Dongting Lake Museum

Dongting Lake Museum

The Yuanjiang City Dongting Lake Museum is located on the western shore of Qionghu Lake in the urban area of Yuanjiang City, covering an area of approximately 2,400 square meters. It is an early-established, high-standard garden-style institution. Established as an independent entity in 1984, it was also designated as the “Yuanjiang City Cultural Relics Management Office” in 1990, operating under two names but with a single administrative team. Its main responsibilities include the collection, preservation, protection, and utilization of cultural relics, as well as organizing exhibitions for the public. It is also involved in the protection of immovable cultural heritage within the city, archaeological surveys, and rescue excavations.

Our museum houses a total of 8,975 cultural relics, and has completed the computerized entry of information for all 8,975 items. Among these, there are 650 relics classified as national first-, second-, and third-grade treasures. Among our most prized collections are nearly 2,000 ancient calligraphy and painting works by notable figures. The large quantity and high quality of these artworks rank first among county (city)-level museums in the province.

The cultural office oversees three provincial-level key cultural relics protection units: Lingyun Pagoda, Zhenjiang Pagoda, and the Zhou Weiyin Villa; three Yiyang City-level cultural relics protection units: Kuixing Tower, Qionghu Academy, and Shicheng Mountain Site; as well as 40 Yuanjiang City-level cultural relics protection units distributed throughout the city. These are all valuable assets of the people of Yuanjiang.

Over the years, we have diligently implemented the “Law of the People’s Republic of China on the Protection of Cultural Relics,” ensuring the “Five Inclusions” and “Four Haves” in cultural relics protection. We regularly host exhibitions such as the “Exhibition of Cultural Relics Unearthed from the Dongting Lake Region,” the “Folk Cultural Relics Exhibition,” and the “Exhibition of Fine Ancient Calligraphy and Paintings by Historical Figures.” In addition, temporary thematic exhibitions are frequently updated. Our work has had considerable influence across the province. We were awarded the title of “Demonstration County for the ‘Five Inclusions’ in Cultural Relics Protection” by the provincial government; recognized as a “Civilized Museum of the Province” and an “Advanced Collective in Cultural Relics Archiving by the Provincial Cultural Relics Bureau”; since 2005, we have received the honorary title of “Yuanjiang City Advanced Unit in Double Civilization” seven times, and the “Advanced Grassroots Party Organization” award twice; in 2012, we were honored as an “Advanced Collective of March 8th Red-Banner Pacesetters” by Yiyang City.

Since the implementation of the national policy of “free public access” in 2008, the museum has received an average of nearly 40,000 visitors per year, fully serving as a window for spiritual civilization and continuously expanding its social impact.