A CLOSER LOOK AT CHINA

Museums & Collections.

A bronze inscription. A painted Buddhist smile. The quiet colour of celadon. Explore China through the objects that carry its stories, with time to look closely and understand what you see.

The Longxing Temple sculptures · Qingzhou Museum

FOLLOW YOUR CURIOSITY

Small details. Deeper stories.

Choose a subject before choosing a museum. A few well-understood objects can reveal more than a hurried tour of every room.

Civilisations & Archaeology

Where the story begins.

Bronzes, jade and excavated objects open questions about early communities, ritual and authority.

Find a collection ↗Art & Objects

Look at how it was made.

Painting, ceramics, textiles and objects of daily life connect skilled making with changing taste.

Find a collection ↗Sacred Art

Images with a living meaning.

Understand Buddhist sculpture through expression, material, belief and its original setting.

Find a collection ↗Regional Stories

A place, seen through its collections.

Meet the distinct worlds of Jiangnan, Shanxi and other regions before exploring their streets and landscapes.

Find a collection ↗
TIME TO UNDERSTAND

A collection becomes a conversation.

Who made this? What was it used for? Why does it look this way? We shape the visit around the questions that interest you, with clear English interpretation and enough time to compare, pause and look again.

Discuss the depth of interpretation you want when planning. A specialist collection visit, an introductory tour and independent time in the galleries are different experiences; we confirm the right arrangement in your proposal.

2–3 HOURS

One clear thread.

Choose one or two collection themes. Leave with a few objects you recognise and a story you can carry into the city.

A HALF-DAY

Time to compare.

Follow a historical sequence and one specialist interest, with a break instead of a race through every room.

A FULLER DAY

For the deeply curious.

Give several galleries real attention. Allow lunch and rest, and keep other major attractions for another day.

Explore all 12 museum guides ↗
FIND YOUR COLLECTION

A subject you love. A place that fits.

Browse by collection theme, then narrow the region. Each guide explains what to look for, how long to allow and where the visit can lead.

12 museum guides to explore

PUT THE COLLECTION IN CONTEXT

A museum at the heart of your journey.

Start with a focused museum day, or add a collection chapter to a wider cultural route. Each idea below includes an actual museum visit.

Focused days · Shanghai, Nanjing, Suzhou, Qingzhou and Sanxingdui each deserve an unhurried collection visit.

Two-day stays · Pair Hangzhou’s celadon and silk on separate days, or connect Baoji bronzes with Famen’s Buddhist treasures.

Wider routes · Xi’an, Shanxi and the Hexi Corridor include museum chapters alongside their outdoor sites.

01 / JOURNEY IDEA 1 day Shanghai: A Day with Chinese Art An unhurried museum day in Pudong, with room for two or three collection themes. Shanghai 02 / JOURNEY IDEA 1 day Nanjing: Jiangsu through Its Collections History and a chosen second theme, with time to read objects rather than rush six halls. Nanjing 03 / JOURNEY IDEA 1 day Suzhou: A Museum and the Art of Looking Collections and I. M. Pei’s architecture, followed by an easy introduction to the old city. Suzhou 04 / JOURNEY IDEA 2 days Hangzhou: Celadon, Silk & Song Taste in 2 Days Two different collections on two separate days, with room for Hangzhou beyond the galleries. Hangzhou 05 / JOURNEY IDEA 1 day Sanxingdui: An Ancient Shu Museum Day A focused archaeology day from Chengdu, centred on the extraordinary Sanxingdui collections. Chengdu · Guanghan · Chengdu 06 / JOURNEY IDEA 1 day Qingzhou: Buddhist Art & Old Lanes in 1 Day A museum-led day with time for the Qingzhou Smile and the old city. Qingzhou 07 / JOURNEY IDEA 2 days Qingzhou: Sculpture, Old City & Mountain in 2 Days Stay overnight in Qingzhou, then choose Yunmen Mountain or a gentler garden day. Qingzhou 08 / JOURNEY IDEA 2 days Baoji Bronzes & Famen Temple in 2 Days Ancient bronze craftsmanship and Tang Buddhist heritage. Baoji · Fufeng 09 / JOURNEY IDEA 1 day Jingdezhen Porcelain in 1 Day An introduction to the porcelain city, from imperial kiln heritage to contemporary makers. Jingdezhen 10 / JOURNEY IDEA 2 days Jingdezhen Craft & Kilns in 2 Days Take another day to follow the making process and leave room for your own creative interests. Jingdezhen 11 / JOURNEY IDEA 1 day Taiyuan & Jinci in 1 Day A focused introduction to Shanxi through historic temple grounds and museum collections. Taiyuan 12 / JOURNEY IDEA 3 days Xi’an History & Tang Evenings in 3 Days Combine imperial archaeology, museum collections and the illuminated Tang quarter. Xi’an 13 / JOURNEY IDEA 9 days Gansu & the Hexi Corridor in 9 Days Follow the classic Silk Road corridor from the Yellow River to the caves and dunes of Dunhuang. Lanzhou · Wuwei · Zhangye · Jiayuguan · Dunhuang
FOLLOW WHAT INTERESTS YOU

Tell us what you’d like to understand.

A period, an artist, a material, or simply a wish to look more closely. We’ll help find the collections and the pace that fit your journey.

Include a museum in my journey ↗