Qinghai Provincial Museum

Qinghai Provincial Museum

The Qinghai Provincial Museum is a national AAAA-level tourist attraction.

The Qinghai Provincial Museum is a public institution affiliated with the Department of Culture of Qinghai Province. It is responsible for the collection, preservation, scientific research, publicity and education, and exhibition display of cultural relics across Qinghai Province.

The Qinghai Provincial Museum is a national 4A-level tourist attraction, located at No. 58 Xiguan Street, Chengxi District, Xining City.

It is a humanities-themed cultural tourism site with museum functions. The museum covers an area of 22,800 square meters and houses nine main and side exhibition halls, with a total exhibition area of 9,146 square meters. Its core exhibits include three major shows: “The Prehistoric Civilization of Qinghai,” “Ethnic Cultural Relics of Qinghai,” and “Tibetan Buddhist Art Exhibition.” These have been nominated for the “Top Ten National Fine Exhibitions” award during the fifth session (2001–2002).

Since its establishment, the Qinghai Provincial Museum has been dedicated to collecting and researching local historical, ethnic, folk, and religious relics. It now holds a collection of over 47,000 cultural relics of various types. Since the opening of the new museum, it has launched thematic exhibitions that reflect the development of Qinghai in different historical periods through artifacts, arranged chronologically and each forming a unique and distinctive system.

Historical Evolution

In 1957, the preparatory office of the Qinghai Provincial Museum was first established but was disbanded in 1962. On August 29, 1978, the preparatory office was re-established, and on September 26, 1986, the Qinghai Provincial Museum was officially founded and opened to the public. Its original location was at No. 41 Weimin Lane, Chengdong District, Xining City — the private residence “Xinlu” of Ma Bufang, the local warlord of Qinghai. In September 1996, it was designated as a “Provincial Patriotic Education Base” by the Qinghai Provincial Party Committee and Government. In October of the same year, it was named a “School Moral Education Base” by the Provincial Education Commission. In 1997, it was recognized as a “National Patriotic Education Base” within the cultural relics and museums system by the National Cultural Heritage Administration. On May 1, 2001, the new building of the Qinghai Provincial Museum was officially opened to the public.

Preparatory Period

The museum began preparation in 1979 and was officially established on September 26, 1986. Its current collection exceeds 10,000 items. Among them are Paleolithic stone tools; Neolithic and Bronze Age stone, bone, pottery, and bronze artifacts; Han and Tang Dynasty copper seals, figurines, mirrors, stone inscriptions, sutra manuscripts, wooden figurines, bells, and Persian silver coins; Yuan Dynasty paper money and stone statues; and Ming and Qing Dynasty porcelain, calligraphy, and paintings. Ethnic cultural relics include ethnic script copper seals, traditional costumes, imperial edicts granted to ethnic minority regions by the Ming and Qing Dynasties, as well as religious artworks such as Buddhist scriptures, statues, thangkas, and ritual instruments. Revolutionary relics include items left behind by the Red Army during the Long March through Qinghai’s Guoluo region, such as briefcases, copper pots, and military caps. The most distinctive items are the ethnically diverse cultural relics and religious artworks passed down through generations. Qinghai Provincial Museum

Among the collections is a naked human-figure pottery pot with a unique shape, featuring a full-body painted relief sculpture on the front. Another notable piece is a painted pottery basin with dance patterns, depicting three groups of five figures each engaged in ceremonial dancing, reflecting the musical and dance life of ancient residents. These two artworks, dating back four to five thousand years, are iconic representatives among Qinghai’s tens of thousands of painted pottery pieces.

The museum has previously hosted exhibitions such as “Exhibition of Qinghai Historical Relics,” displaying over 1,000 artifacts that illustrate the development of Qinghai’s local history from the Stone Age to the late feudal society. Other exhibitions included “Exhibition of Tibetan-Han Relations,” “Exhibition of Tibetan Buddhist Relics,” and “Exhibition of Historical Currencies.” The “Exhibition of Tibetan Buddhist Relics” was once displayed in Hong Kong.

The museum has also compiled works such as “Historical Materials on the Tang-Tibet Ancient Road” and the pictorial album “Tibetan Buddhist Art.”

Museum Collections

Qinghai, located at the source of major rivers, has a long history. It possesses abundant cultural treasures both above and below ground, forming an important part of ancient Chinese civilization. Over 200,000 cultural relics have been unearthed, many of which are rare treasures and globally recognized national gems. Since its establishment, the Qinghai Provincial Museum has been committed to collecting and organizing local historical and ethnic relics. Its collection now includes over 47,000 cultural relics of various types, many of which are world-renowned national treasures, including more than 150 first-class national relics.

The Qinghai Provincial Museum has launched four thematic exhibitions: “The Prehistoric Civilization of Qinghai,” “Ethnic Cultural Relics of Qinghai,” “Tibetan Buddhist Art of Qinghai,” and “Beloved Qinghai.” These are generally arranged chronologically and showcase the development of Qinghai in different historical periods through artifacts, each forming a unique and distinctive system. The “Beloved Qinghai” exhibition primarily uses photographs, supplemented by sand tables, animal and mineral specimens, and advanced audiovisual and lighting effects to highlight Qinghai’s stunning natural landscapes, rich mineral resources, and abundant hydroelectric, petroleum, and natural gas reserves. It also emphasizes the remarkable achievements and vast potential of Qinghai’s industrial, agricultural, and pastoral sectors since the reform and opening-up.

Calligraphy and Painting Exhibition

On January 3, an exhibition of works by renowned Chinese calligraphers and painters was held at the Qinghai Provincial Museum. These masterpieces brought aesthetic enjoyment to audiences in the ancient city.

The exhibition was organized by the Xining Calligraphers Association and the Wenbo Calligraphy and Painting Academy, featuring over 80 works by more than 50 participating artists. Among them, works by contemporary masters such as Zhao Puchu, Liu Bingsen, Huang Yongyu, He Jiaying, Hu Peiheng, Puyi, and Wang Mengbai were exhibited in Qinghai for the first time.

Sculpture Introduction

Qinghai Provincial Museum

On September 27, a media delegation from the National Key Online Media Tour of Qinghai visited the Qinghai Provincial Museum. The new building of the Qinghai Provincial Museum officially opened on May 1, 2001. It is the first large-scale museum in Qinghai with modern functionality, covering a total area of 20,800 square meters with nine main and side exhibition halls. Located at the source of major rivers and home to a diverse population of ethnic groups including Tibetan, Han, Hui, Mongolian, Tu, and Salar, Qinghai boasts abundant cultural treasures above and below ground, many of which are globally recognized national gems. The museum currently features four permanent exhibitions: “The Prehistoric Civilization of Qinghai,” “Ethnic Cultural Relics of Qinghai,” “Tibetan Buddhist Art of Qinghai,” and “Beloved Qinghai.” These exhibitions are generally arranged chronologically, showcasing Qinghai’s historical development while each maintaining a unique identity. The image shows a lifelike sculpture at the Qinghai Provincial Museum.

Precious Collections

Gilded Bronze Guanyin Statue

A national treasure-level relic. This statue was bestowed upon the renowned Qutan Temple in Qinghai by a Ming Dynasty emperor. Standing 146 cm tall, the graceful figure is posed on a lotus base. Its flowing and elegant robes, serene smiling expression, and overall gilding showcase the pinnacle of Ming Dynasty casting craftsmanship.

Further Reading:

· China's National First-Class Museums