Weinan Museum

Weinan Museum (渭南博物馆) is a major public project approved by the Provincial Development and Reform Commission. It is also a key initiative defined by the Weinan Municipal Party Committee and the Weinan Municipal Government, which has received widespread attention and support from various sectors of society. Construction of the museum began in early 2009 and after more than seven years of intense construction and preparations, the museum was officially completed and opened to the public in February 2016. Alongside its opening, a month-long special exhibition titled “A Fusion of East and West: The Four Animal Heads from the Old Summer Palace” was held.

The museum is located to the east of Sanxian Road, to the west of Liuquan Road, and to the north of Letian Street, on the same axis as the Weinan Cultural Plaza and Weinan Administrative Center.

The museum covers an area of 90 acres with a total construction area of 35,940 square meters. The main building consists of four floors: three above ground and one basement. The core exhibition, titled “With Harmony in Mind—The Stories of Weinan,” is divided into eight units:

  1. The Rich Natural Resources of Weinan – Weinan’s geography and natural resources

  2. Roots in the Ancient Past – Prehistoric Weinan

  3. Memories of the Pre-Qin Era – Weinan during the Xia, Shang, and Zhou dynasties

  4. The Capital Region – Weinan during the Qin and Han periods

  5. Land of Dragons – Weinan during the Wei, Jin, and Northern and Southern Dynasties

  6. The Pulse of the Nation – Weinan during the Sui and Tang dynasties

  7. Elegant Customs – Weinan during the Song, Yuan, Ming, and Qing dynasties

  8. Fires of War in East Qin – Modern Weinan

Each unit is subdivided into smaller sections, focusing on notable figures, key events, and major achievements of each era, using “points” to connect “lines,” and “lines” to form a “surface,” highlighting the cultural characteristics of different periods.

Weinan Museum is a comprehensive, modern museum. Its architecture is solid and majestic, reflecting the toughness and strength of Weinan’s people, and it organically blends Weinan’s historical culture with modern architectural art. The museum has become a landmark building in Weinan, serving as both a site for patriotism education and a leisure and entertainment destination for citizens.

Museum Overview

Weinan Museum was initiated on February 25, 2009, with a total investment of 400 million RMB and a construction area of 35,940 square meters.

The museum is located in the central section of Letian Street in Weinan’s urban area. The museum complex consists of the main building, a sunken plaza, and a green space system. The main building is three stories high, containing sections for collection storage, exhibition spaces, technical and office rooms, and visitor services. The project is designed with a “green, ecological, and cultural” theme, focusing on preserving history, reflecting contemporary culture, and showcasing the future. The museum emphasizes the cultural characteristics of Mount Hua (华山) and the Yellow River (黄河) while highlighting Weinan’s rich cultural resources. It is set to become a city landmark, combining functions of collection, protection, display, research, office work, social education, public outreach, and recreation.

Museum Details

  • Name: Weinan Museum (渭南博物馆)

  • Type: Comprehensive Museum

  • Opening Date: February 27, 2016

  • Location: Letian Street, Linwei District, Weinan City, Shaanxi Province, China

  • Completion Date: February 2016

  • Admission: Free (Tickets are available with an ID card)

  • Country: China

  • City: Weinan City, Shaanxi Province

Historical Background

Weinan Museum was designed and built with the goal of becoming a prominent city landmark. It blends Weinan’s cultural heritage with contemporary design, aiming to present the rich history of the region, which spans from the prehistoric era to modern times. The museum offers a unique space for both historical exploration and cultural engagement for visitors.

Museum Features and Architecture

Weinan Museum features a modern architectural style with a solid and majestic design that showcases the spirit and character of Weinan’s people. The layout of the museum allows for a comprehensive presentation of the area’s rich history, blending ancient artifacts with modern museum practices. The combination of green spaces and the museum’s layout reflects the harmonious blend of nature and culture, with architectural elements highlighting the local cultural uniqueness of the Weinan region.

Collection of Cultural Relics

Weinan (渭南) governs 2 cities, 7 counties, and 2 districts, covering an area of 13,000 square kilometers with a population of 5.4 million. Known for its long history, Weinan has been home to states such as Zheng (郑), Tong (彤), Rui (芮), Shen (莘), Liang (梁), Tu (屠), Peng (彭), and Ya (衙) during the Zhou (周) and Qin (秦) dynasties, and it was considered a core area during the Zhou, Qin, Han, and Tang dynasties.

Weinan is celebrated as the birthplace of three saints: the Sage of Writing, Cangjie (仓颉), the Sage of History, Sima Qian (司马迁), and the Sage of Wine, Du Kang (杜康). It is also renowned for the presence of Mount Hua (华山), often called the root of Chinese civilization.

Weinan’s cultural relic resources are vast, with high-quality artifacts, a wide variety, and a complete historical sequence. The city houses 35 nationally protected cultural heritage sites, 102 provincially protected cultural heritage sites, and 330 county-level protected sites. The museum’s collection exceeds 50,000 items, including over 5,000 classified cultural relics.

Weinan is located in the heart of ancient Chinese civilization and is one of the birthplaces of the Chinese nation. Human presence in this area dates back over 200,000 years. The “Dali people” skull fossils and over 100 archaeological sites from the New Stone Age, such as the “Shayuan Culture” (沙园文化), “Yangshao Culture” (仰韶文化), and “Longshan Culture” (龙山文化), can be found in Weinan. The Wei Great Wall (魏长城) is one of the oldest sections of the Great Wall in China. The Laoguantai (老官台) and Yuanjun Temple (元君庙) sites in Hu County (华县) hold significant importance in Chinese archaeology.

Notable Ancient Architecture

Weinan is renowned for its ancient architecture, particularly in the province of Shaanxi (陕西). The Xiyue Temple (西岳庙) is the largest ancient architectural complex in Shaanxi and is the largest of the Five Sacred Mountains (五岳) temples. Hancheng (韩城), designated a “Chinese Historic and Cultural City” by the State Council, has the highest concentration of ancient buildings in the province. The city houses the greatest number of Yuan (元) dynasty buildings in Shaanxi, making it significant nationwide. Dangjia Village (党家村), one of the first “Chinese Historic and Cultural Villages” listed by the State Council, is praised by both domestic and international experts as a “treasure of folk dwellings.” The Hancheng Confucian Temple (韩城文庙) is the best-preserved Confucian temple in Shaanxi. The Dali Fengtu Yicang (大荔丰图义仓) is known as “the world’s first granary” and is still in use today.

Tombs of Emperors and Generals

Weinan is home to numerous tombs of emperors and generals, with a total of 13 imperial tombs discovered. Among them are 9 tombs from the Tang (唐) dynasty. The Tang imperial tombs and their accompanying treasures, which include a large number of high-ranking artifacts, vividly display the grandeur of the Tang dynasty. The Liangdai Village (梁代村) tomb site in Hancheng yielded numerous bronze ceremonial vessels, bronze horse-and-chariot decorations, jade, agate, pottery, and gold items. The discovery of the gold and silver relics from the Shali Pagoda (舍利塔) in Baishui (白水) is also highly valuable. The Liangdai Village archaeological discovery was recognized as one of the top 10 major archaeological finds in 2005.

Historic Figures

Weinan is the birthplace of numerous famous historical figures. Over the course of history, six emperors, 80 prime ministers, and more than 300 generals have emerged from the region. Notable figures include Cangjie (仓颉), the ancestor of Chinese characters; Sima Qian (司马迁), the Sage of History; Du Kang (杜康), the Sage of Wine; the famous general Wang Jian (王翦) of the Qin dynasty; Yang Zhen (杨震), the Confucian scholar from the Guanzhong region (关西); Emperor Yang Jian (杨坚) of the Sui dynasty; General Guo Ziyi (郭子仪) of the Tang dynasty; poet Bai Juyi (白居易); statesman Kou Zhun (寇准); Qing dynasty scholar Wang Jie (王杰); and many more. Weinan also played a significant role in modern revolutionary activities, with figures such as Liu Zhidan (刘志丹), Wang Shangde (王尚德), and Pan Zili (潘自立) emerging from the region, contributing to the revolution.

Cultural Relics

Weinan’s collection of cultural relics is vast and varied, including significant artifacts from different historical periods. The museum houses key inscriptions such as the Cao Quan Stele (曹全碑) from the Eastern Han period, the Xiyue Mount Hua Temple Stele (西岳华山庙碑), the Cangjie Temple Stele (仓颉庙碑), the Guangwu General Stele (广武将军碑) from the Former Qin period, and the Tang Dynasty “Yunhui General Stele” (云麾将军碑). Other notable inscriptions include the “Tang Three Treasures Sutra” (大唐三藏圣教序碑), the Ming Dynasty “Wang Huaiye Tomb Stele” (王槐野墓碑), and Qing Dynasty inscriptions such as the “Lin Zexu Calligraphy” (林则徐书强克捷刻石).

The region also boasts religious relics like the Western Wei “Lifen Guangtong Statue Stele” (荔非广通造像碑) and many Buddhist-related artifacts, including stone pagodas and relic containers, which are invaluable materials for the study of religious history. Weinan is also home to significant pottery collections, including rare items such as chicken-shaped pottery pots and eagle statues from the Quanhuxi (泉护村) site.

Intangible Cultural Heritage

Over the centuries, Weinan has accumulated a wealth of intangible cultural heritage. The city boasts 13 local theater genres, various forms of folk dance, and a strong tradition of drum dances, with 23 distinct varieties, constituting nearly half of the province’s total. In 2006, five of Weinan’s folk arts were included in China’s first batch of intangible cultural heritage protection lists, highlighting their historical and cultural value. These folk arts, which reflect Weinan’s rich cultural heritage, have become a source of pride for the people of Shaanxi.

Museum’s Importance

Before the establishment of the Weinan Museum, the city’s cultural relics were stored in rudimentary county-level storage facilities, limiting public access to this invaluable history. The opening of the museum provides a platform for preserving, studying, and displaying these relics, significantly enhancing the city’s cultural infrastructure. It also serves as a cultural hub for both locals and visitors, improving cultural literacy and stimulating the development of Weinan’s cultural industries. The museum will contribute to Weinan’s urban development, promote investment, and boost the city’s reputation and the morale of its people.

Construction Timeline and Major Milestones

2009

  • February 23, 2009: The Weinan City Government Office issued document [Wei Zheng Ji (2009) No. 3], announcing the establishment of a leadership group for the construction of the Weinan Museum. An office was also set up under the leadership group.

  • March 10, 2009: Vice Mayor Liu Baoqin of Weinan City chaired a special meeting regarding the museum’s construction.

  • March 25, 2009: The office of the Weinan Museum Construction Leadership Group was established, and all staff members were on duty.

  • March 26-28, 2009: Experts from relevant national ministries and commissions were invited to discuss the preliminary design and approval for the Weinan Museum project, establishing the main steps for its construction.

  • March 31, 2009: The Weinan Museum Project Proposal was completed by the Provincial Development and Reform Commission Investment Center.

  • April 1-2, 2009: A field visit to the museums in Baoji and Xianyang was conducted for research.

  • April 1, 2009: The Weinan Museum Office submitted the “Weinan Museum Construction Project Proposal” to the Weinan Development and Reform Commission.

  • April 9, 2009: The Weinan Development and Reform Commission forwarded the proposal to the Provincial Development and Reform Commission.

  • April 22, 2009: The Weinan Museum Office submitted a request to the Provincial Bureau of Cultural Relics regarding the construction of the museum.

  • April 22, 2009: The Provincial Bureau of Cultural Relics issued approval for the construction of Weinan Museum.

  • May 19-21, 2009: Relevant personnel from the Weinan Museum Office visited the Tsinghua University Architecture Design Institute in Beijing to review their qualifications, explore their work on museum planning, and discuss the design of the Weinan Museum.

  • June 1, 2009: The Provincial Development and Reform Commission issued its approval for the Weinan Museum project proposal.

  • July 3, 2009: Weinan City Mayor Xu Xinrong chaired a meeting to review the initial design of the Weinan Museum, with experts from Beijing and the province present for discussion.

  • August 30, 2009: The Weinan City Urban Planning Bureau provided the preliminary review of the site selection for the museum.

  • September 3, 2009: The architectural design of the Weinan Museum passed expert review organized by the planning bureau.

  • September 15, 2009: The Weinan Environmental Protection Bureau issued approval for the environmental impact report for the museum construction.

  • September 26, 2009: The Beijing Zhengdong International Architectural Design Company completed the site selection research report for the museum.

  • November 4, 2009: The Provincial Department of Housing and Urban-Rural Development issued an opinion on the site selection for the museum project.

  • November 25, 2009: The Provincial Development and Reform Commission issued a feasibility study report approval for the Weinan Museum.

  • December 17, 2009: The Weinan Planning Bureau issued the land use planning permit for the museum.

  • December 28, 2009: The Provincial Department of Land and Resources issued approval for the project’s land use review.

2010

  • February 22, 2010: Geological surveys for the museum site were completed.

  • March 9, 2010: Vice Mayor Liu Baoqin hosted another meeting concerning the progress of the museum’s construction.

  • April 6, 2010: Vice Director of the National Cultural Heritage Administration, Song Xinchao, was briefed on the Weinan Museum project.

  • April 21, 2010: A meeting with representatives from China State Construction Engineering Corporation was held to assess the museum’s construction.

  • May 25, 2010: The preliminary design for the Weinan Museum was successfully reviewed and approved by the Provincial Development and Reform Commission.

  • July 2, 2010: Site preparation for the construction was completed.

  • July 25, 2010: The Provincial Development and Reform Commission issued approval for the initial design of the museum.

  • August 14, 2010: The Weinan Development and Reform Commission approved the bidding implementation plan for the museum’s construction.

  • August 27, 2010: The construction site perimeter walls were completed.

  • December 2010: Tsinghua University Architecture Design Institute provided the final construction blueprints for the museum.

2011

  • March 2011: The project launched a public tender for construction and project supervision qualifications.

  • March 24, 2011: Deputy Director of the Provincial Bureau of Cultural Relics, Guo Xianzeng, inspected the progress of the museum’s construction.

  • June 18, 2011: A geological survey report for the museum site was completed by the Shaanxi Provincial Bureau of Geological and Mineral Resources.

  • July 6, 2011: The construction bidding for the Weinan Museum was finalized.

  • August 2, 2011: The supervision contract for the museum construction was awarded.

  • August 9, 2011: Temporary electricity was connected to the construction site.

  • August 25, 2011: Groundbreaking for the Weinan Museum officially took place.

Leadership Visits and Inspections

2012

  • October 15, 2012: Song Xinchao, Vice Director of the National Cultural Heritage Administration, visited Weinan to inspect the construction progress. He reviewed the 3D video simulation of the museum’s design and construction progress. After listening to a work report from Xi Ligang, Deputy Director of the Weinan Cultural and Tourism Bureau, Song expressed approval for the progress and provided several key recommendations:

    • The exhibitions should prioritize cultural relics with auxiliary landscapes.

    • Timely communication with design units to optimize exhibition planning, incorporating top-tier collections.

    • The design should consider the needs of disabled groups.

    • The layout of the Historical Records Square and Cangjie Square should reflect cultural depth and the evolution of Chinese writing.

    Song also conducted an on-site inspection of the museum construction, accompanied by Guo Xianzeng, Deputy Director of the Provincial Bureau of Cultural Relics, and Jia Qiang, Director of the Museums and Social Cultural Relics Division.

2016

  • February 27, 2016: The Weinan Museum held its grand opening, and the Round-Ming Garden Beast Head Exhibition was launched. Deputy Governor Wang Lixia declared the museum open, and Zhao Rong, Director of the Provincial Bureau of Cultural Relics, gave a speech. Leaders from various cultural institutions and the local government attended. In her speech, Wang emphasized the importance of Weinan’s cultural heritage and the museum’s role in strengthening cultural and tourism development. She encouraged Weinan to use the museum as a platform for cultural exchange and innovation.

  • Opening Ceremony Highlights: After the opening speeches, the officials visited the museum, which was met with a warm reception and significant public interest. This event marked the start of a strategic partnership between Weinan and the Poly Group for cultural projects, especially the Round-Ming Garden Beast Head Exhibition, a major cultural event in Weinan.

The Weinan Museum (渭南博物馆) has emerged as a significant cultural hub in the region, playing a key role in preserving and promoting the city’s rich history and heritage. With the completion of its construction and the successful inauguration of major exhibits, the museum has become a beacon for cultural exchange and tourism.