Hubei Provincial Museum 湖北省博物馆

About Hubei Provincial Museum

The bronze bells from the tomb of Marquis Yi and the Sword of Goujian make two very different kinds of metalwork tangible: musical precision and an exceptionally preserved weapon. Other archaeological collections broaden the story beyond these famous objects. Choose the relevant galleries from the current floor plan and allow time to read the tomb context; a bell performance, if scheduled, is a separate experience from viewing the originals.

The museum's preparation began in 1953, growing out of the former Hubei Provincial People's Science Hall; a preparatory office was approved that March under the provincial Culture Bureau. It moved to the Donghu (东湖) area in 1959 and took its present name in 1963. The Xinhai Revolution Memorial Hall (辛亥革命纪念馆) separated from it in 1981, and the Hubei Provincial Institute of Cultural Relics and Archaeology (湖北省文物考古研究所) split off in 1987; the two agencies later operated jointly before separating again in 2023.

The museum holds more than 240,000 objects, including nearly 1,000 first-grade national relics. Representative holdings include prehistoric pottery of the Qujialing (屈家岭) and Shijiahe (石家河) cultures, bronzes from Panlongcheng (盘龙城), lacquerware from Chu and Han tombs, bamboo slips from several Chu and Qin tombs, and objects from the tombs of Prince Liangzhuang (梁庄王) and Prince Ying (郢靖王). Among its collection, the Yunxian Man skull fossil (郧县人头骨化石) and a Yuan-dynasty blue-and-white “Four Loves” meiping vase (元青花四爱图梅瓶) are counted, with the bronze bells and sword, among the museum's four “town treasures” (镇馆之宝).

The museum is designated a national first-grade museum (国家一级博物馆) and is one of eight national key museums jointly built by central and local government. It forms part of the Donghu area, a national 5A tourist attraction (国家5A级旅游景区), and holds 13 long-term exhibitions on the region's history and culture.

What to look for

• The Marquis Yi of Zeng bronze-bell collection and its burial context.
• The Sword of Goujian and other archaeological material from ancient Hubei.

Location & getting there

Getting to Hubei Provincial Museum

Use No 160 Donghu Road in Wuchang. The museum recommends Shengbo Hubei Ribao station on Metro Line 8; individual public-transport visitors use the North Gate, while taxi and group drop-offs use the South Gate. Reserve through the official museum system and bring the matching identification.