Ningxia Science and Technology Museum

　　The Ningxia Science and Technology Museum (Ningxia Youth Science and Technology Activity Center) is a key project commemorating the 50th anniversary of the establishment of the Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region. It is situated on West Renmin Square Street in Yinchuan, with an investment of approximately 250 million yuan, covering an area of 3.88 hectares, and featuring a construction area of 29,664 square meters. It consists of three parts: the main exhibition hall, the IMAX dome theater, and the comprehensive building. The exterior design of the museum is highly attractive—the flowing glass dome shell symbolizes the undulating Helan Mountains while enriching the city’s skyline. The glass sphere of the dome theater and the curved exhibition hall face each other, symbolizing the harmony of the sun and moon, and are organically integrated under the large structure at the main entrance. The facade of the main exhibition hall features horizontal lines dividing the glass curtain wall, interspersed with stone walls to convey the building’s strength. The design was carried out by the China Aviation Planning and Design Institute, with construction managed by the Ningxia Architectural Design and Research Institute Co., Ltd., general contracting by China Construction First Building (Group) Corporation Limited Development Company, and supervision by Yinchuan Fangyuan Supervision Co., Ltd.

　　The interior exhibition layout of the museum is overseen by the Ningxia Association for Science and Technology and the Ningxia Science and Technology Museum, with the exhibition engineering undertaken by Shanghai Fudan Shangke Multimedia Co., Ltd. and Beijing Jiazho Vision Modeling Art & Technology Development Co., Ltd. The educational function is the core mission of the science museum, with permanent exhibitions being the most representative form of educational offering. These aim to recreate learning environments where visitors can engage in hands-on scientific practice, emphasizing interactive and experiential formats that guide visitors through the processes of scientific exploration and discovery. Themed around “Nature · Technology · Humanity,” the exhibitions are arranged across three floors and include the Lobby, Mysteries of the Universe, Earth Home, Journey into the Ocean, Secrets of Life, Light of Technology, Gateway to Wisdom, Science Sports Arena, Military World, Children's Science Playground, and outdoor exhibition areas—featuring a total of 230 exhibits and displays, along with over 1,500 mineral, animal, and paleontological specimens, produced by more than 30 exhibitor units.

　　The museum is equipped with a dome theater (also serving as a digital planetarium), with an inner diameter of 15 meters and a capacity for 105 people. It utilizes state-of-the-art digital dome theater equipment from the American company ES, whose computer database contains daily star map data from around the world. It also offers popular science films. On the south side of the first floor is a 4D theater that accommodates 40 visitors. Guests wear special glasses to watch 3D movies, while the motion-enabled seats with three degrees of freedom deliver effects such as lifting, tilting forward and backward, swaying left and right, as well as water sprays, air bursts, low-frequency vibrations, and leg ticklers—enhancing the immersive experience.

　　With the support of digital technology and relying on the internet and virtual technologies, the museum connects to the China Digital Science & Technology Museum developed by the China Association for Science and Technology, and also integrates digital science resources from other provinces (regions) and companies. It supplements these with local science education resources and film works related to Ningxia, enabling the museum’s educational services to go beyond the limitations of its physical building.

　　The museum project broke ground on November 27, 2005, and was officially opened to the public on September 9, 2008. It has become a hub for public science education in Ningxia and surrounding regions, and serves as a second classroom for primary and secondary school resource sharing. It plays an important role in improving public scientific literacy and building an innovative Ningxia.

　　Address: West Renmin Square Street, Jinfeng District, Yinchuan

　　Type: Science Museum

　　Recommended visiting time: 2–3 hours

　　Tel: 0951-5085123

　　Official Website: http://www.nxkjg.com/

　　Opening Hours:

　　9:00–17:00; closed on Mondays and Tuesdays

　　Ticket Information:

　　Free admission. The main exhibition building is free; special effect theaters charge 15 yuan.

　　Source: Ningxia Science and Technology Museum