[Photo from www.tylyhy.cn]

The Coal Museum of China, a national AAAA scenic spot, a national demonstration site for industrial tourism and a grade 1 national museum, is the only coal industry museum in China. Its permanent exhibitions include “Adventure in the Ocean of Coal”, a large exhibition for popularizing knowledge about coal and an exhibition of best ancient wall paintings in Shanxi.

In the 6,000 square meters, “Adventure in the Ocean of Coal” presents visitors with the essence of China’s long coal history using modern exhibition approaches. The highlights are the simulated mine shaft and 4D dynamic screening room, which brings audiences into mysterious ancient forests billions of years ago with three-dimensional images and special dynamic effects, which explain the formation of coal in stunning and exciting effects using thunderclaps, fog, rain and snow. The “simulated mine shaft” has vivid images of walls and tracks, and the equipment is genuine. It’s indeed the largest underground simulated mine shaft in Asia. Visitors can wear a miner’s cap just like a real miner, get into an underground roadway, and travel along rails at different levels and supports. Visitors can also operate electric drills and witness the coal mining process for themselves.

The 800 sq m exhibition hall of ancient wall paintings in Shanxi exhibites wall paintings from Yongle Temple as well as the best ancient wall paintings scattered around Shanxi Province by the collotype reproduction method using the standard of ‘same size, same color and same appearance’. Many of them are treasures of ancient wall paintings which survived centuries –the earliest one having 2000 years of history – which give them extremely high historical, cultural and artistic value. The museum’s wall paintings were taken to Beijing, Guangzhou, Shanghai and other places for travelling exhibitions in December 2004, April 2005 and June 2005 respectively, and have been highly praised by people from all circles.

The launch of “Adventure in the Ocean of Coal” has filled the gaps in related tourism projects in Shanxi. The exhibition attracted a great number of visitors with its strong scientific nature, knowledge, interesting contents and entertainment. It has received over 200,000 visitors over the last four years, and the number of visitors from the United States, Canada, Singapore, Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan has been increasing. The museum has been awarded the title of “Demonstration Base for Patriotism Education in Shanxi Province”, “Base for Moral Education in Shanxi Province” and “Base for Science Education of Adolescents in Shanxi Province” and others titles by the CPC Shanxi Province Committee, People’s Government of Shanxi Province, Shanxi Association for Science and Technology and Taiyuan Association for Science and Technology. It’s also the campus for five coal related academies.

The museum has also set up the first exhibition and distribution center for tourist commodities in Taiyuan, which gathered the best tourist souvenirs and specialties from across the province, and filled the gaps in tourist shopping of the province. The above mentioned factors allow the Coal Museum of China to become a key tourist spot integrating a coal culture exhibition, ancient wall painting exhibition and tourist shopping.

Based on its abundant exhibits, new form of presentation, quality services, excellent order and unique charm, the Coal Museum of China has attracted a great number of Chinese and foreign guests, and become an important window to showcase modern coal technologies and introduce historical culture. This cultural hall will give numerous visitors value-added enjoyment with great vitality and a brand new outlook.

Address: No. 2 Yingze West Avenue, Taiyuan

Tel: 0351-6180108

Website: www.coalmus.cn

Admission: low season: 60 yuan