About Hubei Provincial Museum
Hubei Provincial Museum is one of China's most important museums, home to extraordinary archaeological finds from the ancient Chu civilization and the tomb of Marquis Yi of Zeng (433 BC). The museum's centerpiece is a complete set of 65 bronze bells — the Zenghou Yi Bells — which are still played for special performances.
The museum showcases over 200,000 artifacts spanning from prehistoric times to the modern era, with particular strength in Chu culture (8th-3rd century BC) and the Three Kingdoms period. The exhibits include bronze vessels, jade carvings, lacquerware, and textiles that reveal the sophistication of ancient Chinese civilization. The museum is free to visit but requires advance reservation due to popularity.
What Not to Miss
The Zenghou Yi Bells — 2,400-year-old bronze bells still played for performances.
The Chu culture exhibits — bronze vessels and artifacts from ancient Hubei.
The sword of Goujian — a 2,500-year-old sword still sharp after millennia.
