Inner Mongolia Museum
内蒙古博物院
A national first-grade museum known for its dinosaur fossils, northern steppe artifacts and Mongol-Yuan history, and the best first stop for understanding Inner Mongolia.
The Inner Mongolia Museum is on Xinhua East Street in the New Town district. Its new building opened in 2007, and its exterior evokes galloping horses on the grassland and the Mongolian yurt. The collection holds hundreds of thousands of items. Permanent exhibitions include 'Earth, Life, Ancient Stories,' featuring dinosaur fossils excavated in Inner Mongolia, including sauropod skeletons and mammoth fossils, and the favorite hall of children. There are also exhibitions on northern nomadic peoples such as 'Pride of the Grassland' and 'Wind from the Grassland,' displaying Xiongnu gold crown ornaments, gold and silver objects, horse gear and clothing from the Xianbei, Khitan and Mongol-Yuan periods. The museum also has a 'Grassland Customs' folk exhibition and a space exhibition. Admission is free, but real-name advance booking is required. It is closed on Mondays except public holidays. Allow at least 3 hours. Take the subway to Inner Mongolia Museum Station, and you're there.
Opening hours
Tue–Sun 09:00–17:00 (last entry 16:00); closed Mondays
Nearby sights
- Suiyuan General's Yamen
- Five Pagoda Temple (Cideng Temple)
- Mansion of Princess Kejing
- Great Mosque of Hohhot
- Xilitu Zhao (Shiretu Juu)
- Dazhao Temple
- Saishang Old Street
- Wanbu Huayanjing Pagoda (White Pagoda)