Gansu

Highlights of the Collections

The museum features several world-class permanent exhibitions that cover history, art, and paleontology:

• 1.Gansu Silk Road Civilization: Located on the second floor, this is the core exhibition. Aside from the Bronze Horse, it features the "Messenger Brick" (Yi Shi Tu), a painting on brick depicting a Han Dynasty courier on horseback, which serves as the prototype for the China Post logo,. The gallery also displays Persian silver coins, Roman glass, and brocades, narrating the flourishing trade between East and West.
• 2.Gansu Painted Pottery: Gansu is known as the "Hometown of Painted Pottery." This exhibition showcases the "Crown of the Neolithic Age," featuring over 400 exquisite pieces from the Majiayao and Qijia cultures, renowned for their mysterious patterns and vibrant designs,.
• 3.Solemn and Dignified (Buddhist Art): This section displays Buddhist statues ranging from the Northern Wei to the Ming and Qing dynasties. It highlights the fusion of Indian and Chinese artistic styles (Hu style and Han rhyme) found in statues from the Mogao Grottoes and Maijishan,.
• 4.Paleontology: The museum also houses an impressive collection of fossils, including the massive Yellow River Elephant (Huanghe Stegodon) and various dinosaur fossils found in the region, making it a favorite for families and children,.

Visiting Experience

The museum provides a deep educational experience with modern amenities. Visitors can enjoy audio guides and volunteer explanations. A popular trend for recent visitors is the museum's creative cultural products (wenchuang), particularly the "Green Horse" plush toys based on the famous Bronze Galloping Horse, which have become a viral sensation for their "ugly-cute" appeal,.