Constructed in 1953, Hubei Provincial Museum is a primary institution of cultural relics collection, exhibition and promotion as well as an important research center of archaeological exploration, discovery and relic protection in the province. It is a state-level museum and one of the eight key museums sponsored jointly by the central and local governments. It is recognized by the State Administration of Cultural Heritage as a protection base of waterlogged lacquerware, a director member of China Museum Association of Musical Instrument, and an AAAAA level scenic spot authorized by National Tourism Administration.
Located in the beautiful coast of the East Lake, Hubei Provincial Museum sprawls over 123 mu, with a construction area of 50,000 square meters. The main building is flanked by two wing buildings, giving a resemblance of the Chinese character “品“. With high towers, multilayer wide eaves and roof slopes, the whole building complex represents the heavy style of Chu architecture.
Hubei Provincial Institute of cultural relics and Archaeology was separated from Hubei Provincial Museum in 1989 and became an independent legal entity under Hubei Provincial Department of Culture. It possesses the qualification of archaeological excavation team leader approved by State Bureau of Cultural Relics and is mainly responsible for the protection of cultural relics and archaeological excavations in Hubei province. Its work includes archaeological investigation, exploration and excavation of large and medium scale as well as compiling archaeological report, and conducting correlational research. In 2002，Hubei Provincial Institute of cultural relics and Archaeology was consolidated with Hubei Provincial Museum.
There are more than 230,000 collections in Hubei Provincial Museum, of which about one thousand are Grade-one cultural relics of the state. Those great pieces include the prehistoric potteries of Qujialing culture and Shijiahe culture，the bronzeware from Panlongcheng and the Tomb of Marquis Yi of the Zeng State, the Lacquerware from Chu Tomb and Han Tomb during the middle Spring and Autumn period, the bamboo slips from the Tomb of Marquis Yi of the Zeng State, from Guodian Chu Tomb, Wangshan Chu Tomb, Baoshan Chu Tomb and Yunmeng Qin Tomb, the relics of tetrarchs from Liangzhuangwang Tomb and Yingjingwang Tomb. The treasure of the treasures in the Museum are undoubtedly the human skull fossils from Yunxian County, the Sword of Goujian, the Chime bells from the Tomb of Marquis Yi of the Zeng State, and the Blue and White plum vase of the four loves in Yuan Dynasty.
At present, Hubei Provincial Museum has ten basic exhibition series, such as “Chu culture”, “Tomb of Marquis Yi of the Zeng State”, “Liangzhuangwang Tomb — treasure of Zhenghe’s era. Meanwhile, more than a dozen of temporary exhibitions are also introduced to meet various needs.
As an extension of the exhibition, the chime bell music and dancing performance are particularly favored by visitors. Using duplicates of the whole set of chime bells from the Tomb of Marquis Yi of the Zeng State and many other unearthed ancient musical instruments, the Chime bell Orchestra of Hubei Provincial Museum has brought to life the musical performances of ancient court on today’s stage.
Hubei Provincial Museum has also contributed in the cultural exchanges with foreign countries. Its collections have been on itinerant exhibition in different countries and regions, showing the broad and profound Chinese culture to the whole world.
In November 2007, Hubei Provincial Museum took the lead in starting free admission of visiting, which gave huge social impact.
In December 2011, the museum has started its reconstruction work of the third-stage. After the work,
Its construction area will reach 110,000 square meters, with a 30,000 square meter exhibition area. It will become a top-ranking comprehensive museum with multiple functions of cultural relics collection, exhibition, protection, education and research as well as a leisure place of book-reading, film-watching, shopping, catering and entertaining. The combination of modern feature and distinctive Jingchu characteristic will make it a window of local cultural and a landmark for tourists.
