Shaanxi History Museum: Main Site, Qin-Han Branch and Visit Planning
Compare the main Shaanxi History Museum and the Qin-Han branch, with free reservation rules, opening hours and the permanent exhibition.
Photo: shuo li / Pexels
Contents
Choose your venue first: the main museum in central Xi'an or the separate Qin-Han Museum in Xixian New Area. They are two campuses with different hours and entry rules, so do not plan them as two wings of one visit.
Choose the main museum or Qin-Han Museum
The main museum is at 91 Xiaozhai East Road in Yanta District. The Qin-Han Museum stands on the east section of Lanchi Third Road in Qin-Han New City, Xixian New Area. The main museum is 778 metres from Xiaozhai station (lines 2 and 3) and 834 metres from Dayanta station (lines 3 and 4). The Qin-Han Museum is 666 metres from Qingong station on line 14.[1] From either station it is a short walk to the museum.
Things to Do
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GetYourGuide partner offers. GoAsia may earn a commission if you book through these offers. Check whether tickets or transfers are included, and follow the attraction's official booking and admission rules.
See Shaanxi's history in order
The main museum's permanent exhibition Shaanxi Ancient Civilization was fully refurbished in May 2018. It uses more than 3,000 objects to trace Shaanxi from the first humans 1.63 million years ago to the eve of the Opium War in 1840. Three halls and seven stages take you through prehistory, Zhou, Qin, Han, the Wei and Jin and Northern and Southern dynasties, Sui and Tang, and later Shaanxi, with the emphasis on Zhou, Qin, Han and Tang.[2]
Admission and reservations
Basic admission to the main museum is free, but you need a real-name reservation. Tickets are released five days ahead at 17:00 each day, so on 1 July you can book 6 July. Pre-filling your details does not confirm a booking: your order counts only when it appears under successful orders. Book through the museum's official WeChat account only, because the museum has not authorised any third-party platform, travel agency or individual to sell tickets. Visitors from outside mainland China can book with a passport.[1]
On the day, bring the original document you booked with and show your booking order. The ticket is valid once, for your time slot, and staff compare your face with your document. If you cannot come, cancel before ticket checks end for your slot, or you cannot book for 180 days. Children aged 6 and under or up to 1.4 metres tall enter with a booked adult, two children per adult.[1]
The Tang Dynasty Mural Treasures Exhibition and the special exhibition on Hellenistic gold need their own real-name tickets, sold online or at the museum. Buying one online means you do not have to book the free main-museum admission separately. The Qin-Han Museum needs no reservation: show your original ID, and visitors from outside mainland China can use a passport that staff check on site.[1]
Opening hours and holidays
From 15 March to 14 November the main museum is open 08:30 to 19:00, with ticket checks ending at 18:00. From 15 November to 14 March it is open 09:00 to 17:30. The Qin-Han Museum is open 08:30 to 18:00 all year, with last entry at 17:00. Hours on public holidays follow the latest notice on the museum's website.[1]
For broader trip planning, see our China travel guide.
Sources and background
Numbers in the text such as [1] refer to these sources.
- [1] Shaanxi History Museum: Visitor guide: opening hours, transport, tickets and visitor instructions. Retrieved October 26, 2026.
- [2] Shaanxi History Museum: Permanent exhibition: Shaanxi Ancient Civilization. Retrieved October 23, 2026.
Frequently Asked Questions
No. The main museum is at 91 Xiaozhai East Road in Yanta District. The separate Qin-Han Museum is in Qin-Han New City in Xixian New Area. Their hours and entry rules differ, so choose the campus before planning transport.
It traces Shaanxi from the first humans 1.63 million years ago to 1840 with more than 3,000 objects across three halls and seven stages, from prehistory through Zhou, Qin, Han, the Wei and Jin and Northern and Southern dynasties, Sui and Tang, and later Shaanxi. Zhou, Qin, Han and Tang get the most space.
Yes. Basic admission is free but needs a real-name reservation. Tickets are released five days ahead at 17:00 each day through the museum's official WeChat account, and pre-filled details alone do not confirm a booking.
No. The Tang Dynasty Mural Treasures Exhibition and the special exhibition on Hellenistic gold need separate real-name tickets, sold online or at the museum.
They are separate campuses. The Qin-Han Museum needs no reservation: show your original ID, or a passport if you are a visitor from outside mainland China.
From 15 March to 14 November the main museum is open 08:30 to 19:00, with ticket checks ending at 18:00, and from 15 November to 14 March 09:00 to 17:30. The Qin-Han Museum is open 08:30 to 18:00, with last entry at 17:00. Public-holiday hours follow the latest notice on the museum's website.
The original document you booked with and your booking order. Visitors from outside mainland China can book with a passport. Staff compare your face with your document at the gate.
