Xiushan Tujia and Miao Autonomous County, Chongqing

The Cultural Living Room of the Wuling Mountains: A Guide to Xiushan Museum

📸Photography 🏯Old Towns 🛤️Tea Horse Road(茶马古道)

Altitude

340m

Best Time

🌸 🍂

Ticket

Free

ℹ️

About This Attraction

Xiushan Museum, located in the heart of Xiushan Tujia and Miao Autonomous County in Chongqing, is often hailed as the "Cultural Living Room" of the Wuling Mountains. Situated prominently on Huadeng Square and facing the scenic Phoenix Mountain (Fenghuang Shan), this museum is not just a repository of artifacts but a gateway to understanding the profound ethnic history and "border town" culture of the region where Chongqing, Hunan, Guizhou, and Hubei meet. As a National Third-Level Museum, it houses a collection of over 10,000 items, ranging from Paleolithic fossils to exquisite Qing Dynasty heirlooms, offering a comprehensive panorama of the region's geological and human evolution.

The architecture of the museum itself is a tribute to local tradition. Designed to resemble a massive Tujia Diaojiaolou (stilt house), its exterior features hanging columns and ethnic motifs, blending seamlessly with the surrounding mountain landscape. Inside, the museum is divided into several exhibition halls that explore the unique intersection of Ba culture, Chu culture, and the indigenous traditions of the Tujia and Miao people. It serves as a vital educational base, preserving the collective memory of a region that has historically been a melting pot of commerce, military strategy, and ethnic fusion,.

One of the museum's most captivating sections is the Ethnic Folk Custom Hall. Here, visitors can walk through a 1:1 scale restoration of a traditional Tujia living space, complete with fire pits, wooden furniture, and displays of Xilankapu (Tujia brocade). This immersive exhibit brings to life the daily rhythms of the mountain people, showcasing their unique architecture, costumes, and festivals. Another highlight is the Xiushan Lantern (Huadeng) Hall, dedicated to the Xiushan Lantern, a National Intangible Cultural Heritage. This dynamic art form, combining song, dance, and theater, is celebrated through displays of colorful lanterns, musical instruments, and performance costumes, capturing the joyous spirit of local festivities.

The museum also holds significant historical weight. The History and Culture Hall features relics like the "Tuntian Cannon" from the Qing Dynasty and various official seals, which narrate the history of the "Gaitu Guiliu" (bureaucratization of native officers) policy that transformed the region's governance. The collection of stone inscriptions, including tablets recording infrastructure projects and clan histories, acts as a library carved in stone. Additionally, the Red Culture Hall documents the revolutionary activities in the Sichuan-Guizhou-Hunan-Hubei border region, preserving the legacy of the Red Army in Xiushan,.

Whether you are admiring the intricate silver jewelry of the Miao people, tracing the ancient trade routes that crossed these mountains, or learning about the vibrant Huadeng performances, a visit to the Xiushan Museum offers a deep and authentic connection to the soul of the Wuling Mountains. It is the perfect starting point for exploring the nearby Xiushan West Street or the Border Town of Hong'an.

✨ Why Visit Xiushan Museum

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Tujia Stilt Architecture

Admire the museum's exterior design, which stylistically interprets the traditional Tujia Diaojiaolou stilt houses, serving as a landmark of ethnic architecture in the city center.

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Xiushan Lantern (Huadeng) Hall

Explore the dedicated exhibit on Xiushan Lantern, a National Intangible Cultural Heritage, featuring colorful props, costumes, and the history of this unique folk art form.

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Immersive Folk Customs

Walk through life-size replications of traditional Tujia homes and observe exquisite handicrafts like Xilankapu (brocade) and silver jewelry that showcase the region's rich ethnic heritage.

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Historical Stone Inscriptions

View the impressive collection of stone tablets and epitaphs, including records of the "Gaitu Guiliu" policy, which provide a "stone library" of local history.

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Qing Dynasty Relics

See rare artifacts such as the "Tuntian Cannon" and official seals that reflect the region's strategic military and administrative importance in history.

Location & Nearby

📍 Xiushan Tujia and Miao Autonomous County, Chongqing • 🏔️ 340m elevation

Frequently Asked Questions - Xiushan Museum Travel Guide

Where is Xiushan Museum located?

It is located on Huadeng Square in the county seat of Xiushan Tujia and Miao Autonomous County, Chongqing, facing Phoenix Mountain.

Is there an admission fee? Most public museums of this level in China are free to the public, though visitors usually need to present a valid ID or passport for entry.

What are the opening hours? Museums typically open from Tuesday to Sunday (closed on Mondays), usually from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM. It is recommended to check locally for the most current schedule.

How much time should I spend there? A visit of about 2 to 3 hours is recommended to fully appreciate the historical artifacts and the folk custom exhibits.

What else is nearby? After visiting the museum, you can easily walk to Phoenix Mountain Park or take a short trip to Xiushan West Street to see the living history of the town.

Why do you include Chinese characters and Pinyin in the descriptions for Xiushan Museum?

We provide the original Chinese names and Pinyin to make your travel smoother. Since English is rarely spoken in remote parts of Western China, you can easily show these Chinese names to local taxi drivers, hotel staff, or police when asking for help, or copy-paste them directly into Chinese navigation apps like Amap (高德地图) or Baidu Maps.