Shaanxi Province Museum: A Glimpse into Ancient China's Capitals from the 11th to 10th Century BC

Shaanxi Province is located in the inland region of China. You might recognize it as the location of the ancient capital Chang'an during the Tang Dynasty. However, its history stretches much further back, from the 11th century BC to the 10th century AD, serving as the capital for 14 dynasties including the Western Zhou, Qin, Han, Sui, and Tang. The Shaanxi Museum showcases this rich history, making it a fascinating place to visit. The museum features intriguing exhibits such as the terracotta cavalry and civil officials from the Qin Shi Huang era (around 200 BC), the painted goose and fish lamp from the Han Dynasty (202 BC - 220 AD) designed to absorb smoke, and various Buddha statues. The Tang Dynasty sculptures are particularly vibrant and often depict humorous postures, making them a delight to observe. It's astonishing to learn that Chinese characters were invented around 1200 BC. By 200 BC, the characters used in different regions varied greatly. However, when Qin Shi Huang unified China, he also standardized the characters. Despite the vast differences in spoken dialects across China today (which are not just regional accents but can be completely unintelligible to speakers from other areas), the written language remains consistent in grammar and characters, thanks to Qin Shi Huang. Address: 91 Xiaozhai East Road, Yanta District, Xi'an, Shaanxi Province, China Access: 10-minute walk from Xiaozhai Station on Metro Line 2 Opening Hours: Winter (November 15 - March 14): 9:00 AM - 5:30 PM Summer (March 15 - November 14): 8:30 AM - 6:00 PM Closed: Mondays (except public holidays) Admission: Free (reservation required via WeChat)