Reopened Jinguo Museum attracts global visitors to Shanxi

The Jinguo Museum in Qucun town, Quwo county, North China’s Shanxi province, reopened in late September, drawing visitors from around the world.

Many cultural relics from Shanxi now housed in museums abroad have sparked global interest in the province’s ancient civilization, according to Li Haoran, a guide at JinguoMuseum. To provide a better visiting experience, the museum has significantly expanded its collection, with the number of exhibits increasing from 160 to 365 sets.

"The exhibits now include bone tools, stone tools, and various ancient production and living utensils, in addition to the existing bronze, jade, and pottery items," Li said.

"We've incorporated more digital technologies to make the visiting experience more interactive, appealing to younger visitors and providing historical details that traditional guides might miss," he added.

The Jin State (Jinguo in Chinese) was one of the major vassal states during the Zhou Dynasty (c.11th century-256 BC), lasting over 660 years and leaving behind a rich cultural heritage. Archaeological evidence indicates that Quwo county and its surrounding areas were the capital of the Jin State during the Western Zhou Dynasty (c.11th century-771 BC).

Built on the nationally protected Qucun-Tianma Site, including the Cemetery of Jin Marquises, the museum is the first in China dedicated to showcasing the Jin State’s history and culture. The discovery and excavation of 19 tombs belonging to nine generations of Jin marquises and their consorts have elevated research on Jin culture to a new level.

Among the findings, the chariot and horse pit accompanying the tomb of Marquis Xian of Jin is the largest of its kind from the Western Zhou Dynasty ever discovered in China – predating the famed Terracotta Warriors in Xi’an, Northwest China’s Shaanxi province, by over 600 years.

"The revamped museum uses artifacts to tell the story of the past and technology to bring history to life,” said Li. “We warmly invite visitors from around the world to explore the ancient capital of the Jin State."