The Guanzhong Folk Art Museum (关中民俗艺术博物馆) is located at the foot of the sacred Buddhist site, South Wutaishan, from the Sui and Tang dynasties. The architecture of the museum reflects the Ming and Qing dynasty garden style, characterized by its simplicity, elegance, and grand scale. The museum itself is a complex of ancient Guanzhong residential buildings, consisting of 40 traditional courtyards and several large gate towers. These structures were meticulously relocated and reconstructed by the museum’s founder, Mr. Wang Yongchao, who spent over twenty years carefully numbering each brick and stone from villages across Guanzhong.
The museum houses a vast collection of folk artifacts from various dynasties, among which the most striking are the numerous ancient residential buildings, opera stages, shops, and gate towers from the Ming and Qing dynasties. Additionally, the museum boasts over 8,000 stone-carved hitching posts, each depicting either human or animal figures with unique expressions. Some of these hitching posts were acquired at great expense, while others were salvaged from pigsties and even latrines. The fact that these artifacts now form an impressive “Terracotta Army” of hitching posts on display is nothing short of remarkable.
Travel Information about Guanzhong Folk Art Museum
Tickets and Opening Hours
Ticket Price: 120 RMB.
Opening Hours:
- March to October: 8:00 AM – 6:30 PM;
- November to February: 8:30 AM – 5:30 PM.
Getting to the Museum
Location: No. 1, South Wutaishan Road, Wutai Ancient Town, Chang’an District, Xi’an.
Transportation: Take Metro Line 2 to Weiqu South Station, then transfer to Bus 500 and get off at Guanzhong Folk Art Museum.
Scenic Rating
Cultural Significance: ★★★★★
Unique Features: ★★★★★
Leisure: ★★★
Beauty: ★★
Romance: ★
Thrill: ★
Highlights of Guanzhong Folk Art Museum
Zhao Family Gate Tower
The Zhao Family Gate Tower is designed in a “品” character shape, with the main gate in the center and side gates on either side, creating a grand and imposing structure. The central gate features a massive stone door, flanked by couplets that read: “The moonlight on the Scythe Peak shines with purity, the gate’s height reflects virtue, spreading a thousand feet like the golden waters.” The front of the gate tower is adorned with intricate stone and brick carvings, with the top stone plaque inscribed with the words “地通乾元,” which further enhances the gate’s majestic appearance. Directly opposite the central gate is the screen wall of the Zhao Family Gate Tower. At the center of this screen wall is a brick carving depicting a crouching qilin, turning its head to gaze at the sun above, forming the scene known as the “Qilin Gazing at the Sun.”
Xijing Xiongzhen Gate Tower
Above the entrance of the Xijing Xiongzhen (西京雄镇) Gate Tower is a stone plaque inscribed with “Xijing Xiongzhen, 13th Year of the Chongzhen Era of the Ming Dynasty.” The gate itself is comprised of two iron doors, and above the entrance, there are brick carvings depicting scenes of everyday life. These carvings portray laborers carrying heavy loads, fortune-tellers predicting the future, shoppers out on errands, and dignitaries riding in sedan chairs or on horseback. The detailed and lifelike figures create a vibrant and bustling atmosphere, earning the gate the reputation of being the “folk version of the Riverside Scene at Qingming Festival.”
Liyuan (Pear Garden)
In front of the entrance to Liyuan, the gate piers feature an inscription on the stone base that reads, “Established on an auspicious day in the first month of the first year of the Taiding era.” The brick and stone carvings on the buildings within the garden are exceptionally intricate. Above the entrance is a stone plaque inscribed with “梨园 Liyuan,” and above the plaque is a brick carving depicting theatrical figures. This carving is divided into three sections—left, center, and right—designed to complement and echo the performances on the opera stage.
The main entrance of the opera stage features stone doors with relief carvings of figures. The left panel illustrates the story “The Dead Zhuge Scares Away the Living Zhongda,” while the right panel depicts “Su Wu Herds Sheep.” The door frames on either side are adorned with relief carvings of lions in a mountainous landscape, extending from top to bottom. The opera stage and viewing towers within the garden are predominantly constructed of wood, with exquisite wood carvings, brick carvings, and extensive use of painted decorations, giving them a highly three-dimensional appearance.
Yan Jingming Residence
The Yan Jingming Residence is symmetrically designed, with the courtyard featuring an abundance of intricate stone, brick, and wood carvings that create a grand atmosphere. The main hall consists of seven large rooms, with the lintel of the main hall door adorned with auspicious carvings of dragons and phoenixes bringing prosperity, and golden bats symbolizing good fortune. The beams and rafters are richly decorated with painted designs and hollow wood carvings, blending solid and void elements into a harmonious whole, showcasing the grandeur of Guanzhong residential architecture.
On both sides of the main hall are “horse-head walls,” also known as “fire-sealing walls,” whose primary functions are to prevent fire and theft. These walls are adorned with detailed and exquisite brick carvings, symbolizing and reflecting the owner’s status and position.
Accommodation and Dining Options
Accommodation
The museum is close to Zhongnan Mountain, located at the foot of South Wutaishan, and not far from the city. You can choose to stay in the city, or there are many farm stays (nongjiale) near the foot of Zhongnan Mountain, offering a complete range of dining, entertainment, and lodging options, making accommodation very convenient.
Wanxing Farm Stay (万兴农家乐): Located in Xingyuan Village, Taiyigong Town, Chang’an District, this comprehensive farm stay offers rural food, lodging, and recreational activities. Situated away from the hustle and bustle of the city and the noise of the roads, the quiet courtyard provides a peaceful environment for relaxation and rejuvenation.
Phone: 029-85898652.
Jinyuan Agriculture & Art (瑾园农艺): Located in Wenjiashan Village, Taiyigong, Chang’an District, this farm stay offers excellent air quality and plenty of outdoor activity spaces. Nearby, there are horse riding facilities and locations for art sketching. The large garden is full of vitality, with beautiful surroundings, clean room facilities, and a particularly quiet atmosphere at night, far from the noise of the city.
Phone: 029-89235905.
Food
Near the museum, Cuihua Mountain features a popular food street at Shuiqiu Pond, offering a wide variety of local snacks. Additionally, there are countless farm stays (农家乐) in the area, where you can enjoy authentic local dishes. If you want to savor the true flavors of the region, this is the place to be.