Hubei Provincial Museum 湖北省博物馆Húběi Shěng Bówùguǎn

Why go to Hubei Provincial Museum

The Hubei Provincial Museum, beside East Lake in Wuchang, is home to the treasures of the Chu and Zeng states, including the bronze bells and vessels from the tomb of Marquis Yi of Zeng and the Sword of Goujian. A dedicated hall stages performances on replica bells. It is an outstanding place to see Warring States craftsmanship.

The story

The great bell set was found in 1978 in the tomb of Marquis Yi of Zeng near Suizhou: 65 bronze bells hung on a bronze-and-wood frame about 7.5 m long, described by the museum as the largest and best-preserved set of its kind found in China. The original is too fragile to play, so performers use replicas. The Sword of Goujian, found in 1965 in a tomb in Jiangling, shows no rust after more than two thousand years and bears a bird-script inscription naming King Goujian of Yue.

What to see at Hubei Provincial Museum

• Marquis Yi of Zeng gallery 曾侯乙: The museum's headline exhibition in the south building, with the bronzes, lacquer and musical instruments from the tomb, including the great 65-bell set on its frame.
• Chime-bell performance hall 编钟演奏厅: A hall on the lower level of the south building where musicians play replica bells; performances are held on open days, so confirm the times at the museum.
• Sword of Goujian 越王勾践剑: A sword about 56 cm long, rust-free after two thousand years, with a bird-script inscription on the blade, in its own gallery on the second floor of the south building.
• Eight Hundred Years of Chu 楚国八百年: A permanent exhibition on the third floor of the south building on the Chu state, including bamboo-slip manuscripts from the tomb at Guodian.
• Yuan blue-and-white Four Loves vase 元青花四爱图梅瓶: A Yuan-dynasty vase about 39 cm tall, painted with four scenes of scholars and their favourite flowers, found in the Ming tomb of Prince Ying Jing in Zhongxiang; it has its own display in the ceramics gallery on the third floor of the north building.

How to visit Hubei Provincial Museum

Start with the Marquis Yi gallery in the south building, where the bells hang, and time your visit to catch a performance in the chime hall. Then see the Sword of Goujian on the same floor and Eight Hundred Years of Chu upstairs. A half-day covers these and the Four Loves vase in the north building; a full day lets you add the Liangzhuang King treasures and other galleries, and the lake view from the glass wall of the south building.

How to get to Hubei Provincial Museum

The museum is in Wuchang district beside East Lake. Wuhan Metro Line 8 stops at Provincial Museum Hubei Daily station (省博湖北日报), and visitors arriving by metro enter by the North Gate; taxis and tour groups use the South Gate. From the city's rail stations, take the metro or a taxi.

Where to stay

Base yourself in Wuchang, near the museum and East Lake, which also puts Yellow Crane Tower and Hubu Alley in reach. Central Wuhan has more choice if you want other districts.

What to eat

• Hot dry noodles 热干面: Alkaline noodles tossed in sesame paste, Wuhan's signature breakfast.
• Doupi 豆皮: A pan-fried sheet of rice and beans filled with meat, a Wuhan breakfast.
• Mianwo 面窝: A crisp fried ring of rice and bean batter sold at breakfast stalls around Wuhan.

Tips for visiting Hubei Provincial Museum

• The museum is closed on Mondays except public holidays. Visits need a real-name timed booking made through the museum's official WeChat account, up to five days ahead, so book early.
• A passport is accepted as the booking ID, and you must enter within your booked slot with the same document; three no-shows lead to a six-month booking suspension.
• Check the day's chime performance times when you arrive, as shows are few and the hall fills up. In late September 2026 the museum announced a temporary closure of a south-building gallery, so check its notices before you go.

Nearby

• Yellow Crane Tower 黄鹤楼 under 10 km
  A tower rebuilt many times over, made immortal by a single Tang poem

Also within 30 km: East Lake, Wuhan 东湖 (under 10 km), Early Buildings of Wuhan University 武汉大学早期建筑 (under 10 km), Wuying Pagoda 无影塔 (under 10 km), Happy Valley Wuhan 武汉欢乐谷 (under 10 km), Wuhan Botanical Garden 武汉植物园 (under 10 km), Xinhai Revolution Museum (Wuchang Uprising Memorial) 辛亥革命博物院 (under 10 km).

On the map

Open Hubei Provincial 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.