Shiyan Museum

Shiyan Museum

Shiyan Museum is a national AAAA-level tourist attraction and a patriotic education base.

[Shiyan Museum] A national AAAA-level tourist attraction. Designed by the Southwest China Architectural Design and Research Institute, it is a three-story above-ground building. The building covers a construction area of 10,000 square meters, with an exhibition space of over 4,000 square meters. It has a total of three floors, reaching 24 meters in height, and includes facilities such as exhibition halls, cultural relics storage rooms, research offices, and lecture halls. The museum's architectural design meets functional requirements for science, environmental protection, and safety. The design concept takes an abstract human eye as a compositional starting point, symbolizing the path of human exploration and discovery. The permanent exhibitions include "Entering the Age of Dinosaurs," "Ancient Human Homeland," "The Immortal Mountains and Splendid Palaces of Wudang Mountain," "Shiyan and Water," "The Road of Dongfeng," and "Cultural Relics Unearthed from the Reservoir Area of the South-to-North Water Diversion Project in Hubei."

Permanent Exhibitions

"Entering the Age of Dinosaurs" uses dinosaur and dinosaur egg fossils unearthed in the Shiyan area to introduce scientific knowledge about dinosaurs, such as their living environment, reproduction, species, habits, and the mystery of their extinction.

"Ancient Human Homeland" uses ancient human fossils, associated animal fossils, and stone artifacts unearthed in Shiyan to educate visitors about human origins, evolution, and the development of civilization.

"The Immortal Mountains and Splendid Palaces of Wudang Mountain" introduces the historical evolution and architectural culture of Wudang Mountain, showcasing the cultural connotations and characteristics of the Wudang Mountain Ancient Building Complex—a UNESCO World Heritage Site—from a unique perspective.

Other exhibitions include "Shiyan and Water," "The Road of Dongfeng," and "Cultural Relics Unearthed from the Reservoir Area of the South-to-North Water Diversion Project in Hubei."

Treasured Collections

Dinosaur Egg Fossils Shiyan has a large quantity and wide variety of dinosaur egg fossils, which are shallowly buried and rare both domestically and internationally. The phenomenon of "dinosaurs and eggs coexisting" discovered in Shiyan holds significant value for studying the survival and extinction of dinosaurs.

Bronze Buddha Statues These six bronze statues of Wudang Mountain, which were once lost elsewhere and nearly melted down, are all cast in bronze and gilded. They include: three statues of Zhenwu sitting, one statue of the Divine Official Lingguan, one statue of Duke Zhou standing, and one statue of Taohua standing.

Iron Sword with Jade Handle Unearthed from the Qiaojia Courtyard Tomb Cluster in Yun County, this sword was found at Hubei’s first-known Spring and Autumn period tomb site with human sacrifices since the founding of the People’s Republic of China.

Featured Activities

Walk with the Dinosaurs In the "Entering the Age of Dinosaurs" exhibition hall, interactive activities such as a race against a T-Rex and dinosaur puzzles allow audience participation, adding interactivity and fun to the display.

Basic Information

Address: No. 91, Beijing North Road, Shiyan City, Hubei Province

Transportation: Bus routes 6 or 28

Opening Hours: 9:00–17:00

Closed: Mondays

Ticket Information:

Free

Take bus routes 31, 28, 18, or 15 and get off at Museum Station

Further Reading:

· National Second-Class Museum of China