Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region Museum
新疆博物馆
Home to the “Beauty of Loulan” mummy and the Han-dynasty brocade from Niya inscribed with “Five Stars Rising in the East, Benefiting China.” It is the first stop for understanding Xinjiang's history and the Silk Road.
The Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region Museum is located on Northwest Road in Saybagh District. After the second-phase new building opened in 2022, its exhibition space expanded greatly. It is the most important museum for learning about Xinjiang's history and the civilization of the Silk Road. Its treasures include the “Beauty of Loulan,” a female mummy about 3,800 years old, excavated near Lop Nur, whose face is remarkably well preserved, along with other ancient mummies. There is also a Han-dynasty armband brocade inscribed with “Five Stars Rising in the East, Benefiting China,” unearthed at the Niya site. It is a national treasure banned from leaving the country, so the museum usually displays replicas or rotates the original. Other items include Tang-dynasty silk paintings, wooden figurines and mummies excavated from the Astana Tombs in Turpan. The collection also includes silk, Buddhist murals, documents and coins from different periods, showing the diverse culture of Xinjiang during the Han, Tang, Uyghur, Mongol and Islamic periods. Permanent exhibitions include “Xinjiang Historical Cultural Relics,” “Ancient Xinjiang Mummy Display” and “Xinjiang Ethnic Customs.” The second-phase building's exhibition “The Chinese Historical Record: Xinjiang Excavated Documents” is also worth seeing. Entry is free, but you must book through the museum's WeChat official account. During peak summer periods, book 1–3 days in advance. Audio guides and scheduled tours are available. A visit takes about 2–3 hours. The mummy galleries are solemn, so take care with young children. Getting there: Metro Line 1 does not go directly to the museum. Take a bus to the “Museum” stop, or take a taxi from the Grand Bazaar for about 20 minutes. Notes: the museum is closed on Mondays. Flash photography is not allowed. Security checks and ID are required.
Opening hours
Tue–Sun 10:00–18:00 (last entry 17:00); closed Mondays
Nearby sights
- Xinjiang Art Museum
- Hongshan Park
- Shaanxi Great Mosque
- Erdaoqiao & Bazaar Food Street
- Xinjiang International Grand Bazaar
- Memorial of the Eighth Route Army Office in Xinjiang
- Xinjiang Geological and Mineral Museum
- Shuimogou Scenic Area