Yanbian Museum
延边博物馆
The only provincial museum in China dedicated to the folk culture of the Korean ethnic group. It presents the migration history, costumes, weddings, food and anti-Japanese history of the Koreans, and is the first lesson in understanding Yanbian.
The Yanbian Museum lies on Changbai West Road on the western outskirts of Yanji. Its new building opened in 2012 and covers about 15,000 square meters. Its architecture borrows elements from traditional Korean buildings. It is a first-class national museum and the only provincial museum in the country dedicated to the history and culture of the Korean ethnic group. There are three main permanent exhibitions. The 'Yanbian Historical Relics' gallery displays artifacts from the Paleolithic era through the Balhae and Jin dynasties. Balhae was an important ancient kingdom in the Yanbian area, and many of its sites remain. The 'Korean Folk Culture' gallery uses reconstructed Korean houses, wedding scenes, traditional costumes, farming tools and kitchenware to show the history and way of life of Koreans who migrated from the Korean Peninsula to Yanbian over the past century. It includes displays on making kimchi, and the traditional instruments janggu and gayageum. This is the most engaging section. The 'Korean Revolutionary Struggle' gallery tells the story of anti-Japanese and revolutionary history among the Korean people in Yanbian. The museum also has an interactive area where visitors can try on traditional Korean costumes. Admission is free with an ID card or advance reservation. The museum is closed on Mondays (except public holidays). A visit takes about 1.5 hours, and free guided tours are available. Getting there: a taxi from central Yanji takes about 15 minutes (about 20 yuan). Several bus routes stop at the Yanbian Museum station. It is near Yanji West Station (the high-speed rail station), so it can be a stop on your way to or from the station. Notes: flash photography is not allowed in the museum. There are few places to eat nearby, so plan to visit before heading to the West Station.
Opening hours
9:00 am–4:30 pm; closed Mon
Nearby sights
- Mao'er Mountain National Forest Park
- Yanji Wanghong Wall
- China Korean Folk Village
- Yanji Shuishang Market
- Yanji West Market
- Yanji Bridge & Burhatong River
- Guangdong Korean Village, Helong
- Piyan Mountain & Ilsongjeong