The Chengdu Museum is the largest city museum in southwestern China and a national first-level museum, located in the very heart of the capital of Sichuan Province — on the western side of the famous Tianfu Square. Its history began on September 15, 1958, when at the initiative of the city authorities, the Preparatory Committee for the Chengdu Topographical Museum was established.
Initially, the museum was housed in Dasi Temple, and its first public opening took place on October 1, 1984. The modern building, designed by the architectural firm Sutherland Hussey Harris, was completed in 2016 and has since become one of Chengdu`s main architectural landmarks.
The Chengdu Museum building occupies an area of more than 11,300 square meters, and its total area is about 65,000 square meters, of which nearly 20,000 square meters are allocated for exhibition spaces.
The facade of the Chengdu Museum, clad with approximately 20,000 copper panels from Germany, is the largest copper-clad building in China. The architectural concept is inspired by the ancient Sanxingdui and Jinsha cultures — the building`s silhouette resembles the outlines of the mountains surrounding the Chengdu Plain, and the combination of golden copper and glass reflects the ancient Shu civilization`s worship of "gold" and "jade." On the fourth floor of the museum, there is an observation gallery offering a panoramic view of Tianfu Square.
Collections and Floors
The Chengdu Museum`s collections hold about 300,000 exhibits, covering the period from the Neolithic era to the Republic of China. The collection includes bronze items, gold and silver artifacts, ceramics, calligraphy and painting, sculptures, wood carvings, as well as the world`s largest collection of Chinese shadow puppets — more than 300,000 exhibits. It is for this unique collection that the museum received the honorary title of "National Shadow Puppet Museum in Chengdu."
Second Floor: Ancient Shu and the Qin-Han Dynasties
The exhibition on this floor of the Chengdu Museum is dedicated to the history of Chengdu from the pre-Qin period to the era of the Northern and Southern Dynasties. Here you can see the mysterious Sanxingdui bronze head with bulging eyes and cloud and thunder patterns, found in 1986 — a symbol of the power of the ancient Shu kingdom.
Also on display is a boat-shaped coffin from the Warring States period, hollowed out from a single tree trunk and reflecting the ancient belief of "returning the soul to the Minjiang River." Special attention deserves the stone rhinoceros weighing 8.5 tons and 3.3 meters long, found on Tianfu Square in 2012 — a mythical creature associated with the tamer of waters, Li Bing. Also presented here are amusing ceramic figurines of performers from the Han Dynasty — a kind of ancient "stand-up comedians" with comic facial expressions.
Third Floor: Sui, Tang, and Qing Dynasties
This floor tells about Chengdu as a bustling metropolis during the Tang and Song dynasties. Among the main treasures is an openwork gilded incense pouch, using the gyroscope principle: the incense does not spill no matter how you turn it. This exhibit became famous thanks to the television series "The Longest Day in Chang`an."
Also displayed here is a white porcelain pillow in the shape of a child from the Ding kiln — an elegant piece from the Song Dynasty used for prayers for blessings and many children. In the same hall, you can see a copy of jiaozi — the world`s earliest paper money, which appeared precisely in Chengdu during the Song Dynasty.
Fourth Floor: Modern History and Folk Customs
The exhibition is dedicated to Chengdu in the 19th–20th centuries. Here you can learn about the Railway Protection Movement, the city`s role in the war against Japan, and the liberation of Southwest China. Of particular interest are the recreated scenes of old tea houses and shops, which instantly transport visitors to Chengdu a century ago — a real time machine among the museum`s halls.
Fifth Floor: Chinese Shadow Puppet and Doll Theater
This is the world`s largest shadow puppet theater museum, with a collection of about 300,000 exhibits. Here are presented shadow puppets and dolls from different regions of China, demonstrating the diversity of this ancient art. In the social education zone, free master classes are often held, and on Fridays at 7:00 PM, shadow puppet performances take place.
Basement Floor: "Human and Nature"
The exhibition, created based on donations from Kenneth Behring, presents more than 300 exhibits of the animal world — an ideal place for family visits with children.
Practical Information
The Chengdu Museum is open from Tuesday to Sunday from 9:00 AM to 6:30 PM (entry until 6:00 PM), on Fridays and Saturdays — until 8:30 PM (entry until 7:30 PM). Monday is closed, except for public holidays.
The museum is located at 1 Xiaohe Street, Qingyang District. The nearest metro station is Tianfu Guangchang on lines 1 and 2, exit H, then 3 minutes on foot. The recommended time for a visit is 3–4 hours.
The Chengdu Museum is the ideal place to start getting to know the city. Here, in just a few hours, you can journey from the mysterious Sanxingdui bronze masks to the bustling tea houses of the past century and understand why Chengdu is called the "City of Brocade" and the "Land of Abundance."
