The Three Gorges Museum is located on the west side of the People’s Square in Chongqing. The museum houses a collection of over ten thousand cultural relics, including Bashu bronzes and Han Dynasty sculptures, showcasing the historical development of this mountain city. The ‘Magnificent Three Gorges’ exhibition hall within the museum has collected a vast array of artifacts from the Three Gorges reservoir area, authentically recreating the original appearance of the Three Gorges.
The museum’s architecture features a funnel-shaped circular dome at the top, resembling a giant dew collector, symbolizing ‘the waters of the Three Gorges coming from the heavens.’ The exterior walls are composed of large areas of blue glass and rustic sandstone, with the blue glass representing water and the sandstone representing the mountains. The Three Gorges Museum is divided into four floors, mainly consisting of a 360-degree surround screen movie, four basic exhibitions (‘Magnificent Three Gorges,’ ‘Ancient Bashu,’ ‘Chongqing: The Path of a City,’ ‘Years of Resistance’), and six special exhibitions.The 360-degree surround screen digital movie on the first floor displays the natural scenery and cultural charm of the Three Gorges before the reservoir was filled, serving as an eternal tribute to the Three Gorges landscape. The ‘Magnificent Three Gorges’ exhibition hall has collected a large number of artifacts from the Three Gorges reservoir area, authentically recreating the original appearance of the Three Gorges. On the second floor, ‘Ancient Bashu’ showcases the ancient civilization of Chongqing, tracing its 3000-year cultural roots, while ‘Chongqing: The Path of a City’ demonstrates the urban transformation of Chongqing over the past century with a wealth of cultural relics.
On the third floor, the ‘Chongqing Great Bombing Diorama Exhibition Hall’ recreates the historical event of the Chongqing bombing through modern technology, sculptures, and oil paintings. ‘Years of Resistance’ displays numerous detailed materials, showcasing the contributions and sacrifices made by the city of Chongqing and its people during the Anti-Japanese War. On the fourth floor, the exhibition of ancient calligraphy, porcelain, coins, and Han Dynasty sculptures displays thousands of valuable cultural relics, including the famous ‘Storytelling Figurine,’ ‘Bashu Divine Bird,’ and ‘Wuyang Hanque.’ The Southwest Ethnic Customs and Folklore Hall showcases the customs and cultures of various ethnic groups in the vast southwestern region.
The audio guide provides explanations in multiple languages.
