Travel Notes in Shaanxi: Yan'an Museum and Grand Theatre
Since I had visited Yan'an before, and last time I mainly toured and visited the red scenic spots of Yan'an, I did not arrange them again this time. So I needed new highlights, targeting the landmark buildings in Yan'an New District, focusing on the museum and grand theatre.
At 8:30 AM on May 19, 2024, we took bus K206 from outside the hotel to Yan'an New District, heading for the new Yan'an Museum. I had seen introductions online, but there was no information on whether it was open, so we decided to go and check. We got off at the northern section of Luyi Ecological Park at 9 AM, walked about 300 meters west, and arrived at the new Yan'an Museum.
Yan'an Museum is located in Yan'an New District, Shaanxi Province. Construction began in June 2018, and on June 6, 2024, the museum officially opened to the public free of charge. The project covers an area of 124 mu (approximately 8.27 hectares), with an estimated investment of 1.017 billion yuan, a building area of over 63,000 square meters, of which the exhibition area is 20,060 square meters, and the building height is 22.7 meters.
The central building of the museum is in a square layout with a central courtyard, with the east and west sides as main exhibition areas, and the north and south sides serving as corridors. The architectural design mainly reflects the shape of cave dwellings in northern Shaanxi and the rolling mountain terrain, symbolizing the mountains and rivers of Yan'an.
The museum's exhibitions consist of one basic exhibition and three special exhibitions. 'Glorious Yan'an' is the basic exhibition of Yan'an's history. This exhibition area takes time as the axis, starting from the life of 'Huanglong Man' 30,000 years ago and extending to the national rejuvenation in the new era, telling the historical and cultural changes of Yan'an through rich artifacts and relics, showing the living environment and habits of Yan'an's ancestors. Visitors can clearly grasp the context of Yan'an's historical development here.
'Splendid Yan'an' is the special exhibition on Yan'an's natural geography. This exhibition area records the millennia-old changes in Yan'an's geographical landscape, from the vast and desolate desert smoke to the lush green waters and mountains of the 'Northern Shaanxi Jiangnan', confirming the truth that 'lucid waters and lush mountains are invaluable assets'.
'Folk Yan'an' is the special exhibition on Yan'an's folk culture. With profound cultural heritage and distinctive artistic temperament, this exhibition area comprehensively displays the rich and deep cultural heritage and unique artistic temperament of Yan'an, allowing visitors to experience the infinite spiritual power contained in the 'living fossils' of folk culture through intangible cultural heritage.
'Dream-building Yan'an' is the special exhibition on Yan'an's urban construction. Inheriting the red gene and composing a glorious chapter of the era, this exhibition area shows the development and changes of Yan'an city, describing how the people, in the new era of the Long March, inherit the red gene, promote the Yan'an spirit, remain true to the original aspiration, keep the mission firmly in mind, and continuously compose a new chapter of catching up and surpassing in the new Yan'an.
The above introduction is what we saw online. May 19 was the day after International Museum Day. We thought that since May 18 was Museum Day, the Yan'an Museum should be open. However, when we arrived, the museum was still not open. We entered the museum from the east gate, and there was no guard stopping us. We went in through a side door and saw that the interior was still under decoration and exhibition halls were being set up. We walked around, and no staff stopped us. Judging by the situation at that time, it seemed like it would not be opened until before National Day. Unexpectedly, it opened for free on June 6, which was quite surprising in terms of speed.
Although the museum was not officially open, we still got a preview. The museum building is indeed very distinctive: earth-yellow walls, cave-like doors and windows, a square-shaped courtyard, all very proper and generous. Around 10 AM, we walked out from the main gate of the museum, and 300 meters ahead was the Yan'an Grand Theatre. The theatre had been built and in use for many years. When we arrived, they were rehearsing a Children's Day performance.
Yan'an Grand Theatre was completed in 2016 and served as the main venue for the opening ceremony of the 11th China Arts Festival in 2016. The theatre is located on the north-south central axis of the northern section of Yan'an New District, covering an area of 105 mu (approximately 7 hectares), with a total building area of 33,134 square meters, a building height of 34.8 meters, seismic fortification of 6 degrees, and a frame-shear wall structure. The building consists of three main functional halls: the Grand Auditorium (seating 1,217), the Drama Hall (seating 431), and the Concert Hall (seating 474).
There are multiple large meeting rooms, exhibition halls, offices, training rooms, dressing rooms, rehearsal halls, VIP reception lounges, etc., which can meet the needs of various conferences, education, and training. It is a comprehensive public building integrating theatre performances, conferences, and training. It is the first international, professional, and comprehensive landmark building in Yan'an.
At 10:50 AM, we left the theatre and took bus K206 back to the hotel to rest. At 12:20 PM, we took bus K10 from the hotel to the train station. At 1:08 PM, the train returned to Xi'an, arriving at Xi'an Station at 4:52 PM. After exiting the station, we took Metro Line 4 and transferred to Line 5, got off at Wenyi Road Station, and checked into the Home Inn hotel again.
