Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region Museum

Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region Museum (广西壮族自治区博物馆) is located on the eastern side of the Minzu Square in Nanning (南宁), covering an area of approximately 60 acres. This comprehensive historical and artistic museum is recognized as a provincial (autonomous region) level institution and has been designated as a national first-class museum. The museum houses over 50,000 cultural relics, including 152 first-class relics, 1,791 second-class relics, and 3,867 third-class relics (data as of October 2013). Following its expansion, completed on September 27, 2022, the museum’s total area has increased to 33,000 square meters.

On September 28, 2022, the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region Museum (hereinafter referred to as Guangxi Museum) reopened after a comprehensive “health check” of its collections. On November 28, 2022, the museum held a ceremony to unveil its status as a national 4A-level tourist attraction. After four years of meticulous preparation, the newly expanded Guangxi Museum officially opened to the public on November 29, 2022.

Historical Development

The Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region Museum traces its origins to the Guangxi Provincial Museum, established in 1934 (the 23rd year of the Republic of China) in Nanning. At that time, it had already developed into a sizable institution with a fixed building, housing over 20,000 artifacts, numerous stone rubbings, and various new and old books. The museum also hosted various exhibitions.

After the outbreak of the Anti-Japanese War, the Guangxi Provincial Museum relocated several times, leading to significant losses of artifacts and frequent name changes. It wasn’t until the founding of the People’s Republic of China that Guangxi’s cultural heritage endeavors began to revive.

On May 1, 1956, the completion of the Guangxi Provincial Museum building marked the end of its reconstruction efforts. In March 1958, with the establishment of the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, the museum was renamed the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region Museum.

The museum’s current exhibition hall was completed in 1978. The expansion project commenced on January 6, 2019, and on International Museum Day, May 18, 2022, the museum held an online launch for its new logo and a comprehensive interpretation of its visual identification system. On September 27, 2022, the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region Museum, constructed by China State Construction Engineering Corporation, successfully passed its completion acceptance inspection. The unveiling ceremony for its new status as a national AAAA-level tourist attraction occurred on November 28, 2022, and the museum opened to the public the following day. From November 29, 2022, to March 19, 2023, over 183,000 domestic and international visitors toured the museum, including more than 73,000 young audiences.

On the morning of May 11, 2023, the museum held the unveiling ceremony for the Ou Luo Study Room and cooperative construction initiative. In May, the Guangxi Revolutionary History Memorial Venue Alliance was established.

Museum Layout

The total area of the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region Museum is 32,757.8 square meters. The exhibition building is a large rectangular structure characterized by traditional Zhuang stilt-house architecture, integrating exhibition spaces with administrative offices. The first and second floors are dedicated to exhibitions, while the third floor is for office use. Behind the exhibition building lies a 24,000-square-meter ethnic relic garden, established in 1988, featuring large bronze drum sculptures, artillery pieces, and traditional Zhuang stilt houses, as well as Yao bamboo houses, Miao stilt houses, Dong drum towers, wind and rain bridges, and Maonan ethnic homes. There are also workshops for oil pressing, rice milling, and papermaking.

With the completion of the expansion on September 27, 2022, the museum’s area reached 33,000 square meters, including a reconstruction area of 19,000 square meters and an expansion area of 14,000 square meters.

Exhibition Display

Basic Exhibitions

“Ou Luo Essence—Cultural Relics of the Hundred Yue in Guangxi”: This exhibition is structured chronologically and thematically, divided into three parts: “Ancient Wonders,” “Ancient Chinese Chapters,” and “Han Culture in Yue.” A total of 235 artifacts are displayed, including 56 first-class relics, 126 second-class relics, one third-class relic, 51 unclassified relics, and one replica.

“Porcelain as Beautiful as Flowers—Fine Porcelain Exhibition”: The exhibition is divided into two parts: the first part titled “Simple as White—Excavated Porcelain,” containing three units; the second part, “As Gorgeous as Flowers—Inherited Porcelain.” This exhibition features a range of porcelain artifacts in the museum’s collection, including excavated and inherited porcelain dating back to the Warring States period through the Qing Dynasty. It focuses on physical displays, showcasing a total of 258 artifacts, including 12 first-class relics, 232 second-class relics, six third-class relics, and eight unclassified relics.

“Danqing Guiyun”: This exhibition showcases notable works of calligraphy and painting by artists from Guangxi and those residing in Guangxi from the Qing Dynasty to the modern period, occupying an area of 600 square meters.

Special Exhibitions

“Ancient Charm and Tea Fragrance”: This exhibition is jointly held by the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region Museum and the Zhenjiang Museum, featuring 85 pieces of tea sets from different eras, varieties, and materials.

“Guangxi People’s Resistance Against the War”: This exhibition commemorates the 70th anniversary of the victory of the Chinese People’s Anti-Japanese War and the global anti-fascist war, aiming to evoke a yearning for peace and a commitment to remembering history to prevent the repetition of tragedies.

“Silk Road Sails Far”: This exhibition displays significant maritime Silk Road relics from various coastal provinces, reflecting the historical elegance of China and helping to revive ancient maritime memories, thus contributing to the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation.

“Fresh Breeze from Guangdong-Hong Kong”: This exhibition showcases 79 fan artworks from the Dongguan Museum collection, including works from renowned Lingnan artists and scholars.

Featured Exhibitions

“A Century of Original Intentions, Dreaming of Bagui”: This exquisite exhibition, held from June to December 2021, celebrated the 100th anniversary of the founding of the Communist Party of China.

Thematic Exhibitions

On November 29, 2022, after the completion of its expansion, the Guangxi Museum launched three thematic exhibitions: “Hepu’s Departure—The Maritime Silk Road of the Han Dynasty in Guangxi,” “Brilliant Colors—Exhibition of Collected Porcelain,” and “Craftsmanship and Artistic Charm—Exhibition of Collected Handicrafts.”

Collection of Cultural Relics

Overview

The Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region Museum houses over 50,000 cultural relics. Among these, there are 152 first-class relics, 1,791 second-class relics, and 3,867 third-class relics. The museum also possesses a substantial collection of books, including more than 30,000 ancient texts. It serves as a key preservation unit for ancient texts at the autonomous region level and is recognized as a restoration center for ancient books. (As of October 2013)

Metal Artifacts

“Bu” Inscribed Bronze Bucket

  • Dimensions: Height 27.1 cm, Mouth Diameter 26.2 cm, Base Diameter 22.6 cm.
  • Period: Western Han Dynasty (206 BC – 25 AD).
  • Discovery: Unearthed in 1976 from Tomb No. 1 at Luobowan, Guixian County (now Guigang City).
  • Description: A storage vessel, cylindrical in shape with a wider mouth and a narrower base. It features a flat mouth and bottom, with a concave circle foot. There is a pouring spout mark on the bottom. Each side of the mouth has a half-ring handle, with vertical perforations for attachment. The upper part is decorated with comb patterns and linked thunder designs. A “Bu” character is inscribed on one side of the belly, likely indicating its origin. Below the handles, it is inscribed with “Thirteen Jin,” indicating the weight of the bucket, which actually weighs 3,405 grams.

Lacquered Sheath Iron Sword

  • Dimensions: Length 130.2 cm, Width 2.4 cm.
  • Period: Western Han Dynasty (206 BC – 25 AD).
  • Discovery: Unearthed in 1976 from Tomb No. 1 at Luobowan, Guixian County (now Guigang City).
  • Description: A weapon with a long and narrow blade, featuring a raised spine in the center and a thin, sharp edge. The hilt is elongated and rectangular, covered with a lacquered sheath made from animal hide.

Suspended Roof Copper Warehouse

  • Dimensions: Length 79.3 cm, Width 42.7 cm, Height 37.3 cm.
  • Period: Western Han Dynasty (206 BC – 25 AD).
  • Discovery: Unearthed in 1971 from Tomb No. 1 at Wangniuling, Hepu County.
  • Description: A raised building with a rectangular footprint, supported by eight columns that elevate the entire structure off the ground. The roof features a tile ridge with twelve rows of symmetrically cast tile ridges at both the front and back, and clear tile markings. The eaves extend 10 cm from the front wall and 4.5 cm from the back wall. The entrance is centrally located with double doors, equipped with door rings for closure and a threshold. A corridor runs in front of the door, with railing constructed in a two-horizontal, one-vertical style. The outer walls are adorned with “十” shaped decorative patterns.

Relief-Decorated Bronze Bell

  • Dimensions: Total Height 68.5 cm, Neck Length 20.5 cm, Width 33.5 cm, Dance Width 21.4 cm, Weight 34 kg.
  • Period: Western Zhou Dynasty (1046 BC – 771 BC).
  • Discovery: Unearthed in 1958 from Longna Village, Hengxian County.
  • Description: Known as the “Relief-Decorated Bronze Bell,” its surface is adorned with curvilinear patterns. On the front of the bell, relief decorations resembling dragons are attached above the patterns. This crafting style is unique to this location, suggesting local manufacturing. The interior features thunder and diagonal thunder patterns separated by two layers of bead motifs. The bell body is heavy and resembles a special type of bell, with a nearly rectangular appearance when viewed from the front, indicating it is a product of the Western Zhou period.

Dragon-Head Copper Square Vessel

  • Dimensions: Total Length 38.8 cm, Width 25.5 cm, Height 10 cm, Base 12.5×13.5 cm.
  • Period: Western Han Dynasty (206 BC – 25 AD).
  • Discovery: Unearthed in 1971 from Tomb No. 1 at Wangniuling, Hepu County.
  • Description: A water vessel, square in shape, with a wider top and narrower base, featuring three stepped levels and a flat bottom. The base is supported by four rounded feet, and the sides have animal faces grasping living rings. The spout is designed to resemble a dragon’s head, with an open mouth for pouring water.

Feather-Pattern Copper Phoenix Lamp

  • Dimensions: Length 42 cm, Width 15 cm, Height 33 cm.
  • Period: Western Han Dynasty.
  • Description: A pair of environmentally friendly lamps, referred to as “Phoenix Lamps,” that were excavated together in the Han Dynasty in Hepu County. Their overall shape resembles two phoenixes looking back at each other, with their claws and tails forming a tripod to maintain balance.

Bronze Liubo Chessboard and Bronze Figurine

  • Description: A bronze chessboard for the ancient game of Liubo, accompanied by a bronze seated figurine.

Double Tiger Ear Dragon Design Copper Jar (Spring and Autumn Period)

  • Description: A copper jar from the museum collection, featuring double tiger ear decorations and dragon motifs.

Ceramics

Republican Period Qinzhou Zisha Teapot

  • Dimensions: Height 12.50 cm, Mouth Diameter 5.50 cm, Base Diameter 8.0 cm.
  • Period: Republican Period.
  • Description: Features a dome-shaped lid with a round knob, a round mouth, curved spout, arched handle, rounded belly, and a flat bottom with a shallow circular foot. The belly is decorated with white clay patterns illustrating a folded branch of white plum, inscribed with “Crafted in Ancient Anzhou in the Summer of the Year of Jiazi.” The base is stamped with “Meizhen” in regular script within a square.

“Dingwei Year” Six-Grid Ground Flower Porcelain Bowl Mold

  • Dimensions: Height 9.1 cm, Mouth Diameter 15.8 cm, Handle Diameter 5.8 cm.
  • Period: Song Dynasty, unearthed in 1991 at Lingdong Kiln Site, Beiliu County.
  • Description: The mold is made of solid white porcelain and has a mushroom-like shape with a handle. The top is flat with engraved patterns, and the face wall is divided into six sections, each featuring ground flower patterns.

Qing Dynasty Kangxi Blue and White “Praise of the Saint Ruler and Wise Minister” Pen Holder

  • Dimensions: Height 21.60 cm, Mouth Diameter 9.20 cm, Base Diameter 12.10 cm.
  • Period: Qing Dynasty, during the Kangxi reign.
  • Description: The holder is cylindrical with a flat mouth and straight walls. Its exterior is decorated with the full text of the “Praise of the Saint Ruler and Wise Minister” in blue and white, featuring well-proportioned and elegant lettering. The bottom is coated with white glaze and marked with “Made in the Great Qing Dynasty during Kangxi” in regular script.

Qing Dynasty Yongzheng Doucai Chrysanthemum Bowl

  • Dimensions: Height 6.90 cm, Mouth Diameter 14.30 cm, Foot Diameter 5.10 cm.
  • Period: Qing Dynasty, during the Yongzheng reign.
  • Description: The bowl features a wide mouth, slightly curved belly, and a gradually narrowing base, with a flat bottom and ringed foot. The clay body is fine and white. The decoration utilizes the Doucai technique from the Ming Dynasty, with underglaze blue and overglaze colors. The outer wall is adorned with chrysanthemum patterns interspersed with flower branches. The base is marked with “Made in the Great Qing Dynasty during Yongzheng” in blue script.

Unique Yellow and Purple Four-Color Bowl

  • Description: This bowl, with a sophisticated design, showcases vibrant yellow, red, green, purple, and blue colors. Its detailed painting and elegant artistic style are notable examples of the Yongzheng Doucai craft.

Jade and Stone Artifacts

Blue Crystal Beads

  • Dimensions: Length 1.5-3 cm.
  • Period: Western Han Dynasty, unearthed from Tomb M1 at Wangniuling, Hepu County.
  • Description: Jewelry featuring six shallow blue crystal beads that are transparent with a glass-like luster. Four beads are hexagonal prism-shaped, varying in size with flat ends and drilled holes. One bead has decorative grooves on both ends and two channels in the middle, while the other two beads are irregular flat cylindrical shapes with flat ends and drilled holes.

Ming Dynasty Beast-Ear Jade Incense Burner

  • Dimensions: Height 5 cm, Foot 4.7 cm, Mouth Diameter 6.5 cm.
  • Description: This jade burner features double beast ears, a wide mouth, a neck, and a bulging belly, with two beast face designs on the body.

Qing Dynasty Crab-Shaped Green Jade Belt Buckle

  • Dimensions: Length 8 cm, Height 4.5 cm.
  • Description: Carved into the shape of a crab grasping a rice ear, with two round knobs on the back, showcasing a fine and smooth jade quality.

Republican Period Jade Basin with Buddha’s Hand Design

  • Dimensions: Height 2 cm, Length 14 cm, Width 9.5 cm.
  • Description: A shallow basin featuring engraved decorations with a leaf and flower motif, including a design inspired by the Buddhist hand gesture.

Leather Artifacts

Human Leather Shoes

  • Dimensions: Length 24.5 cm, Width 10 cm.
  • Period: Ming Dynasty.
  • Description: Two pairs of leather shoes featuring straight lines and arcs. The first pair has a rectangular upper and round toe with perforated designs and stitched patterns. The second pair is flat with intricate designs featuring a wave pattern, rounded edges, and handmade stitching.

Sheepskin Rucksack

  • Dimensions: Length 50 cm, Width 50 cm.
  • Period: Qing Dynasty.
  • Description: This large rucksack, made from soft sheepskin, features a finely woven band around the neck, with decorative motifs on the body and a tightly woven leather cord.

Sheepskin Waist Bag

  • Dimensions: Height 12 cm, Width 10 cm, Length 12 cm.
  • Period: Qing Dynasty.
  • Description: A handmade leather waist bag featuring a flat bottom, decorated with unique geometric patterns and color stitching.

How to Get There

The Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region Museum is conveniently located in the heart of Nanning. Visitors can easily reach the museum using public transportation:

  • By Bus: Multiple bus routes service the area around Minzu Square, with stops close to the museum entrance.
  • By Metro: The nearest metro station is the Minzu Square Station (民族广场站), which is just a short walk away.
  • By Taxi: Taxis are readily available throughout Nanning, and drivers will be familiar with the museum.

Travel Tips

  • Best Time to Visit: Consider visiting in the early morning or late afternoon to avoid crowds and enjoy a more leisurely experience.
  • Museum Regulations: Ensure to follow museum guidelines, such as photography restrictions and maintaining a quiet atmosphere.
  • Plan Your Visit: Check the museum’s official website for the latest exhibition updates, special events, and visitor information. This will help you make the most of your visit and ensure you don’t miss any highlights.