Hunan Museum 湖南省博物馆Húnán Shěng Bówùguǎn

A Han marchioness, her silk banner and a gauze robe as thin as air

Best time: Year round; Oct–Nov, Mar–Apr
Time needed: Half a day
Days to budget: Half a day
Stay in: Changsha
Region: Hunan
Type: Culture
Listed as: 4A scenic area

Why go to Hunan Museum

Hunan's provincial museum holds more than 540,000 items, but it is best known for its permanent Mawangdui exhibition of finds from the Han tombs near Changsha. The star is the remarkably preserved body of the Marchioness Xin Zhui, along with the T-shaped silk funeral banner, a plain gauze robe, lacquerware and silk manuscripts. A second permanent exhibition, 'Hunanese', traces the province from prehistory with pieces such as the Shang bronze Min fanglei.

The story

The Mawangdui tombs were dug out in 1972–74 and held the Marquis of Dai, chancellor of the Han-era Changsha Kingdom, his wife Xin Zhui, and a younger man thought to be their son. Their coffins sat sealed in layers of clay and charcoal, which kept silks, food and Xin Zhui's body intact for over two thousand years. The present building was designed with help from Arata Isozaki and reopened in 2017.

What to see at Hunan Museum

Xin Zhui, Marchioness of Dai 辛追夫人遗体: The well-preserved body of a Han noblewoman who died at about 50, found in Tomb No. 1 at Mawangdui, among the best-preserved mummies ever found.
T-shaped silk funeral banner T形帛画: A painted silk banner that lay over the coffin, showing the netherworld, the human world and the heavens with mythological figures.
Plain gauze robe 素纱襌衣: A gown of silk gauze so thin and light that it is one of the museum's most admired textiles.
Mawangdui lacquerware 马王堆漆器: Red and black lacquer cups, trays and nested coffins from the tombs, with the painted cloud-and-dragon designs of Chu tradition.
Mawangdui silk manuscripts 马王堆帛书: Texts written on silk and placed in a tomb, including philosophical works, which give a rare view of early Han thought.
Min fanglei 皿方罍: A Shang-dynasty bronze wine vessel found in Taoyuan in 1919, lost abroad for nearly a century and bought back in 2014, now shown in the 'Hunanese' exhibition.

How to visit Hunan Museum

Start with the Mawangdui galleries, which tell the story of the tombs in order and end at the body of Xin Zhui, then go through the Hunanese exhibition from prehistory to later dynasties. Most visitors need two to three hours, and a half day lets you add a special exhibition and a stroll in Martyrs' Park next door.

How to get to Hunan Museum

The museum is on Dongfeng Road in Kaifu District, central Changsha, beside Martyrs' Park. From Changsha South high-speed station it is a short metro or taxi ride into the city.

Where to stay

Base yourself in central Changsha near Wuyi Square or the Xiang River, where the museum, food streets and metro are all close. Changsha South station is a short ride from most of these areas.

What to eat

Stinky tofu 臭豆腐: Changsha's signature snack, deep-fried until crisp outside and soft inside and topped with chilli water; the Huogongdian style is celebrated.
Changsha rice noodles 长沙米粉: Flat rice noodles in a rich broth with chilli oil, eaten at breakfast across the city.
Spicy crayfish 口味虾: A Changsha summer favourite, popular around Nanmenkou, boiled in a spicy sauce.

Tips for visiting Hunan Museum

The museum is closed on Mondays; when a Monday is a public holiday it opens and closes on the following weekday (National Cultural Heritage Administration 2025 report; the museum's own July 2026 notice still says 'closed Mondays').
Entry needs a real-name advance reservation through the museum's official WeChat account or Alipay mini programme, which opens five days ahead (not counting the day itself; it was seven days until 27 July 2026), and popular days sell out. Bring the original of the ID you booked with.
Do the Mawangdui exhibition first, when it is quietest, then the Hunanese galleries and any special exhibitions.

Nearby

Also within 30 km: Qingshuitang (Former Site of the CCP Xiang District Committee) 清水塘 (under 10 km), Tianxin Pavilion 天心阁 (under 10 km), Cheng Qian's Mansion 程潜公馆 (under 10 km), Mawangdui Han Tombs 马王堆汉墓 (under 10 km), Changsha Riverside Culture Park 长沙滨江文化园 (under 10 km), Former Site of Hunan First Normal School 湖南省立第一师范学校旧址 (under 10 km).

On the map

Open Hunan Museum on the illustrated map to see the terrain around it, what else is close, and to add it to a trip and plan the days.

Open Hunan Museum on the map