Guizhou Provincial Museum
贵州省博物馆
The new provincial museum in Guanshanhu District, and the best introduction to Guizhou's ethnic costumes, fossils, and tusi archaeology. Admission is free, and it's worth a visit before heading to Qiandongnan or Anshun.
The Guizhou Provincial Museum is on Lincheng East Road in Guanshanhu District. The new building opened in 2017, covers about 47,000 square meters, and its design draws on Guizhou's mountain stone and ethnic costume patterns. Admission is free. Its permanent exhibitions follow three themes: Ethnic Guizhou, Paleontological Guizhou, and Historical Guizhou. The ethnic gallery features costumes, silver jewelry, batik, and brocade from 17 indigenous ethnic groups, including the Miao, Bouyei, Dong, Shui, and Yi. The Miao festival attire with silver crowns and Dong liangbu cloth are keys to understanding southeastern Guizhou. The paleontology gallery holds Triassic marine reptile fossils such as the Xingyi Guizhou dragon and the Guanling ichthyosaur, as well as crinoids (sea lilies). It is one of the most complete collections of its kind in China. The history gallery displays bronze cauldrons and other artifacts unearthed from the Yelang tombs at Kele in Hezhang, along with head-set burial artifacts. It also shows gold phoenix crowns and gold and silver wares unearthed from the tombs of the Yang tusi family of Bozhou, which are linked to the Hailongtun World Heritage site in Zunyi, as well as artifacts from Ming and Qing Guizhou and tunpu (fortress village) culture. There is also an intangible cultural heritage craft experience area and a children's gallery, and during holidays there are batik and silver-jewelry workshops. A visit of about 2 hours is recommended. Start with the ethnic gallery before the history gallery, and audio guides can be rented. Getting there: take Metro Line 1 to Lincheng West Road Station or Guanshanhu Park Station, then walk about 10 to 15 minutes. The museum sits beside Guanshanhu Park, so you can stroll through the park on the way. Notes: The museum is closed on Mondays except public holidays. Entry requires an ID card, and reservations are recommended during holidays. Large luggage can be stored inside. Guanshanhu District is about 10 km from the old city and can be combined with airport or Guiyang North Railway Station travel plans.
Opening hours
Tue–Sun 09:00–17:00 (last entry 16:00), closed Mondays
Nearby sights
- Guanshanhu Park
- Guizhou Geological Museum
- Qianling Mountain Park
- Hongfu Temple
- Former Site of Dade School
- Aha Lake National Wetland Park
- Wenchang Pavilion
- Wang Yangming Memorial Temple