​Yitong Manchu Museum

Yitong in Jilin province is one of the birthplaces of the Manchu people. It has beautiful mountains, rivers, outstanding people and rich cultural products. The Manchu ancestors lived and expanded in this vast region for thousands of years, creating their unique civilization and legends.

The title of the museum -- Yitong Manchu Autonomous County Folk Museum -- is inscribed by two calligraphers: Aisin-gioro Pujie and Aisin-gioro·Qigong. [Photo/ Yitong Manchu Autonomous County Folk Museum]

In order to show its glorious achievements and splendid culture, the county Party committee and the local government established the “Yitong Manchu Folk Museum" (now Yitong Manchu Museum) in 1987.

In March 1989, the Manchu Museum was located on the fourth floor of the County Association for Science and Technology's office building. [Photo/ Yitong Manchu Autonomous County Folk Museum]

In order to meet social development needs, a new exhibition hall, covering an area of 300 square meters, was built in September 1990. The new museum was completed on Aug 24, 1992.

There are six exhibition halls for Manchu origins, production, daily life, etiquette, culture and ancillary matters, displaying cultural relics of 410 kinds and more than 2,010 pieces.

File photo shows the new Yitong Manchu Museum, which opened in June 2002. [Photo/Yitong Manchu Museum]

Shaman totem pole. [Photo/Yitong Manchu Museum]

Since 2008, the local government has invested three million yuan ($473,732) in the museum's reconstruction. In early 2012, another 12 million yuan was invested to re-design the museum.

The new museum improved to high standards by making full use of a variety of art forms and modern technologies. Through the efforts of all the staff, on May 17, 2013, a brand-new, modern county-level museum was opened to the public.