Qinghai Provincial Museum 青海省博物馆

About Qinghai Provincial Museum

Its historical collection is complemented by displays of archaeological discoveries and intangible heritage. These provide useful context before visits to temples, ancient towns or the lake region. Look for the relationship between objects, excavation sites and trade routes rather than treating each gallery as an unrelated collection.

The museum originated from a preparatory office first set up in 1957, which was dissolved in 1962 and re-established on 29 August 1978. It formally opened on 26 September 1986 at a site in Chengdong district that had been the private residence 'Xinlu' (馨庐) of the Qinghai warlord Ma Bufang. A new building at 58 Xiguan Street, east of Xinning Square, opened to the public on 1 May 2001.

The new building covers 17,000 square metres, with a floor area of 20,800 square metres and nine exhibition halls. As of 2013 the collection held more than 47,000 items, including over 150 rated first-class national relics. Permanent exhibitions have covered Qinghai's prehistoric civilization, ethnic relics and Tibetan Buddhist art, and by 2017 included exhibitions on river-source civilization and intangible cultural heritage. In 2017 the Chinese Museum Association named it a national first-class museum (国家一级博物馆) in its third such round of designations.

What to look for

• The Qinghai history display follows the region’s cultural development.
• Archaeological discoveries connect objects with excavated sites.
• Intangible-heritage displays introduce living craft traditions.

Location & getting there

Getting to Qinghai Provincial Museum

The museum is at 58 Xiguan Street, on the eastern side of Xinning Square in Xining. Use the museum’s own reservation and visitor information for entry; it is a different venue from the Tibetan Culture Museum in the northern biotechnology district.