Attractions
Nanjing Museum
Nanjing Museum is the first and one of the largest museums in China, which currently has more than 400,000 items in its permanent collection, including enormous collections of Ming and Qing imperial porcelain.
Covering an area of 70,000 square meters, Nanjing Museum is one of the largest museums in China. The predecessor of Nanjing Museum was the preparatory department of the National Museum, which established in 1933. Being located at the southern foot of the Zijin Mountain and on the north of inner Zhongshan Gate, it was the first museum established in China. The two exhibition halls (history and art) imitate the palatial architecture of the Liao Dynasty (907-1125) and occupy a floor area of 35,000 square meters.
History
Cai Yuanpei, the modern democratic revolutionary, educationist and the president of the national academe under central authorities of the state, proposed to build three halls of “humanity”, “craft”, and “nature” originally. Because the current political situation, only the “humanity hall” was established, which is just the Nanjing Museum. The main building was designed by Liang Sicheng (1901-1972) in the 1930s combining Chinese and Western architectural styles. It is regarded as the masterpiece in the modern architectural history.
Exhibition Halls
Ming and Qing Porcelain Hall
It boasts an excellent collection of porcelains, most of which are the royal kiln product handed down from ancient times. The exhibits are various, including blue and white porcelain, colorful porcelain, under-glazed red porcelain, etc.
Bronze Ware Hall
The bronze wares here are all excavated from the southern region with the high quality. Being different from the north bronze, which is dignified, the bronze ware in the south is dedicated. The exhibits here are from the end of Shang Dynasty (1600BC-1046BC) to Han Dynasty (25-220) in an order of wine apparatus, music instrument, military instrument, lavatory and display device. These exquisite goods are as mirrors showing us the civilization of Chinese Bronze Age.
Earthen Ware Hall
Here provides about 100 pieces of potteries, most of which are the life supplies in ancient times.
The exhibits are lively and vitality. The ancient Chinese earthen ware reveals not only the history of art but the social life.
Jade Hall
More than 600 pieces of exquisite jade are displayed here. The visitors can appreciate the unearthed ancient jade, court luxury goods, etc. With the unique charm, the jade catches the eyes of the people all over the world and become humanity’s common wealth gradually.
Folk Art Hall
The hall is dedicated to folk crafts, clothing, articles of daily use, means of production, festival decoration, entertainment supplies and ritual supplies, etc. All of them are quaint, which brings a new air to the modern city people.
Ancient Paintings Hall
As a special hall in Nanjing Museum, the ancient painting hall displays special calligraphy and paintings irregularly, such as the Four Beauties by Ni Tian (1855-1313), Camellia and Lonely Bird by Zhou Shuxi (1624-1705), etc.
