Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region Museum

Overview

The Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region Museum (新疆维吾尔自治区博物馆) is located at 132 Northwest Road, Urumqi City (乌鲁木齐市西北路132号). It is one of the first national first-class museums and serves as a comprehensive regional museum. The museum is an institution for the collection, preservation, scientific research, and public education of cultural relics and specimens in the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region.

The museum was officially established in 1959, initially designed as an agricultural exhibition hall featuring a mountain-shaped one-story building. In 1962, it was relocated to its current site and opened as a museum.

The name “Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region Museum” was inscribed by the revolutionary leader Chairman Zhu De (朱德) during his inspection of Xinjiang in 1959. In 2005, a new building was completed, covering an area of 17,288 square meters with one basement and two above-ground levels, reaching a height of 18.5 meters. On May 18, 2022, the second-phase venue of the museum was inaugurated, marking the beginning of the “dual museum era” for Xinjiang Museum.

Getting There

Transportation:

  • By Air: Urumqi Diwopu International Airport (乌鲁木齐地窝堡国际机场) is the nearest airport. From the airport, you can take a taxi or ride-hailing service to reach the museum.
  • By Train: Urumqi Railway Station (乌鲁木齐火车站) connects to various cities in China. You can take a taxi or use public transportation to reach the museum from the station.
  • By Bus: Several public bus lines serve the area near the museum. Check local bus routes for the most convenient options.

Travel Tips

  • Best Time to Visit: Spring and autumn are the best seasons for visiting Urumqi due to pleasant weather.
  • Guided Tours: Consider joining a guided tour for deeper insights into the exhibits and the region’s history.
  • Photography: Be sure to check museum policies regarding photography, as some exhibits may have restrictions.
  • Cultural Respect: When visiting, be respectful of the cultural significance of the exhibits, particularly those related to the diverse ethnic groups in Xinjiang.

Historical Development

  • 1953: Preparations began for the predecessor of the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region Museum, originally designed as an agricultural exhibition hall featuring a mountain-shaped one-story building.
  • 1959: The museum was officially established.
  • 1962: The museum was relocated to 132 Northwest Road, Urumqi, and opened to the public.
  • October 1, 1963: The Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region Museum officially opened.
  • September 20, 2005: The new museum was inaugurated, featuring a total building area of 17,288 square meters, including a basement and two above-ground floors, with a main height of 18.5 meters and a glass dome rising to 29.5 meters. The layout of the building resembles a symmetrical “I” shape, showcasing the unique characteristics of the region.
  • May 18, 2008: The museum was rated as one of the first national first-class museums by the State Administration of Cultural Heritage.
  • May 18, 2022: The second-phase venue of the museum opened, enhancing the exhibition and preservation areas significantly.
  • April 2023: The museum will introduce the “National Museum Hall” on the first floor, marking the first establishment of a dedicated exhibition space for the National Museum of China in Xinjiang.
  • June 2, 2023: The “National Museum Hall” was officially unveiled at the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region Museum.
  • July 28, 2023: The “Forbidden City Hall” was inaugurated, representing the first professional exhibition hall outside the Forbidden City Museum to host curated exhibitions.

Exhibitions

Permanent Exhibitions

  1. Xinjiang Historical Relics Exhibition:
    • Covers 1,500 square meters with over 700 historical relics, divided into 12 units, including significant artifacts that illustrate the rich history and cultural development of Xinjiang.
  2. Historical Monument – Xinjiang Revolutionary Historical Material Exhibition:
    • Occupies 700 square meters, featuring over 200 revolutionary artifacts and photos, documenting the Chinese Communist Party’s sacrifices and support for the development of Xinjiang.
  3. Xinjiang Ethnic Customs Exhibition:
    • Encompasses 1,500 square meters, showcasing thousands of artifacts representing the customs and traditions of various ethnic groups in Xinjiang, with lifelike wax figures and restored ethnic scenes.

Thematic Exhibitions

  1. The Undying – Ancient Mummies Exhibition:
    • Launched on September 3, 2014, displaying numerous ancient mummies along with exquisite burial artifacts.
  2. The Memory of Attire – Western Region Costumes:
    • Launched in June 2010, showcasing over 150 precious costumes and hundreds of restoration images spanning several historical periods.
  3. Always Together with the Motherland:
    • Officially launched in June 2010, covering topics such as birth in the arms of the motherland, growth in a multicultural environment, and prosperity along the Silk Road.

Collections

The Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region Museum houses over 32,000 items, including 288 first-class items as of October 2014. The collection features a wide range of textiles, manuscripts, wood carvings, paintings, and artifacts representing the diverse cultures and ethnicities in Xinjiang.

Notable Exhibits

  1. Loulan Woman:
    • A famous ancient mummy discovered in 1980, dating back approximately 3,800 years.
  2. Yingpan Male Corpse:
    • Unearthed in 1995, this male mummy is notable for its brightly colored garments.
  3. Xiaohe Cemetery Female Mummy:
    • Exhibits well-preserved features and distinctive ethnic characteristics.

By visiting the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region Museum, you will gain a profound understanding of the rich cultural heritage and history of this diverse region.

Fine Exhibitions at Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region Museum

Celebrating the 100th Anniversary of the Communist Party of China

The Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region Museum is hosting an exquisite exhibition titled “The Communist Party of China in Xinjiang – An Exhibition of Revolutionary Cultural Relics” from June to October 2021, celebrating the 100th anniversary of the establishment of the Communist Party of China.

In April 2023, the museum’s “National Museum Hall” will launch the exhibition “Jijin Casting History – Ancient China in Bronze Vessels.” This exhibition adopts a scientific archaeological perspective, showcasing explorations and research achievements in ancient Chinese bronze vessels through the five themes of “form, flower, inscription, craftsmanship, and skin.”

Transportation to the Museum

  • Public Transport: You can take bus routes 7, 51, 52, 66, 68, 303, 305, 309, 311, 518, 906, 910, 912, or 928 and get off at the “Museum Station.”
  • Alternative Routes: Alternatively, you can take buses 23, 34, or 527 to “Qiaotou Station” and then walk north along Northwest Road for about 500 meters to reach the museum.
  • Rapid Transit: You may also take the BRT (Bus Rapid Transit) route 5 to “Northwest Road Station,” then walk approximately 500 meters south along Northwest Road.

Travel Tips

  • Best Time to Visit: To avoid crowds, consider visiting on weekdays, especially in the morning.
  • Free Entry: Admission is free, but there is a limit of 2000 visitors per day, so arriving early is advisable.

Research Culture

The Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region Museum’s research work focuses on its collection of cultural relics. Significant achievements have been made in various areas, including the restoration and replication of clay figurines, handling and preserving ancient corpses, repairing damaged saddle rugs using a mesh reinforcement method (76×74 cm), and replicating pottery using traditional small kilns. In the study of ancient silk textiles, breakthroughs have been made in overcoming previous limitations regarding “Tang Dynasty weft satin,” restoring and reintroducing the long-lost “夹缬” (Jiaxie) dyeing technique. The museum has also achieved remarkable results in the organization and study of Uighur literature and Han documents unearthed from Turpan.

Research personnel (including collaborations with external entities) have published works in various national and regional professional journals, with some being released as monographs. Noteworthy publications include “Silk Road – Han and Tang Textiles,” “Cultural Relics Unearthed in Xinjiang,” “Documents Unearthed from Turpan” (10 volumes of recorded texts), “Uighur Literature on the Meeting with Maitreya,” and “Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region Museum.”

Honors and Awards

Timeline of Honors

  • Honors Received:
    • The Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region Museum has been designated as a “Patriotic Education Base” by Urumqi City and the Autonomous Region, and it has been awarded “Outstanding Patriotic Education Base” by the State Administration of Cultural Heritage.
  • 2001: Recognized as a “National Demonstration Base for Patriotic Education” (Second Batch) by the Publicity Department and as a “Youth Patriotic Education Base” by the Autonomous Region Youth League Committee.
  • 2006: Awarded “National Base for Ethnic Unity and Progress Education” by the National Ethnic Affairs Commission and recognized as an “Advanced Unit in Public Cultural Facility Management” by the Ministry of Culture.
  • 2007: Rated as a Youth Science and Technology Education Base by the Autonomous Region Propaganda Department, Science and Technology Department, Education Department, and Association for Science and Technology, and honored as an “Advanced Collective in Cultural Heritage Protection” by the State Administration of Cultural Heritage.
  • 2008: The exhibition “Xinjiang Ethnic Customs” received the Best Service Award in the 7th (2005-2006) selection of the “Top Ten Exhibition Displays of National Museums” by the State Administration of Cultural Heritage. The museum was also designated as a National 4A-level Tourist Attraction.
  • 2011: The exhibition “Forever with the Motherland” received the Best Promotion Award in the 9th (2009-2010) selection of the “Top Ten Exhibition Displays of National Museums” organized by the State Administration of Cultural Heritage.
  • 2017: Recognized as one of the first national practical education bases for middle and primary school students by the Ministry of Education.
  • 2021: The “Textile Preservation and Restoration Project” of the Xinjiang Kashgar Region Museum was selected as one of the “Top Ten National Cultural Relic Restoration Projects of 2021.”
  • 2023: The second phase construction project of the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region Museum received the second batch of the “Luban Prize” (National Quality Engineering) for the year 2022-2023.

International Exchange

Timeline of International Exchanges

  • 1986: Exhibitions featuring “Xinjiang Nationality Customs,” “Ancient Corpses and Cultural Relics from Xinjiang,” and “Xinjiang Cave Murals” have been invited to exhibit in various locations, including Beijing.
  • 1988: The “Cultural Relics of Xinjiang National Customs” and “Uighur Artifacts” were exhibited in Macau and Hong Kong.

Current Leadership

  • Party Secretary of the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region Museum: He Jia

Visitor Information

Opening Hours

  • Summer (April 15 – October 15): Tuesday to Sunday, 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM (last entry at 4:30 PM). Admission is free with a daily limit of 2000 visitors.
  • Winter (October 16 – April 14): Tuesday to Sunday, 10:30 AM – 6:00 PM (last entry at 4:30 PM). Admission is free with a daily limit of 2000 visitors.