facing the Bell Tower across the old city; tower admission CNY 30, drum show CNY 10, combo with the Bell Tower CNY 50. A must-visit.
Xi'an Beilin Museum (Forest of Steles)
China's largest collection of ancient stone tablets and a mecca for calligraphy lovers, set within the old Confucian temple complex. Admission CNY 65. A must-see.
Grand Tang Mall (Datang Everbright City)
A 1.5-km free pedestrian avenue of lit-up Tang-style pavilions, costumed performers, and food stalls running south from the Big Wild Goose Pagoda through Xi'an's Qujiang district.
Great Mosque of Xi'an
A 1,280-year-old mosque site down Huajue Lane that looks like a Ming temple but serves Xi'an's Hui Muslim community — four courtyards, a pagoda-style minaret, no domes.
Han and Tang Dynasty Street
The core stretch of Xi'an's Great Tang All Day Mall, about 2.1 km long and opened in 2008; free entry, light shows run 19:00-23:00, next to the Giant Wild Goose Pagoda.
Huaqing Palace
Tang Dynasty imperial hot springs resort — Yang Guifei's bathing pool, scene of the 1936 Xi'an Incident. ¥120 entry. 30 km east of Xi'an. Combine with Terracotta Army.
Huaqing Pool
Royal hot springs from the Zhou through the Tang dynasty, setting of Emperor Xuanzong's romance with Consort Yang. CNY 120 covers the grounds; the Song of Everlasting Sorrow show plays at night.
Mount Hua
The most perilous of the Five Great Mountains — 5-6 hours to the summit on foot, or take the cableway to save your legs. Entry CNY 160 plus CNY 40 shuttle; a five-star must-see.
Muslim Quarter
Xi'an's 1,200-year-old Hui Muslim food district — 10+ blocks of lamb skewers, hand-pulled noodles, persimmon cakes, and the 1,300-year-old Great Mosque. Free entry. Food ¥5–50 per item.
Muslim Street (Huimin Street)
Famous food street in Xi'an's Muslim Quarter; free entry, shops open about 09:00-23:00, a 10-minute walk from Zhonglou metro station, famed for paomo, liangpi and lamb skewers.
Shaanxi Grand Theater
Northwest China's largest theater, opened in 2017 with 1,800 seats and show tickets CNY 80-380. Tang-inspired architecture in the Grand Tang Ever-Bright City, 10 minutes from Dayanta station.
Small Wild Goose Pagoda
Tang-dynasty brick pagoda in Xi'an built 707-710 and rising 43 m over 15 tiers; free with reservation, tower climb 30 yuan, open 9:00-17:00 and closed Tuesdays.
The Song of Everlasting Sorrow
A large-scale outdoor drama staged on the lake at Huaqing Pool, retelling the romance of Emperor Xuanzong and Consort Yang. Tickets CNY 188-588. A visual feast that is well worth watching.
Tang West Market Site
The excavated heart of Tang Chang'an's commerce — origin of the phrase dongxi, 'east-west' — with a museum recreating Silk Road trade at its peak. Free entry; allow 1-2 hours.
Terracotta Army
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Xi'an City Wall
The best-preserved ancient city wall in China — 13.7 km of Ming Dynasty fortifications you can bike on top of. ¥54 entry, ¥45 bike rental. 2–3 hours to bike the full loop.
Museums in Xi'an
Banpo Museum
A 6,000-year-old Neolithic village preserved in situ — walk through a matriarchal Yangshao Culture settlement with houses, kilns, and a burial ground. ¥65. China's first prehistoric site museum.
Emperor Qinshihuang's Mausoleum Site Museum (Terracotta Warriors)
About 8,000 life-size clay soldiers buried in 210 BCE to guard China's first emperor — plan 3 to 4 hours on site plus 90 minutes each way from central Xian.
Shaanxi History Museum — Qin-Han Branch
New branch opened 2024 near the Qin Dynasty palace ruins. Focuses exclusively on the Qin and Han dynasties (221 BC-220 AD). Free. Book ahead.
Emperor Qinshihuang's Mausoleum Site Museum
The world-famous Terracotta Army viewed through the museum lens: excavation in progress, bronze chariot conservation, and the science behind 2,200-year-old polychrome preservation. ¥120.
Forest of Steles Museum (Xi'an Beilin Museum)
Xi'an's 1,094-year-old "Forest of Steles" holds more than 3,000 carved stone tablets and rewards 2–3 hours of close looking — most visitors should skip the calligraphy trance and head strai.
Xi'an City Wall Museum
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Xi'an Museum
Tang Dynasty artifacts inside the Small Wild Goose Pagoda temple complex — a calmer, more intimate alternative to the Shaanxi History Museum. Free entry with garden and pagoda access.".. 2026.
Terracotta Army Museum (Museum of the Terracotta Army and Mausoleum of Qin Shi Huang)
The 8th Wonder of the World — 8,000+ life-size terracotta warriors, horses, and chariots buried to guard the tomb of China's first emperor (210 BCE).
Yongle Palace Museum (Yongle Gong)
Yuan-dynasty Taoist complex at Ruicheng (Yuncheng, Shanxi) — the largest surviving ensemble of Yuan murals in China, led by the 'Procession of Immortals'. About 2 hours from Xi'an by rail. ¥60.