Sichuan Museum 四川博物院

About Sichuan Museum

Ba–Shu bronzes, Han pictorial bricks and Buddhist stone sculpture give the ancient galleries varied materials and forms. A separate collection associated with Zhang Daqian includes his studies of Dunhuang murals, linking Sichuan with art beyond the province. Choose a sculpture or bronze section and a painting section, checking the current gallery plan for the objects on display.

The museum was founded in Chengdu in 1941 by archaeologist Feng Hanji (冯汉骥), recruited by the Sichuan provincial education authorities from National Sichuan University to organize it; he became its first director, and exhibitions opened that spring. After the Communist Party's takeover of Chengdu in December 1949, the institution was renamed the Western Sichuan Museum (川西博物馆) in 1950, becoming the Sichuan Museum in 1952 when Sichuan province was restored as an administrative unit.

The museum ranks as the largest comprehensive museum in south-west China and sixth among mainland Chinese museums by collection size, holding more than 350,000 objects, including more than 70,000 precious cultural relics and 1,399 rated first-grade national relics. Its holdings span eight categories, from ceramics, metalwork and currency to painting and calligraphy, ethnic folklore and stele rubbings, ranging from the Paleolithic-era 'Ziyang Man' skull fossil, more than 25,000 years old, to works by contemporary Chinese artists.

The present building, in the Huanhuaxi (浣花溪) area of Qingyang in western Chengdu near the Du Fu Thatched Cottage, took about seven years to build and opened in 2009. In 2012 the museum was designated a National First-Class Museum (国家一级博物馆), and in 2024 it was named to a national list of Central and Local Governments Jointly Developed National Key Museums (中央地方共建国家级重点博物馆).

What to look for

• Ba–Shu bronzes and Han pictorial bricks reveal ancient craftsmanship and narrative images.
• The Zhang Daqian collection includes work associated with his study of Dunhuang murals.

Location & getting there

Getting to Sichuan Museum

The museum is at 251 Huanhua South Road in Qingyang, beside Huanhuaxi Park. Use this current museum address for a local transfer; it is a separate venue from Du Fu Thatched Cottage.