Nanjing Museum

» Nanjing, Jiang Su

Nanjing Museum Overview & Map Weather Transportation Information

The Nanjing Museum is located inside the Zhongshan Gate of Nanjing City. Its predecessor was known as the Central Museum Preparatory Location. The complex of buildings represents an amalgamation of east and west, with the great hall copying the style of a Liao-dynasty palace. The Nanjing Museum is widely considered to be one of the finest and largest museums in China. The Museum currently holds some 400,000 objects in its collections, among which are some of the most famous objects in China. These include the only complete set of "jade suits sewed with silver thread" in China, which are world renowned.

What to visit

The museum is divided into several sections, one for each of the major areas of Chinese traditional art - paintings and calligraphy, porcelain, jade, ceramics, furniture and decorative arts, ancient bronzes, and finally a "treasures" section for the best items in the collection.

Paintings and calligraphy

The calligraphy and paintings collections are very special. Among the 100,000 objects that have officially entered the collections, most are Ming- and Qing-dynasty works of artists who lived in the Jiangsu area. Among these, the most special are the "Wu Men painting school," "Yangzhou painting school," "Jinling painting school," as well as a small number of Song and Yuan-dynasty works. Most of the representative works of the modem Chinese painter Fu Baoshi (1904 - 1965, painter, art historian), and Chen Zhifo (1896 - 1962, modern arts educator) are stored here.

Porcelains

It also boasts an excellent collection of porcelains, with some especially beautiful masterpieces from the Ming Dynasty. A life size reproduction kiln and pottery workshop shows how these ceramics were made.

Folk crafts

Another wing of the museum is dedicated to folk crafts, clothing, and popular traditions of Jiangsu. Not just a dry collection in glass cases, bilingual explanations introduce many of the facets of traditional folkways of the region, and then illustrate and explain them using the historic objects. Displays on kites, toys, clothes, games, and folk religion bring old Jiangsu to life.

Museum of rich activities

Not only is the museum home to incalculable treasure of art and culture - it is also a venue for a rich variety of activities. Nanjing Museum is notable for holding special subject lectures. Further, it has arranged displays in countries as far apart as Japan and Germany. It encourages research in the fields of culture, folk customs, and traditions from other parts of China.

Nanjing Museum's lecture series, for example, has attracted over 12,000,000 visitors from home and abroad. And its exhibitions in other countries, has contributed in no small way to international understanding and co-operation in the interest of art and culture. Another particular activity is its research into our nation's customs and traditions. The Nanjing is the only museum to have a folk custom investigation organization. This makes it unique among the museums of China.

Museum of various functions

Advanced science and technology have been well applied in the Nanjing Museum. Not only is there a multimedia guide system to let visitors have a better understanding of the museum and its rich treasures but also the multifunctional lecture hall providing spontaneous interpretation, which offers an excellent environment for scholars to hold academic discussions. Nanjing Museum has been regarded as one of the most advanced and popular among museums of its class in China, and an important educational base for students.

When to visit

• Opening Hours: 09:00a.m. - 16:30p.m.
• Ticket-selling Hours: 09:00a.m. - 16:00p.m.

Getting there

• Bus routes: 5, 9, 29, 36, 51, 55, 59, You 1, 2, 5 (Tourist buses)

Attractions around » Nanjing, Jiang Su

Natural Scene

• Lake Xuanwuhu
• Qinhuai River

Historical Site

• Ming Xiaoling Tomb
• Confucius Temple
• Dr. Sun Yat-sen's Tomb
• Presidential Palace
• Yuhuatai Martyrs' Cemetery
• Linggu Temple
• Zhonghua Gate

Cultural Site

• Memorial Hall to the Victims in the Nanjing Massacre
• Nanjing Museum
• Nanjing Yangtze River Bridge

Nanjing Museum Highlights

Museum in Great China

• Forbidden City
• Terracotta Warriors and Horses
• Shaanxi Provincial History Museum
• Sanxingdui Ruins
• Dunhuang Museum
• National Museum of China
• Shanghai Museum
• Weijin Art Gallery
• Gansu Provincial Museum
• Xi'an Banpo Museum
• Dinosaur Museum
• Han Yang Ling Museum
• Forest of Stone Steles Museum
• Tibet Museum
• Jingdezhen Ceramic History Museum
• Dongba Museum
• Chongqing Three Gorges Museum
• Hubei Provincial Museum
• Shanghai History Museum
• Great Wall Museum
• Memorial Hall to the Victims in the Nanjing Massacre
• Han Dynasty Tomb Museum
• Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall
• Xianyang Museum
• Shandong Provincial Museum
• Nanjing Museum
• Meteorite Museum
• Salt History Museum
• Inner Mongolia Museum
• Hunan Provincial Museum
• National Tea Museum
• China National Silk Museum
• Museum of Traditional Chinese Medicine
• Luoyang Museum
• Chen Family Temple

Nanjing Museum FAQ & Travelers's Tips

  Weather

1. When to go

  Shopping

1. Where to exchange money?

  Customs

1. What are some interesting festivals?

  Other Hints

1. Health and Security
2. Useful numbers

• When to go

  Known as one of the three hottest cities in China, Nanjing's scorching summer period is to be avoided.

  The short and comfortable autumn time from October to mid-November is the best travel period for the city.

  Unlike other southern cities in China, in December, it sometimes snows in the city. If fortunately, you will have an opportunity to appreciate the enthralling white snow world of Nanjing. In the coldest month - January, the temperature could be as low as -7C (19F).

- Top -



• What are some interesting festivals?

  Jinling Lanterns Fair
  It was said that the first lantern fair was held in this region in the reign of Hong Wu in the Ming Dynasty (1368 - 1644), when Emperor Zhu Yuanzhang ordered a spring lantern fair to be held to celebrate both the coming new year and prosperity of the country. This tradition was passed down from generation to generation and reached its height in the Ming and Qing periods. Each year from the first day of the lunar January the lantern fair celebration is held in the area surrounding Fuzimiao.
  Period: 1st, Jan - 15th, Jan depending on lunar calendar

  Nanjing Int'l Plum Festival (Plum Hill)
  In the early spring between February and March, Nanjing International Plum Festival opens as the first ceremonial tourist event of the year. The meeting place is chosen on Plum Hill. Reputed as the First Plum Hill under Heaven, it is one of the eight plum appreciation sights having the most variety, longest history and being the largest in the country. Because the traditional Chinese Lunar New Year always falls in this period, spectacular celebrations of blossom appreciation, show performances, cultural exhibitions and bazaar shopping are be held.
  Period: Feb. - Mar. (the one in 2005 began on Feb. 10th and ended on Mar. 15th)

  Cherry Blossom Festival
  In late March, Xuanwu Park becomes a sea of cherry blossom and photography lovers and tourists throng to see the charming scenery.

  Yuhuashi (Rain Flower Pebbles) Art Festival
  Yuhuashi, a kind of rain-flower pattern agate, is a very popular tourist souvenir. Each year in September, an art and cultural festival is held in Yuhuatai (Rain Flower Terrace) Scenic Area. Exhibition of precious agate stones and performances will be presented.
  Period: September

- Top -



• Where to exchange money?

  You can exchange money at Lu Kou International Airport, branch offices of the Bank of China at Zhongshan Donglu, just east of Xinjiekou traffic circle and most hotels in the city.

  Rates at hotels may be a little higher than those in the Bank of China. Some hotels only exchange currency for their own guests.

- Top -



• Health and Security

  The health and security of the guests coming to Nanjing is a prime concern among the authorities.

  There are adequate number of police stations where the guests report to in case they face any kind of a problem.

  There are also many hospitals in Nanjing where the tourists can go in case any emergency arises.

- Top -



• Useful numbers

  Tourist Hotline: 5261179
  Ambulance: 120, 7213460
  Emergencies: 110 (foreigner's section 552729)
  Fire: 119
  Tel No. Enquiry: 114
  Police: 110
  Foreign Affairs Office of Police: 7216795

- Top -