Skip to main content
WindhorseTour
Shortlist (0) China travel guide Blog FAQ About us Contact us
info@windhorsetour.com +86-28-85593923
  • Home
  • Tailor-made tour Tailor-made
  • Tibet tours Tibet tours
    All Tibet group tours
    All Tibet private tours

    Destination

    • Lhasa
    • Central Tibet
    • Mount Everest Base Camp
    • Mount Kailash & Far Western Tibet
    • Eastern Tibet Nyingchi
    • Sichuan/Yunnan to Tibet overland
    • Sichuan Tibetan Kham
    • Train Journey to Tibet
    • Beyond Tibet - Nepal Bhutan Tour

    Theme

    • Culture and Heritage
    • Family focused
    • Festival
    • Natural scenery
    • Overland
    • Photography
    • Train travel
    • Trekking & Biking
    • Winter getaways
  • China tours China tours
    All China private tours

    Destination

    • China Multi-city tours
    • Beijing
    • Xi’an
    • Shanghai
    • Hong Kong
    • Guilin & Yangshuo
    • Chengdu
    • Datong & Pingyao
    • Yunnan
    • Guizhou
    • Tibet
    • Yangtze River Cruises
    • Zhangjiajie National Park
    • Jiuzhaigou & Huanglong
    • Mount Huangshan
    • Mount Emei & Leshan
    • Daocheng Yading
    • Sichuan
    • Qinghai
    • Xiamen

    Theme

    • Culture and Heritage
    • Family focused
    • Festival
    • Natural scenery
    • Overland
    • Photography
    • Train travel
    • Trekking & Biking
    • Winter getaways
    • 1st Time travel to China
    • Panda Volunteer Program
    • Yangtze cruise
  • Silk Road tours Silk Road
    All Silk Road private tours

    Destination

    • Zhangye Rainbow Mountain
    • Dunhuang
    • Turpan
    • Kashgar
    • Badain Jaran Desert
    • Kanas Lake
    • Silk Road Tibet
    • Silk Road China
    • Kuqa
    • Hotan
    • Yining Grassland
    • Jiayuguan
    • Tianshui

    Theme

    • Culture and Heritage
    • Festival
    • Natural scenery
    • Overland
    • Photography
    • Trekking & Biking
    • Panda Volunteer Program
  • Travel guide Travel guide
    All travel advice

    Tibet travel advice

    • Tibet travel advice
    • The Ultimate Guide on How to Visit Tibet
    • Best time to visit Tibet
    • Tibet Permit and How to Get the Tibet Travel Permit
    • 50 Things To Do in Tibet, Top Tibet Tourist Attractions
    • A Complete Travel Guide to Mount Kailash and Kora Trekking
    • How to avoid high-altitude sickness in Tibet

    China travel advice

    • China travel advice
    • Guide on How to Travel China, Tips, Popular Destinations [Updated 2023]
    • The Best Times to visit China: By season and by month
    • Planning a Trip to China with 10-Step Guide
    • Top 20 photography destinations in China
    • Top 30 Attractions in China
More
Home > China travel guide > China attractions > Gansu > Gansu Provincial Museum - Lanzhou Travel Guide

Gansu Provincial Museum - Lanzhou Travel Guide

 

Have you ever heard of Matafeiyan (马踏飞燕)? If you ask any child in China, they will immediately tell you about the famous lifelike bronze horse statue at the Gansu Provincial Museum. Matafeiyan is an incredible exhibit that showcases a galloping horse resembling a flying swallow. This masterpiece of ancient craftsmanship was discovered in the ancient town of Weiwu during the Han Dynasty. If you're planning a sightseeing tour in Gansu, be sure to include a visit to witness this must-see masterpiece!

 

Located on No. 3 West Xijin Road in Lanzhou, Gansu, the Gansu Provincial Museum is a comprehensive museum that houses a vast collection of over 350,000 pieces. The exhibits span various periods, offering a glimpse into the rich history of China. From bronzewares in the Shang and Zhou Dynasties to porcelain, silk fabrics, paintings, and wood carvings from later ancient dynasties, the museum offers a diverse range of artifacts.
 

Originally completed in 1956, the museum has undergone several restoration works and officially opened its doors to the public in 2006. Covering a total area of 28,000 square meters, the museum provides ample space for storage and exhibition. With 7,600 square meters dedicated to storage and 9,000 square meters for exhibitions, the museum ensures that visitors have the opportunity to explore the vast collection. Additionally, as a modern digital museum, it provides easy access to internet resources, enhancing visitors' understanding of the cultural relics on display.
 

While the Matafeiyan bronze horse statue is a major highlight, the Gansu Provincial Museum is home to other notable exhibits that captivate visitors. One such exhibit is the Huanghe Elephant Fossil (黄河古象化石), an impressive display standing at four meters tall and measuring eight meters in length. This fossil, with tusks reaching two meters long, represents the largest of its kind in China and showcases the most complete skeleton of a stegodon found worldwide.
 

Another remarkable exhibit is the mamenchisaurus, the largest fossil specimen of prehistoric life in Asia. Resembling a dragon, this dinosaur was discovered in Hechuan (合川) County, Sichuan Province, and adds to the museum's diverse collection of ancient relics.

The Gansu Provincial Museum features three major exhibition halls, each with its own unique theme. Visitors can explore the colored pottery exhibition hall, which offers insights into the artistry of ancient pottery. The hall dedicated to civilization on the Silk Road provides a fascinating journey through the historical and cultural significance of this renowned trade route. Finally, the fossil specimen hall takes visitors on a prehistoric adventure, showcasing ancient life forms through captivating fossil displays.

Plan your visit to the Gansu Provincial Museum between 9:00-17:00 from Tuesday to Sunday to fully immerse yourself in its treasures. Professional guides provide free commentaries at 9:30 in the morning and 15:00 in the afternoon, enriching your understanding of the exhibits and enhancing your experience.
 

To enter the museum, ensure that you obtain a permission ticket with valid identification, such as an ID card. The museum distributes 2,000 tickets per day, with 1,200 allocated for morning visits and 800 for afternoon visitors, ensuring a comfortable and engaging experience for all.
 

Located across from the Friendship Hotel, the museum is easily accessible by public transportation. Buses such as No. 1, No. 18, and No. 31 provide convenient transportation to reach the museum.

A visit to Gansu Provincial Museum can be easily added into your Gansu Tour or China Silk Road Tour. 

 

Related tours

Lhasa Ganden Tour Route
Potala Palace winter
Jokhang

5 days Splendid Lhasa tour with Ganden Monastery

Lhasa
⇀ Lhasa
...
Lhasa ⇀ Ganden ⇀ Lhasa
5 days
∙ Private ∙
Culture and Heritage
Travel to the Tibetan capital Lhasa and beyond with a variety of activates to experience natural beauty and rich culture. See Brahmaputra the trans Tibet river along with stops at top attractions and a hike in Kichu Valley near Ganden Monastery.
Add to shortlist
From A$ 565
View tour >
Tashilunpo monastery exterior
Tibet Classical Tour Route
Kumbum at Gyantse

6 days Tibet classic tour

Lhasa
⇀ Lhasa
...
Lhasa ⇀ Gyantse ⇀ Shigatse ⇀ Lhasa
6 days
∙ Private ∙
Culture and Heritage
On this classic Tibet tour, travel back in time and witness the unforgettable ancient culture of Lhasa, Gyantse and Shigatse. The amazing natural landscapes all the way presets you with the wonders of Tibet.
Add to shortlist
From A$ 884
A$ 804
View tour >
Lhasa to Tsedang Tour Route
Samye Monastery Great Photo

5 days Lhasa and Samye cultural exploration

Lhasa
⇀ Lhasa
...
Lhasa ⇀ Tsedang ⇀ Lhasa
5 days
∙ Private ∙
Culture and Heritage
A popular and short sightseeing trip in Lhasa and around with drive to Tsedang the cradle of Tibetan civilization. Discover the mystery of Tibet's Buddhist culture as you visit the most revered sites of Samye Monastery and Yumbulakang Palace.
Add to shortlist
From A$ 674
View tour >
distance views of namche barwa from lulang forest in nyingchih
Lhasa Nyingchi Tour Route
Peach Blossom in Nyingchi
potala Palace - the landmark of Tibet
Sera monastery monks debating tibet tour

6 days Picturesque Tibet tour with Nyingchi visit

Lhasa
6 days
∙ Private ∙
Natural scenery
See "the Tibetan Switzerland" on a pleasant journey to Nyingchi located in central Tibet. Nyingchi is known for its natural beauty mixed among the high plateau unique scenery of gorgeous alpine lakes and green mountains.
Add to shortlist
From A$ 891
View tour >
Admin data
 

Related attractions

Hotan Cultural Museum
Sichuan Science and Technology Museum - Chengdu
Zigong Dinosaur Museum - around Chengdu
China Silk Road Trip Camel Riding
Attractions along the ancient Silk Road
Sichuan Provincial Museum - Chengdu

Contact us

  • +86-28-85593923
  • info@windhorsetour.com

Discover

    • Tibet group tours
    • Tibet tours
    • China tours
    • Silk Road tours
    • Create your tailor-made tour

Company

  • About us
  • Blog
  • China travel guide
  • FAQ
  • Terms of use and Privacy statement

Customer Reviews

© 2006 - 2023 WindhorseTour.com - All rights reserved