Xi'an Museum
Xi'an Museum
4.5
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
4.5
593 reviews
Excellent
261
Very good
237
Average
82
Poor
10
Terrible
3
Panya C
Bangkok, Thailand51 contributions
Jan 2016 • Solo
Many people, including me, think there is only one museum in Xian. But there is 2 museums located in Xian. Xian museum has an incredible collection for Buddhistic sculpture and statues.
This is one of my favorite museum for 5 years. The collection in this museum are priceless...
If you love Buddhistic Art and Chinese history this one is a must to visit in Xian.
Location is next to Small Wild Goose and there is no entrance fee.
Enjoyed!!!
This is one of my favorite museum for 5 years. The collection in this museum are priceless...
If you love Buddhistic Art and Chinese history this one is a must to visit in Xian.
Location is next to Small Wild Goose and there is no entrance fee.
Enjoyed!!!
Written January 7, 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
.Jay Cao
Jakarta, Indonesia337 contributions
Jun 2019 • Family
We visited this small amazing museum without any expectation because it is located next to small pagoda and it is free. What we found out was the amazing world class Jade collection and Buddha sculpture probably the best in China. It has a complete Buddha sculpture from different dynasties in China. Very impressive. A must visit when you are in Xian.
Written June 5, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Dan L
London, UK58 contributions
Aug 2016 • Family
The Xi'an museum was very interesting and held lots of information about dynastic cutlery, jewellery. Basically, daily items. Outside it has a large beautiful garden where there's a pagoda and a bell. You can ring the bell for 5 yuan (3 times) and it's great fun to give yourself an earthquake- gong like experience.
Written August 21, 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
ThatOrganicMom
Knoxville, TN266 contributions
Oct 2015
My daughter and I really enjoyed wandering around the museum. My advice? Leave the tour guide behind. They just want to rush you through it and you'll miss more than half what's in here. Go on your own and enjoy!
Written December 16, 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Jerry Z
Xi'an, China15 contributions
Nov 2012 • Friends
Xi’an museum is an attraction that I highly recommended! As we know, Xi’an is a historical city that many relics’ attractions and museums could be visited. Sometimes the history stuffs may make people feel heavy, but Xi’an museum would make you feel relaxed with history. That’s why I like it. Xi’an museum is combined with museum, monuments and urban gardens surrounded together. Here is without too much noisy and many crowed people. The quiet environment makes me comfortable.
The entrance fee of Xi’an museum is free in charge, but you need to use your ID card (or passport for foreigner) to register and change an entry ticket excluding enter the pagoda. When my friends and I got the tickets and walked into the main gate, it just made us into a green garden. The air is really fresh. Even now is winter season, the shrubberies and trees are vigorous. On the way to the main building of Xi’an museum, we saw a river flowing and a white stone bridge crossed it. I just wondered maybe here is a good place to do a morning exercise.
Inside the museum garden, I feel the relics are everywhere. Several minutes later, we saw the Small Wild Goose Pagoda. It was built during 707–709, period of Emperor Zhongzong in Tang Dynasty (705–710). The body of the pagoda was originally square shaped multi-eaved brick tower with 15 stories. After some times of earthquakes in the Ming Dynasty, the 14th and 15th stories were destroyed, and the body experienced cracking and “healing”. How can you imagine this mysterious and amazing thing that happened to a building? But the reason why this pagoda could heal itself is still an unsolved secret.
Strolling in this big garden, sightseeing the steles beside the road for a while, we definitely put down all the tired feeling on the travel. Then I saw the main building of Xi’an Museum is at the end of many shrubberies on my right. The outside looking of the museum is stately, mixed with modern and ancient style. There are 3 floors in the museum. On the ground of lobby is an ancient Xi’an map that made from marble. Xi’an museum has 130 thousand historical relics. Such as pottery figurines, ancient music instruments, ancient currency and so on. Some of the art works that hand made by the ancient people are very tiny, that you must use magnifier to see it. We really learnt a lot history and culture in the museum. And I am very proud of the ancient Chinese people.
By the way, there are professional English and Mandarin guides in the museum and they provide free speak at the particular time everyday. The sign board of the free speak is obviously.
It was a great, cultural but enjoyable experience that I haven’t experienced in any other museums.
The entrance fee of Xi’an museum is free in charge, but you need to use your ID card (or passport for foreigner) to register and change an entry ticket excluding enter the pagoda. When my friends and I got the tickets and walked into the main gate, it just made us into a green garden. The air is really fresh. Even now is winter season, the shrubberies and trees are vigorous. On the way to the main building of Xi’an museum, we saw a river flowing and a white stone bridge crossed it. I just wondered maybe here is a good place to do a morning exercise.
Inside the museum garden, I feel the relics are everywhere. Several minutes later, we saw the Small Wild Goose Pagoda. It was built during 707–709, period of Emperor Zhongzong in Tang Dynasty (705–710). The body of the pagoda was originally square shaped multi-eaved brick tower with 15 stories. After some times of earthquakes in the Ming Dynasty, the 14th and 15th stories were destroyed, and the body experienced cracking and “healing”. How can you imagine this mysterious and amazing thing that happened to a building? But the reason why this pagoda could heal itself is still an unsolved secret.
Strolling in this big garden, sightseeing the steles beside the road for a while, we definitely put down all the tired feeling on the travel. Then I saw the main building of Xi’an Museum is at the end of many shrubberies on my right. The outside looking of the museum is stately, mixed with modern and ancient style. There are 3 floors in the museum. On the ground of lobby is an ancient Xi’an map that made from marble. Xi’an museum has 130 thousand historical relics. Such as pottery figurines, ancient music instruments, ancient currency and so on. Some of the art works that hand made by the ancient people are very tiny, that you must use magnifier to see it. We really learnt a lot history and culture in the museum. And I am very proud of the ancient Chinese people.
By the way, there are professional English and Mandarin guides in the museum and they provide free speak at the particular time everyday. The sign board of the free speak is obviously.
It was a great, cultural but enjoyable experience that I haven’t experienced in any other museums.
Written November 8, 2012
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Nigel R
London, UK13 contributions
Went on a Sunday morning. It was lovely and empty. After the throngs on the City Wall and at the Terracotta museum this was so refreshing.
The grounds of the Pagoda are worth exploring, lot's of places to sit down on your own and reflect. There are some shops but they are linked to crafts and not really hard sell.
The Xian museum is in a modern building towards the back of the grounds and is a seperate entrance fee (10 RMB) but well worth it. Fascinating history of early settlements leading up to the establishment of Xian as the capital. Much more interesting & informative than Ban Po village.
Also had good exhibitions on jade, calligraphy, seals etc. which all provided fascinating background on Chinese culture.
It's really close to town (10 mins / 7.50 RMB from city centre by taxi).
The grounds of the Pagoda are worth exploring, lot's of places to sit down on your own and reflect. There are some shops but they are linked to crafts and not really hard sell.
The Xian museum is in a modern building towards the back of the grounds and is a seperate entrance fee (10 RMB) but well worth it. Fascinating history of early settlements leading up to the establishment of Xian as the capital. Much more interesting & informative than Ban Po village.
Also had good exhibitions on jade, calligraphy, seals etc. which all provided fascinating background on Chinese culture.
It's really close to town (10 mins / 7.50 RMB from city centre by taxi).
Written August 2, 2009
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
ChrisMcMillan
Chengde, China200 contributions
I stayed in Xi'an for 2 nights with a guided tour from the UK. Our first port of call on the full day in Xi'an was to the Small White Goose Pagoda. Xi'an seems to be a bustling very noisy city which is being re-built day and night.
As we drove through Xi'an the noise of traffic during the rush hour was as noisy as any we'd seen elsewhere. Suddenly we turned into a quiet roadway and there was the gateway to the temple. Suddenly there was no traffic noise, not even aircraft overhead.
Immediately we felt calm in ourselves and enjoyed walking through the area from the coach/car park to the Small White Goose Pagoda. We saw groups of people exercising but at no time did we ever hear anyone shouting instructions to the group. These were groups of elderly people. There were apparently also groups learning to sing - unfortunately I didn't hear any of those.
I don't think the pagoda itself is open to the public. On first view its not all that preppossessing but walking past it and looking back so that you see it rising above the adjoining temple buildings gives it a feeling of empowerment.
One has to pay to bang the Xi'an Drum in the grounds. It is also forbidden to take photos of the orchestra playing in a nearby building. There *is* a notice telling you this but I honestly didn't see it and as my friends could see I was so desperate to take a photo they suggested I ask the players who were resting between pieces. They allowed me to take photos as they continued to play.
There are several exhibitions going on in adjoining buildings. Carvings of intricate design from *one* piece of wood, painting, an exhibition of Chinese Matchbox Labels. This looked as if it were a permanent exhibition with a sign outside.
Inside the gift shop (I don't know if there's more than one of these) there is an exhibition showing the N. China 'kang' heating system. Almost any fictional story on China featuring N. China, as well as most of the traveller's tales from any point in history mentions the 'kang'. Without it there would not be a village population. An amazing piece of work and I was thrilled to see one: albeit only as a model.
Look out for the man sellling traditional music CDs. I missed him completely as he'd moved his pitch. If you fail to find him, go to the North Gate of the City Wall and go up onto the wall. Somewhere nearby is a shop selling this type of music. Can't tell you where : my guide did it for me as I couldn't climb the steps sufficiently well. Lousy sense of balance due to poor sight. Should have taken a hill walking stick with me for support but relied on my fellow travellers for an arm over the inevitable rough ground everywhere in China.
As we drove through Xi'an the noise of traffic during the rush hour was as noisy as any we'd seen elsewhere. Suddenly we turned into a quiet roadway and there was the gateway to the temple. Suddenly there was no traffic noise, not even aircraft overhead.
Immediately we felt calm in ourselves and enjoyed walking through the area from the coach/car park to the Small White Goose Pagoda. We saw groups of people exercising but at no time did we ever hear anyone shouting instructions to the group. These were groups of elderly people. There were apparently also groups learning to sing - unfortunately I didn't hear any of those.
I don't think the pagoda itself is open to the public. On first view its not all that preppossessing but walking past it and looking back so that you see it rising above the adjoining temple buildings gives it a feeling of empowerment.
One has to pay to bang the Xi'an Drum in the grounds. It is also forbidden to take photos of the orchestra playing in a nearby building. There *is* a notice telling you this but I honestly didn't see it and as my friends could see I was so desperate to take a photo they suggested I ask the players who were resting between pieces. They allowed me to take photos as they continued to play.
There are several exhibitions going on in adjoining buildings. Carvings of intricate design from *one* piece of wood, painting, an exhibition of Chinese Matchbox Labels. This looked as if it were a permanent exhibition with a sign outside.
Inside the gift shop (I don't know if there's more than one of these) there is an exhibition showing the N. China 'kang' heating system. Almost any fictional story on China featuring N. China, as well as most of the traveller's tales from any point in history mentions the 'kang'. Without it there would not be a village population. An amazing piece of work and I was thrilled to see one: albeit only as a model.
Look out for the man sellling traditional music CDs. I missed him completely as he'd moved his pitch. If you fail to find him, go to the North Gate of the City Wall and go up onto the wall. Somewhere nearby is a shop selling this type of music. Can't tell you where : my guide did it for me as I couldn't climb the steps sufficiently well. Lousy sense of balance due to poor sight. Should have taken a hill walking stick with me for support but relied on my fellow travellers for an arm over the inevitable rough ground everywhere in China.
Written April 22, 2007
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Kyle Ciulla
Beijing, China347 contributions
Apr 2021
it was a nice little collection of antiquities. it is also free, so that was cool! if you cannot read mandarin don't expect to learn a ton about traditional xian culture.
Written April 10, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Foodie_Traveller_12
Edmonton, Canada81 contributions
Nov 2019 • Couples
Call it an opportunity to walk off all that food from the Muslim quarters and learn some history before dinner and preamble to tomorrow. The basement of the museum showcases the history of Xi’an and how far the Silk Road stretches - from Xi’an to Athens and beyond.
In the Gardens is a bell tower located on the premises is an engineering and architectural phenomenon. During its lifetime, it’s split down the middle 3 times and still able to ‘heal’ itself.
In the Gardens is a bell tower located on the premises is an engineering and architectural phenomenon. During its lifetime, it’s split down the middle 3 times and still able to ‘heal’ itself.
Written December 31, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Bruce
8 contributions
May 2019 • Friends
I always like museums. I used this one to help me with China's historical timeline. Like most westerners, I knew very little of the hisory of China. This dating on the display cases helped me put this all together. Again, Xi'an is a city that that you could just spend weeks exploring.
Written May 30, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hi, does Xian Museum hold regular guided tours of the exhibits? Thank you.
Written January 21, 2018
Yes, there are available volunteers who can help you , especially on holidays.
Written October 3, 2019
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