The Opium War Museum

The Opium War Museum

The Opium War Museum is a national AAAA-level tourist attraction and a patriotic education base.

The Opium War Museum is located near the former site of the Weiyuan Fort on the eastern shore of the Humen Estuary in Dongguan City. Nestled against mountains and facing the sea, it comprises a memorial complex that includes an exhibition building, an oath square, and a sea-viewing embankment. Covering an area of 204,000 square meters with a construction area of 10,000 square meters, the museum is a comprehensive exhibition venue that fully presents the history of the Opium War. The museum’s core exhibition, “The Opium War,” offers a fresh perspective on the major historical events that marked the beginning of modern Chinese history. The content is divided into seven sections: “The World of China and the West Before the Opium War,” “Pre-War Conflicts Between China and Britain and Military Defenses in Guangdong,” “The First Opium War,” “The Second Opium War,” and “Decline and Awakening,” among others. It displays a total of 1,860 cultural relics, 1,310 historical photographs, 120 artworks including oil paintings and meticulous paintings, as well as over 10 high-tech and informational exhibits. This exhibition fully incorporates the latest academic research findings and maintains a high standard of scientific rigor. Guided by the philosophy that “each cultural relic is a museum in itself,” the display is committed to presenting a complete history of the Opium War with depth, insight, and emotional resonance. Utilizing large exhibition spaces, it adopts a warehousing-style dense display for cultural relics. Leveraging modern technology, the exhibition integrates educational, entertaining, and guided tour elements. The showcase highlights patriotism, extolling the national spirit of Qing Dynasty loyal officers such as Lin Zexu and Guan Tianpei, who united in resisting foreign invaders. It also profoundly reveals the painful historical lesson that “backwardness invites aggression.”

The Opium War Museum is a thematic and heritage-based museum. Relying on the historic battlefield of the Opium War — the former site of the Humen Forts, a national cultural heritage protection unit — the museum uses cultural relics, historical materials, and modern sound and light technologies to vividly depict the contrast between Chinese and British military forces during the Opium War, recreating the tragic scenes of Chinese soldiers and civilians resisting British aggression.

“The Opium War Naval Battles Exhibition” and the diorama “The Battle of Humen” are the museum’s core exhibits. The Opium War Museum is an important part of the Humen Forts Patriotic Education Base and one of the three national anti-drug education bases in China. The “Opium War Naval Battles” exhibition and the “Battle of Humen” diorama serve as its primary displays. The former vividly illustrates the contrast in military strength between China and Britain during the Opium War and the heroic stories of Chinese troops resisting British invaders. The latter combines realistic paintings, lifelike ground models, and modern sound and lighting effects to recreate the dramatic scenes of the Battle of Humen on February 26, 1841.

Passing through the Humen Forts and a large green belt, you’ll arrive at the Opium War Museum. The vast open square accentuates the museum’s solemnity. Upon entering the museum, the exhibitions are divided into two parts: one is the Opium War History Exhibition, and the other is the Anti-Drug Exhibition. Visitors can grasp an unchanging truth from the Opium War History Exhibition: backwardness invites aggression. In the Anti-Drug Exhibition, the tragic scenes not only take your breath away but also serve as a stern warning — never touch drugs, not even once.

I. Free Admission Areas: The Opium War Museum’s permanent exhibitions, temporary exhibition halls, and public activity areas

II. Free Admission Hours: Monday to Sunday, 8:30 – 17:30

Among these, the exhibition building is closed every Tuesday (except national holidays), while other areas remain open as usual.

III. Ticket Collection Time: 8:30 – 17:00

IV. Visitors must obtain tickets for entry. Valid identification (ID card, student ID, military ID, residence permit, senior citizen card, etc.) is required to queue for tickets at the ticket counter. One person, one ID, one ticket (children under 1.4 meters may enter free of charge; seniors, military personnel, people with disabilities, and pregnant women have priority for ticket collection). Groups must make advance reservations and present valid supporting documents to receive visit tickets.

V. Admission tickets are valid for the day of issue and for one-time use only. Unused tickets expire at the end of the day. A maximum of 5,000 free admission tickets are issued per day to the public, and they are distributed on a first-come, first-served basis.

VI. Maintain cleanliness within the museum premises. Take care of cultural relics, exhibits, exhibition facilities, and other public service equipment. Any damage must be compensated for at cost, and corresponding legal liabilities apply. All uncivilized behavior is prohibited.

VII. Children, visitors with mobility issues, or those with health conditions must be accompanied by family members. Individuals who are improperly dressed, intoxicated, mentally unstable, carrying flammable/explosive/dangerous items, or bringing pets are not allowed entry.

VIII. Inquiry Hotline: 0769—85527783.

Humen Town: Located on the eastern shore of the Pearl River Estuary, Humen covers an area of 178.5 square kilometers and governs 29 community neighborhood committees. It has a registered population of 124,000 and a permanent population exceeding 500,000. As a key town in southern China, Humen boasts highly developed transportation with convenient access by land, water, and air: maritime routes include the Hongye Container Terminal and the planned Shajiao Hezai Port, both approved by the State Council as Class I ports, offering shipping services to cities in South China such as Guangzhou, Shenzhen, and Hong Kong; aviation-wise, Humen is north of Guangzhou Airport, south of Shenzhen Airport, and west of Zhuhai Airport; by land, it is connected via the Guangzhou-Shenzhen-Zhuhai Expressway, S256 Provincial Highway, and more... More detailed information about Humen Town ++