Zhangjiajie Museum

Zhangjiajie Museum

Zhangjiajie Museum (张家界市博物馆), located in front of Dayong Bridge Park (大庸桥公园) in Zhangjiajie City, Hunan Province, covers an area of 46.36 acres with a total building area of 15,395 square meters. The museum is a comprehensive facility consisting of a Geological Hall (地质馆), History Hall (历史馆), and Urban Planning Hall (城建规划馆).

History and Development

The construction of Zhangjiajie Museum (张家界市博物馆) began in 2005, and it officially opened to the public on September 2, 2016. As of 2019, the museum had 10,344 items/sets in its collection, including 617 precious cultural relics/sets. By 2022, the museum’s collection had expanded to 11,324 items/sets, with an annual visitor count of 218,900 people.

Visitor Information

Location: In front of Dayong Bridge Park (大庸桥公园), Cultural Plaza (文化广场), Zhangjiajie City, Hunan Province
Area: 46.36 acres
Type: Comprehensive Museum
Opening Hours: 9:00 AM – 4:30 PM daily (Ticket sales stop at 3:30 PM, entry stops at 4:00 PM). Closed on Mondays.
Admission: Free

Historical Development

2005: The planning of Zhangjiajie Museum (张家界市博物馆) commenced.
September 2, 2016: The museum officially opened its doors to the public.
May 17, 2022: Yang Xudong (杨旭东) and Tian Youxiang (田友香), a couple from Zhangjiajie, donated a long-treasured “dripping water bed” (滴水床) to the museum.

Venue Layout

Zhangjiajie Museum (张家界市博物馆) covers an area of 46.36 acres with a total building area of 15,395 square meters. The museum consists of the Geological Hall (地质馆), History Hall (历史馆), and Urban Planning Hall (城建规划馆).

Exhibitions

Basic Exhibitions

History and Culture Exhibition: The History and Culture Hall of Zhangjiajie Museum (张家界市博物馆) is divided into three sections: “The Story of Zhangjiajie” (张家界故事), “Guarding the Spiritual Homeland” (守望精神家园), and “A Century of Memories” (百年记忆). These sections narrate the historical development of the Zhangjiajie region since human activities began, the rich ethnic cultures created through the fusion of various local ethnic groups, and the countless heroes from Zhangjiajie who wrote immortal poems in the struggle for freedom and democracy over the past century.
Geology Exhibition: The Geological Exhibition at Zhangjiajie Museum (张家界市博物馆) includes the Entrance Hall (序厅), Earth Hall (地球厅), Zhangjiajie Landform Hall (张家界地貌厅), Prehistoric Life Evolution Hall (史前生物演化厅), Ecological Protection and Glorious Zhangjiajie Hall (生态保护与辉煌张家界厅), and a Multimedia Cinema (多媒体影视厅). This exhibition presents the formation and evolution of Earth and the geological history of Zhangjiajie (张家界). It explains the characteristics, types, origins, development history, and stages of the Zhangjiajie landforms, revealing the scientific meaning and unique value of the region’s landscapes. Exhibits include various mineral specimens and prehistoric fossils, such as the “Furong Dragon” (芙蓉龙). The Geological Hall also uses multimedia to show the rise and fall of life evolution and the vast changes in geological history, while promoting ecological protection and showcasing the achievements in protecting and constructing a green and glorious Zhangjiajie.
Urban Planning Hall: The Urban Planning Hall (城建规划馆) showcases the urban planning and construction achievements of Zhangjiajie (张家界) since its establishment. Through six exhibition areas—”Achievements of Zhangjiajie,” “Interpreting Zhangjiajie,” “Looking Ahead to Zhangjiajie,” “City Memory,” and others—the exhibition traces the past, present, and future of the city. The exhibition emphasizes the city’s unique, healthy, and vibrant characteristics, highlighting Zhangjiajie’s natural, unrepeatable resource advantages and the inclusive and global nature of its urban planning and development.

Special Exhibitions

“The Year of the Rat Brings Treasure”—A Zodiac-themed Cultural Relic Exhibition for the 2020 Chinese New Year: This exhibition is divided into four sections: “Zodiac Stories—The Origins and Development of Zodiac Culture” (生肖故事—生肖文化的缘起与发展), “Varieties of Rodents—The World of Mice” (鼠类百态—鼠的世界), “The Beginning of Time—The Story of the Rat” (天开于子—鼠的故事), and “The Year of the Rat Talks About Mice” (鼠年话鼠—鼠的映像).

Collections

As of 2019, Zhangjiajie Museum (张家界市博物馆) has a collection of 10,344 items/sets, including 617 valuable cultural relics/sets.

Important Artifacts

Qing Dynasty Wooden Carved Story Screen: This piece features a figure with wavy hair, laughing with mouth open, carrying a chain and three copper coins. The right foot is placed on a toad-shaped beast, while the hand holds the beast’s mouth. Both the figure and beast stand on an oval wooden base.
Republic of China Bamboo Vest: This vest is made of bamboo strips and hemp ropes and features hexagonal and square patterns. It is sleeveless, with a front opening and black bead decoration on the edges. The collar section is worn and faded in black and yellow.
Qing Dynasty Daoist and Buddhist Deity Painting Scroll: A painting depicting three deities with a celestial and ethereal appearance. Two attendants stand beside the central figure, who is the Daoist deity Shangqing (上清). The deity holds a Ruyi scepter, and the clothing is embroidered with dragon and phoenix designs, with a large longevity peach placed in front of the throne. The back of the painting features the handwritten words “Shangqing” in calligraphy.
Yuan Dynasty Dragon-and-Figure Patterned Ceramic Soul Bottle: This ceramic vessel has a curved shoulder and flat base. The lid is topped with a human figure, flanked by a dog and flying bird. The body of the vessel is decorated with three raised lines. A dragon and tiger are modeled between the shoulder and belly, while the central area of the belly features nine figurines engaged in various activities, such as playing the flute, beating cymbals, and dancing. Near the bottom, a line of musicians and dancers is sculpted in relief.

Cultural Activities

In June 13, 2021, Zhangjiajie Museum (张家界市博物馆) held a “Zongqing Duanwu” (粽情端午) rice dumpling-making event. More than 20 students from Jishou University (吉首大学) and Zhangjiajie College (张家界学院) participated in the activity.

Important Events

On May 8, 2020, Xu Dazhe (许达哲), Vice Governor of Hunan Province (湖南省委副书记), and Wang Qun (王群), Secretary-General of the Provincial Government, visited the Zhangjiajie Museum (张家界市博物馆) for an inspection.

In December 2021, Zhangjiajie Museum (张家界市博物馆) passed the initial assessment for the “Clean Scenic Area” (清廉景区) designation in Zhangjiajie.

Honors

On December 21, 2020, Zhangjiajie Museum (张家界市博物馆) was rated as a National Level 2 Museum (国家二级博物馆).

In March 2021, Zhangjiajie Museum (张家界市博物馆) was recognized as one of the first Hunan Province Model Sites for the Lei Feng (雷锋) Volunteer Activity.

Institutional Setup

Unit Type:

Public cultural institution (公益性文化事业单位).

Current Leadership:

Director: Shang Wei (尚巍)
Deputy Directors: Mi Xue (米雪), Liu Xiahua (刘夏欢)

Visiting Information

Location

Zhangjiajie Museum (张家界市博物馆) is located opposite Duyong Bridge Park (大庸桥公园) in the Cultural Square (文化广场) of Zhangjiajie City (张家界市), Hunan Province (湖南省).