Guangdong Museum

Guangdong Museum, is a provincial museum that showcases the history, culture, and art of Guangdong province. It is located in the Zhujiang New Town of Guangzhou, the capital city of Guangdong. The museum covers an area of 67,000 square meters and has a collection of more than 160,000 items. In this article, we will give you an overview of Guangdong Museum, and provide you with some useful tips and information for your visit.

History and Mission of Guangdong Museum

The museum was established in 1959 and was originally located in the Chen Clan Ancestral Hall, a traditional Cantonese-style building that was built in 1894. In 2003, the museum moved to a new site in the Zhujiang New Town, which was designed by the famous architect Rocco Yim. The new museum also has a larger space, a more modern facility, a more diverse collection, and a more dynamic exhibition. The new museum also has a more prominent position, a more ambitious vision, and a more active role in the cultural and social life of Guangdong and China.

The aim of Guangdong Museum is “to take Lingnan culture as the theme, Guangdong history, nature, and art as the basis, social education as the goal, cultural innovation as the driving force, serving society as the purpose, and building a first-class museum as the target”. The mission of Guangdong Museum is “to inherit culture, promote spirit, show style, and serve society”.

Highlights of Guangdong Museum

Guangdong Museum has a total of 180,000 pieces/sets of collections, among which inkstones, Chaozhou wood carvings, export artworks, underwater relics, and natural resources series are the advantageous collections, especially the ancient paintings and calligraphy and ceramics collections are among the best in China. 

In addition, it also collects precious books and materials of more than 110,000 volumes. Guangdong Museum’s exhibitions are based on domestic and facing the world. In addition to the three types of permanent exhibitions with Guangdong history, nature, and art as the themes, it also holds various temporary exhibitions every year in the form of self-planning, domestic and foreign exchanges, etc.

At present, Guangdong Museum has more than 2 million visitors every year, and it is an important window for visitors from all over the world to appreciate Lingnan culture and understand Chinese civilization.

►Highlights of the museum:

• Bronze tiger heads, a national treasure that dates back to the Western Zhou dynasty (1046-771 BC). It is one of the largest and most exquisite bronze animal sculptures in China.
• Jade burial suit, a rare and precious funeral object that was used by the nobility of the Han dynasty (206 BC-220 AD). It is made of 2,291 pieces of jade, sewn together with gold thread.
• Ivory ball, a masterpiece of carving that was made in the Qing dynasty (1644-1911). It is composed of 21 concentric spheres, each with intricate patterns and movable parts.
• Chaozhou woodcarving, a folk art that originated in the Chaozhou region of Guangdong. It is characterized by its exquisite craftsmanship and vivid expression.
• Guangdong porcelain, a ceramic art that flourished in Guangdong from the Ming dynasty (1368-1644) to the Republic of China (1912-1949). It is known for its diverse styles, colorful glazes, and delicate decorations.
• Duan inkstone, a writing tool that was produced in the Duanzhou district of Zhaoqing city in Guangdong. It is regarded as one of the four famous inkstones in China, along with the She, Tao, and Chengni inkstones.

The Visiting Routes of Guangdong Museum

The new museum of Guangdong Province has a total area of 41,000 square meters, with four floors, two and three floors and mezzanine respectively, and it takes about 2-3 hours to visit the whole museum.

►Route 1 (Basic display):

Guangdong History and Culture Exhibition Hall (4th floor) - Guangdong Natural Resources Exhibition I (4th floor) - Guangdong Natural Resources Exhibition II (3rd mezzanine) - Guangdong Natural Resources Exhibition III (3rd floor) - Inkstone Exhibition Hall (3rd floor) - Chaozhou Wood Carving Exhibition Hall (3rd floor) - Ceramic Exhibition Hall (3rd mezzanine).

This route can help visitors to establish a basic understanding of the local history, culture, natural resources and art of Guangdong, and then choose to visit the temporary exhibitions according to personal interests.

►Route 2 (mainly for temporary exhibition):

From the vertical ladder or escalator to the third floor: Exhibition Hall 3, 2, 1 (3rd floor) - Special Exhibition Hall (3rd floor) - Inkstone Exhibition Hall (3rd floor) - Chaozhou Wood Carving Exhibition Hall (3rd floor) - Ceramic Exhibition Hall (3rd mezzanine) - Yue Art Space (3rd mezzanine) - Guangdong History and Culture Exhibition Hall (4th floor) - Guangdong Natural Resources Exhibition I (4th floor) - Guangdong Natural Resources Exhibition II (3rd mezzanine) - Guangdong Natural Resources Exhibition III (3rd floor).

This route is suitable for visitors who come to visit the temporary exhibitions specifically. If you have extra time, you can also visit the various basic exhibitions.

►Route 3 (mainly for temporary exhibition):

From the escalator to the third floor: Special Exhibition Hall (3rd floor) - Inkstone Exhibition Hall (3rd floor) - Chaozhou Wood Carving Exhibition Hall (3rd floor) - Exhibition Hall 3, 2, 1 (3rd floor) - Ceramic Exhibition Hall (3rd mezzanine) - Yue Art Space (3rd mezzanine) - Guangdong History and Culture Exhibition Hall (4th floor) - Guangdong Natural Resources Exhibition I (4th floor) - Guangdong Natural Resources Exhibition II (3rd mezzanine) - Guangdong Natural Resources Exhibition III (3rd floor).

This route is also suitable for visitors who come to visit the temporary exhibitions specifically.

Practical Information for Guangdong Museum

The museum is open from Tuesday to Sunday, from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm. The admission is free, but visitors need to make a reservation online or by phone in advance. The last admission is at 4:00 pm. The museum also provides audio guides, guided tours, and interactive activities for visitors.

Transportation:
The museum is easily accessible by public transportation. Visitors can take the metro line 3 or 5 and get off at the Zhujiang New Town station, then walk for about 10 minutes to the museum. Alternatively, visitors can take the bus line 40, 44, 183, 293, or 886 and get off at the Guangdong Bowuguan station, then walk for about 5 minutes to the museum.
Service Facilities:
Luggage storage: small items (within 45cm×50cm×40cm) can be stored for free
Scenic area explanation:
1. Chinese manual explanation: Within 1 hour, 200 yuan/1-30 people, 300 yuan/31-50 people, overtime is charged at 200 yuan/hour;
2. English manual explanation: Within 1 hour, 400 yuan (from 31 people)/31-50 people, overtime is charged at 300 yuan/hour.
Souvenir shop: Baohe Xuan.
In addition, there are infrastructure services such as rain gear rental, wheelchair rental, toilets and maternity rooms etc.

Near attractions:
The museum is surrounded by other attractions, such as the Guangzhou Opera House, the Guangzhou Library, the Guangdong Provincial Museum of Art, and the Haixinsha Park. Visitors can enjoy the modern architecture, the cultural atmosphere, and the scenic views of the Pearl River in the area.