Xinjiang Regional Museum 新疆维吾尔自治区博物馆

About Xinjiang Regional Museum

Textiles, wooden documents, painted figures and burial finds reveal connections that are difficult to understand from ruins alone. The collection includes the celebrated Five Stars Rise in the East brocade armguard from Niya, alongside wider displays of historical dress and writing. Check the current gallery programme and individual object labels, since important pieces may rotate or be represented differently.

The museum was formally established in 1959, initially using offices in a printing works, and moved to its present site in 1962. Construction of a new building began in October 2000, with opening in September 2005. A second phase opened on 18 May 2022, bringing the museum's total building area to 49,608 square metres.

The history exhibition presents material from the pre-Qin period through the Qing dynasty. Its display grew to 1,570 objects or groups in 2022, including newly presented archaeological discoveries and a reconstruction of a brick-chamber tomb. Beyond exhibitions, the museum carries out conservation and restoration work and has research workstations devoted to the protection of textile and paper cultural relics.

What to look for

• Textiles and historical clothing reveal materials, patterns and cultural exchange.
• Excavated documents connect regional history with everyday written records.

The surrounding area

Museum context and an urban starting point; it does not make the whole region reachable as day trips.

Location & getting there

Getting to Xinjiang Regional Museum

The museum is at 581 Xibei Road in Urumqi’s Saybagh District. Use its current official reservation process and the named visitor entrance; this is separate from Urumqi City Museum.