Shandong University Museum

Shandong University Museum

Shandong University Museum was officially established in 1995 on the foundation of the cultural relics and specimen room of the Department of Archaeology. The old museum was located in the Economics and Management Building on the East Campus of Shandong University, and it consisted of four sections: the University History Exhibition Hall, the Teaching and Research Achievements Exhibition Hall, the Calligraphy and Painting Exhibition, and the Cultural Relics Exhibition Hall. To commemorate the centennial anniversary of Shandong University, on October 13, 2001, the new museum held a grand opening ceremony in the newly completed Science and Technology Complex Building on the picturesque West Campus.

The newly built Shandong University Museum has an exhibition area of 1,200 square meters, featuring four sections: the Centennial History Exhibition of Shandong University, the Calligraphy Artworks Exhibition of Jiang Weisong, the Premium Cultural Relics Exhibition, and the Temporary Exhibition Room. The classic Chinese-style architecture and the surrounding pine and cypress trees form a harmonious unity with the museum.

The Cultural Relics Exhibition Hall displays nearly 400 cultural relics and specimens, most of which were excavated during teaching fieldwork by the Department of Archaeology at Shandong University. In organizing the display, we focus on highlighting the following four aspects to establish the museum’s unique characteristics.

First: Selecting specimens in chronological order

The Department of Archaeology at Shandong University has conducted excavations and surveys at 30 sites. We have arranged the specimens in chronological order, from the Neolithic Period cultures in the Shandong region — such as the Beixin Culture and the Dawenkou Culture — through to the Song, Yuan, Ming, and Qing dynasties. This approach ensures that the displayed specimens are both typical and representative of historical continuity.

Second: The visibility of the displayed specimens

Thanks to years of excavation, the Department of Archaeology has accumulated tens of thousands of cultural relics in its collection, featuring a wide variety of materials, types, and continuous time periods. Given the limited exhibition space, we have prioritized selecting artifacts that are easy for visitors to understand, diverse in material, varied in function, and well-preserved. For example, among the exhibits from the noble tombs at the Xianren Terrace in Changqing, we selected items from Tomb M6 — a high-status tomb with a clearly identified occupant — to highlight the ritual system and the luxurious, extravagant lifestyle of the ruling class at the time. These displays are not only visually engaging but also academically enriching.

Third: Integrating general exhibitions with teaching

In arranging the specimen displays, we take into account both the needs of general visitors and the requirements of on-site archaeological teaching. The developmental evolution of several typical artifacts — such as ding (tripods), yan (steamers), gui (kettles), and li (tripod cauldrons) — is presented through both physical objects and diagrams, achieving a unified experience of exhibition and education.

Fourth: Utilizing modern methods to enhance the exhibition effect

In the exhibition design, in addition to combining cultural relics, charts, and photos within display cases, we have also installed auxiliary facilities in the exhibition rooms, such as VCD screens, electronic interactive large screens, light boxes, and themed backdrops. These create an intuitive and welcoming atmosphere, evoking a classic and elegant environment that makes visitors feel as if they are stepping back in time, resulting in a highly effective exhibition experience.

With the launch of the Shandong University Digital Archaeology Museum, Shandong University Museum will present itself in a new light and engage with society at a new level in terms of teaching, research, and exhibitions.

Visiting Guide for Shandong University Museum

Opening Hours: Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays, 13:30–16:30 (October 1 – April 30); 14:00–17:00 (May 1 – September 30), closed on holidays

Address: 27th Floor, Block A, Zhixin Building, No. 27 Shanda South Road, Central Campus, Shandong University, Jinan City, Shandong Province

Phone: 0531-88366337, 88362424

Further Reading:

· National First-Class Museums of China