The Museum of Linxia Hui Autonomous Prefecture

The Museum of Linxia Hui Autonomous Prefecture
临夏回族自治州博物馆

Address: West side of the Municipal Government Square, Dongqu subdistrict, Linxia Hui autonomous prefecture, Gansu province
Opening hours:
November-April: 9 am - 5 pm
May-October: 8:30 am - 6 pm
Closed Mondays (except for national holidays)
General admission: Free admission with valid ID card
Tel: (+86 930) 6285683 or 6282579

Perched along the upper reaches of the Yellow River on the route of the ancient Silk Road, Linxia in Gansu has long been a cultural crossroads where history, art and civilization intertwine. Among its most remarkable legacies is the Majiayao Culture, first discovered in 1924 by Swedish archaeologist Johan Gunnar Andersson (1874-1960) near the Taohe River. This discovery unveiled vibrant painted pottery, marking Linxia as a core region of this prehistoric marvel.

Founded in 1979, the Museum of Linxia Hui Autonomous Prefecture — also known as the Linxia Prefectural Painted Pottery Museum — stands as a guardian of the heritage. It houses an impressive collection of more than 36,000 artifacts, including painted pottery, jade, stone tools, bronze, gold and silver ware, ancient fossils, historical documents of Hua'er (a unique genre of folk songs popular in Northwest China), paintings, calligraphy and coins.

The museum's permanent exhibitions, including The Soul of Ancient Pottery — Majiayao Culture Painted Pottery Exhibition, Dawn of Civilization — Gansu Prehistoric Pottery Exhibition, Uncarved Simplicity — Qijia Culture Jade Exhibition and Resonance of Bronze and Gold — Northern China's Bronze Culture Exhibition, bring Linxia's prehistoric splendor to life, showcasing its extraordinary jade and bronze legacies.

With its iconic painted pottery jar emblem at the entrance, the museum invites you to step into the echoes of time and explore Linxia's unparalleled cultural heritage.