Hubei Provincial Museum

湖北省博物馆

Home to the Sword of King Goujian of Yue, the Marquis Yi bronze chime bells and a Yuan blue-and-white 'Four Lovers' meiping vase, plus a live chime-bell performance. A must-visit for understanding Chu culture.

The Hubei Provincial Museum sits on the shore of East Lake in Wuchang. It is one of eight national museums in China co-built by the central and local governments, holds more than 240,000 objects, and is best known for relics from the tomb of the Marquis Yi of Zeng and for Chu culture and Chu-style lacquerware. Its exhibition space has grown considerably since the new building opened in 2021. The museum's four treasures are the Sword of King Goujian of Yue (still unrusted after 2,500 years, gleaming and sharp, the most popular object in the museum, so expect a queue), the Marquis Yi Bronze Chime Bells (65 bronze bells, the pinnacle of Warring States-era instrument making, capable of playing complete pieces), the Yunxian Man skull fossil, and a Yuan blue-and-white 'Four Lovers' meiping vase. Permanent exhibitions include 'Marquis Yi,' 'Eight Centuries of the Chu State,' 'The Zeng Family,' and 'Treasures from the Collection of King Liang Zhuang.' The chime-bell concert hall stages several performances a day of ancient music played on replica bells (about RMB 30, highly recommended; the schedule is posted inside the museum). Admission is free, but you must book a real-name ticket in advance through the museum's official WeChat account. Slots usually open five days ahead, and holiday tickets are often gone by the morning of the visit. The museum is closed on Mondays except during public holidays. Audio guides can be rented, and volunteer guides are available. Getting there: take Metro Line 8 to Hubei Provincial Museum–Hubei Daily station, about a 5-minute walk, or Line 4 to Dongting station and transfer to a bus. The museum is next to the Pear Garden on East Lake, so you can walk straight onto the East Lake Greenway afterwards. Allow at least three hours. Visit the Marquis Yi galleries and the chime-bell performance first, then the Chu culture and King Liang Zhuang exhibits. Notes: large bags must be checked; access to the sword display case is limited, and weekday mornings are the least crowded; food options inside are limited, but there are restaurants on nearby East Lake Road.

Hubei Provincial Museum

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