Shaanxi Nature Museum

Why is Shaanxi Nature Museum so Special?

  1. The museum plans to set five major themes: life science, geology, paleontology, ecology and science and technology. Life science will be the main feature of Shaanxi Nature Museum, and ecology is the advantage of Shaanxi .
  2. Shaanxi Nature Museum has three functions: exhibition, collection and research.With real objects, specimens, models and scenes as the main body, combined with various exhibition means such as sound, light, shadow, video, electrography, etc., it reveals the mystery of nature, popularizes scientific and technological knowledge, and brings new and interesting visiting experience to the audience. However, as far as architecture is concerned, it is also a beautiful scenery of the ancient capital–Xi’an.

Brief Introduction of  Shaanxi Nature Museum

Shaanxi Nature Museum is located on the ship-shape roundabout at No. 88 of Chang’an South Road. Its total area is 73,000 square meters and total floor area is 16,000 square meters. The two buildings are like the sun and moon. The glass spherical building is the scientific exhibition hall whose floor area is 7,165 square meters.

In this building, a scientific annular corridor, an acousto-optic tunnel, a dome cinema, sightseeing platform and scientific exhibition items are set. The half-moon sinking building is the nature exhibition hall whose floor area is 8,940 square meters. In this building, many theme exhibition halls, including the Geographic Phenomena, Ancient Species Corridor, Amazing Qinling Mountain and Inset Kingdom, are set. 

Nature Hall

Rare Animals’ Exhibition Hall

The first showroom in Nature Hall is Rare Animals’ Exhibition Hall-the first foreign specimen exhibition in Northwestern China. With exhibition of different regions in the world, this exhibition reproduces the real life of wild animals at ancient times. The visiting models with multimedia and sound effects make people experience mysterious animals’ world in person. There are brown bear specimens of 2.5 meters (2.7 yards) tall, a mighty American lion specimen, an agile black backed jackal specimen and a snow-white goat specimen. Besides that, majestic mountains like Kilimanjaro, the Rocky Mountains and vividly imitated scenes like wildebeest migration crossing the Mara River are presented in front of your eyes. In addition, the specimens of land animals and various fishes is another spectacular view.

Light of Coal Sea Hall

Then you might come to the Light of Coal Sea Hall, the only exhibition hall to show the formation, exploration, mining, utilization and ecological protection of coal in Shaanxi Province.

Light of Life Hall

The next Light of Life Hall, mainly focuses on the knowledge of human body and life science. Through the simulated silicone body models, the operating tables, robot doctors, as well as videos and data of cutting-edge biotechnology, it introduces the structure of the human body and health care knowledge to visitors.

Insects’ Kingdom

Then, you enter Insects’ Kingdom. There is a display of rare insects’ specimens from all over the world, for instance, the beautiful butterflies, moths and peculiar beetles. Beyond that, you might join the interactive games to learn the relevant knowledge and stories of insects.

Paleontology and Geology Halls

Besides the above-mentioned, there are Paleontology and Geology Halls. You can view the fossil specimens and skeleton models to retrospect the origin of life and learn the knowledge of continental drift and geological movement.

Technology Hall

Mirror Maze (镜子迷宫)

Entering into the second building of Shaanxi Nature Museum-Technology Hall, you may firstly be guided into the Mirror Maze (镜子迷宫), where is a small room with mirrors around. There you can learn about light knowledge through the audio introduction device.

Mathematician Wall (数学家之墙)

After experiencing the Mirror Maze, walk into the next exhibition hall- Mathematician Wall. It is engraved with the pictures of great mathematicians from ancient times and their scientific outcomes, most of which are the basic mathematical knowledge, in order to inspire visitors’ interests in math

Science and Technology Museum (科技馆)

The last hall in this zone is Science and Technology Museum. It displays the basic knowledge of sound, light, electricity, force and magnetism through lots of interaction programs. The Science Theater in the central round hall often provides science shows and performances.

Outdoor Exhibition Areas

Optimus Prim 擎天柱

In the East Square of Shaanxi Nature Museum stands a sculpture of a car robot, which takes “Optimus Prime” in Transformers as the template. This sculpture is 6.3 meters (6.8 yards) high and 4,600 kilos (10,141 pounds) weigh, soldered with nearly a thousand pieces of waste parts of vehicles. Children coming to the museum always scramble to take photos with this huge “Optimus Prime”.

Mamenchisaurus Scenic Area 马门溪龙仿真景区

Mamenchisaurus Scenic Area is located in the west gate of the museum. “Roaring” from time to time with 36 meters (39 yards) in length, it is the largest sauropod dinosaur found in China so far. There are also “Oviraptor “, “Triangle Dragon”, and all kinds of enlarged dinosaur eggs.

World of Birds 鸟语林

World of Birds is located in the North Square of the museum. There are over 50 species of birds in the steel-net room, such as green peacocks, mandarin ducks, and colorful parrots. There is also a fish pond filled with fancy carps, goldfishes, and colorful lotuses. It is a wonderful spot for visitors in summer.

Fulldome Theater

Shaanxi Nature Museum houses the only Fulldome Theater in northwestern China, which can accommodate 175 people at the same time. The Fulldome Theater is located in the third floor in Technology Hall. With a huge hemispherical screen and ultra wide angle fisheye lens, this theater makes audiences perfectly blend into the movie plots, and experience a wonderful audio-visual enjoyment. The projection timetable: Wednesday – Friday: 14:00; Saturday – Sunday: 11:30, 13:30, 14:30, 15:30; Public Holidays: 10:00, 11:00, 12:00, 12:45, 13:30, 14:15, 15:00, 15:45, 16:30, 17:15; Summer and Winter Holidays: 11:30, 13:30, 14:30, 15:30.

How to get to Shaanxi Nature Museum

Travel with ChinaDragonTours (top recommended)

If you want to get out of the traffic and hassle of navigation, you can book a private tour package that includes visiting, dining and transfer from us. Our local guide and driver will escort you to the Shaanxi Nature Museum in Xi’an in the fastest and most convenient way and take care of all the details. You just have to focus on the visiting.

Independent Traveler

Shaanxi Nature Museum is located in South Chang’an Road, Xi’an.
1. Take metro line 2 to Huizhanzhongxin (Convention & Exhibition Center) Station, and get out from Exit B in the museum.
2. Take bus no. 19/ 44/106/161/162/212/215/217/239/270/320/323/408/504/526/527/603/616/631/905/917/923, get off at Conference and Exhibition Center Station and walk for 500 meters (545 yards) to the museum
3. Take bus no. 166/226/320/600 and get off at TV Tower Station.

Useful Travel Tips

  1. Avoid visiting during school holidays and Golden Week in October as there will be large numbers of local tourists.
  2. Tel: 0086-29-85331352
  3. Open Time
    Wednesday-Friday: 9:00 am-17:00 pm, ticket sales ends at 16:00 pm;
    Saturday-Sunday: 9:00 am-17:30 pm, ticket sales ends at 16:30 pm.
    The museum also opens during public holidays, and summer and winter holidays.
  4. Ticket Price
    Exhibition Areas  Full-price ticket  Half-price ticket
    Nature Hall  CNY30/ person  CNY15/ person
    Technology Hall  CNY20/ person  CNY10/ person
    Fulldome Theater and Technology Hall CNY40/ person  CNY35/ person

    Half-price ticket is applicable to children between 1.3-1.5 meters (4.3-4.9 feet);
    Free of charge for children under 1.3 meters (4.3 feet);
    The ticket offices are in Nature Hall and Technology Hall.

Nearby Attractions

Edited by Bella Ren/任新月