Gansu Jingchuan Museum: A Low-Key Treasure

❤Recommended Reason: Jingchuan County Museum is located in the Chenghuang Temple courtyard on Anding Street, Jingchuan County. The museum was established in 1984, and its predecessor was an antiquities display office during the Republic of China period. It is a comprehensive history museum. Exhibition Overview: We were the first group of visitors that day, and we registered directly at the entrance to get in. On the right-hand side after entering is the "Jingchuan Buddhist Relics Essence Exhibition" hall, housed in an ancient-style bungalow. Directly opposite the main entrance is the Chenghuang Temple, which serves as a temporary exhibition hall for the "Brilliant Bronze - Jingchuan County Museum Bronze Artifacts Conservation and Restoration Achievements Exhibition." Outside, along the walls, is the "Wall Stories - Jingchuan County Youth Mural Copying Exhibition." The space in the courtyard, though not large, is cleverly and naturally arranged, giving no sense of crowding. 🌟Highlights: The museum houses 630 sets of precious cultural relics and 889 sets of general cultural relics. Among them, the skull fossil of the "Jingchuan Man," which is enough to rewrite the history of human evolution, is the museum's treasure, though unfortunately, it was not on display. Other precious artifacts include a wide-mouthed painted pottery jar from the Neolithic Majiayao culture, a jade dagger-axe from the Shang Dynasty, bronze jue and gu vessels with inscriptions from the Western Zhou Dynasty, gold and silver coffins from the Tang Dynasty, dated tile beasts from the Yuan Dynasty, and Buddha statues from the Northern Song Dynasty Longxing Temple hoard. These artifacts are vivid and lifelike in shape, with intricate details, rich types, and complete categories, making them very worth seeing. 👍Most Recommended: Another major highlight is the Chenghuang Temple in the courtyard, built in the Ming Dynasty architectural style. The Chenghuang Temple was first built in the third year of Hongwu in the Ming Dynasty (1370) and underwent four major repairs in the 21st year of Daoguang in the Qing Dynasty (1841), the 8th year of Xianfeng (1858), the 9th year of the Republic of China (1920), and 2011. The existing front and rear halls face north to south, with a grand and solid structure. The large rafters and columns, ancient and heavy, with water stains and mottled marks, are likely original parts of the temple. It is the only complete ancient building in the county and one of the better-preserved Ming Dynasty wooden structures in Gansu Province. It is listed as the fifth batch of provincial-level cultural relics protection units in Gansu Province. ✅Must Experience: Beside the hall are two Qing Dynasty steles, both with inscriptions in regular script. One is the "Stele Record of the Reconstruction of the Chenghuang Temple," recording the names and inscriptions of the donors who funded the restoration. The other is the "Stele Record of the Common Donation for the Reconstruction of the Chenghuang Temple," recording the funding details. Both steles were erected in the 21st year of Daoguang (1841). There is also a stele erected by the Jingchuan County People's Government in 2011, titled "Record of the Chenghuang Temple Protection and Restoration Project." 📍Detailed Address: No. 131 Anding Street, Chengguan Town, Jingchuan County, Pingliang City, Gansu Province 🚉Transportation Guide: Take bus No. 1 in Jingchuan County and get off at the "Museum Station"; Drive directly to "Jingchuan Museum" using navigation, and you can park your car in the courtyard of the Jingchuan Hotel opposite. 🕙Opening Hours: Tuesday to Sunday 09:00-17:00, closed on Mondays (except national public holidays). 💰Ticket Price: Free admission