Anhui Chu Culture Museum (Shouxian County Museum)

Anhui Chu Culture Museum (Shouxian County Museum)
安徽楚文化博物馆（寿县博物馆）

Address: South side of West Street, Shouchun town, Shouxian county, Anhui province
Opening hours: Tuesday to Sunday, 9:00 am–5:00 pm (last entry at 4:00 pm)
Closed on Mondays (except public holidays)
General admission: Free
Tel: 0554-2761608

Located at the south side of West Street, Shouchun town, Shou county, the Anhui Chu Culture Museum is the only museum in China named after "Chu Culture". Visitors can immerse themselves in the rich legacy of the State of Chu during the Warring States Period (475-221 BC) through the museum's extensive collection and innovative digital exhibitions.

Established in Oct 1958 and with a total investment of 320 million yuan ($43.7 million), the museum is one of Anhui's oldest museums. It covers 200 acres, with a building area of 15,510 square meters and an exhibition space of 4,222 sq m.

The museum houses over 10,000 artifacts spanning from the Neolithic Age to modern times, including 230 First Grade Cultural Relics and 2,000 relics at the third grade or higher. Its most iconic treasures include the Sword of "King of Yue Zhuji Yuci" (a bronze weapon from the State of Yue in the Warring States Period), Chu gold coins (used as currency in the State of Chu), and the Golden Coffin from the Northern Song Dynasty (960-1127).

The museum's layout highlights three main themes: "Anhui Chu Culture", "The Civilization of Shouxian county", and "The Shouxian Culture of Shouchun" (The city of Shoucun was the last Chu capital in Huainan). Visitors can enjoy meticulously curated exhibits, detailed text descriptions, lifelike sculptures, sand table models, and multimedia technology. Over the years, the museum has hosted numerous exhibitions, including The History of Shouxian and Han Dynasty (206 BC-AD 220) Jade Burial Suits with Silver Threads, receiving praise from industry professionals and various sectors of society.

Since 2020, the museum has embraced digital technology to bring its artifacts to life. Its regular educational activities, from stone painting to clay crafting, engage visitors of all ages. Its outreach programs bring artifacts into schools and nursing homes, extending the museum's impact beyond its walls and making Chu culture accessible to everyone.