01City Guide
Yuelu Mountain
岳麓山
All Ages
Admission
Free entry with real-name reservation; sightseeing bus, cableway, slide, and Yuelu Academy cost extra.
Typical Visit
2-3 hours for the cultural core; half day if adding summit viewpoints
Quick Facts
Ticket
Permanent exhibitions are free with real-name reservation; special exhibitions may require separate tickets.
Hours
Usually 09:00-17:00, last entry 16:00, closed Mondays. From Jul 1-Aug 31, 2026, summer hours extend to 20:30 with last entry 19:30.
Transport
Xiangya Hospital (湘雅医院), Line 6, Exit 2 or 3
Duration
3-4 hours
Best Time
Year-round; reserve early for weekends, summer, and public holidays
Visitors
All ages
How to Visit
1
Secure your museum reservation first
Hunan Museum's permanent exhibitions are free, but entry is not walk-in. Real-name reservation is required.
Tip:Weekends, summer holidays, and public holidays can fill quickly, so confirm your booking before arranging the rest of the day.
2
Prioritize the Mawangdui exhibition on a first visit
There is a lot to see, but first-time visitors should not spread their attention evenly. After entering, go up to the third floor for the Changsha Mawangdui Han Tombs exhibition, then follow the route downward.
Tip:Focus on Lady Xin Zhui, the plain gauze gown, the T-shaped silk painting, lacquerware, silk manuscripts, and bamboo slips.
3
Use the Hunanese exhibition for wider context
After Mawangdui, go to the second-floor Hunanese exhibition if you still have energy.
Tip:It helps explain Hunan's longer history and cultural background, so the museum does not feel like only one famous tomb discovery.
4
Allow more than 3 hours and do not arrive near closing
Regular hours are usually 9:00-17:00, with last entry at 16:00, and the museum is closed on Mondays. From July 1 to August 31, 2026, summer opening is extended to 20:30 with last entry at 19:30.
Tip:You still need the correct reserved time slot, so do not treat this as a one-hour stop before dinner.
5
Do not confuse the museum with the tomb site
Hunan Museum displays the main Mawangdui artifacts. The Mawangdui Han Tombs site is the original excavation area and is in a different location.
Tip:For most first-time visitors, Hunan Museum is the more valuable stop; add the tomb site only if you are especially interested in the archaeological location.
Highlights
- Hunan Museum is one of the top museum reservations to prioritize in Changsha.
- The Mawangdui Han Tombs exhibition is the core attraction.
- Lady Xin Zhui, the plain gauze gown, the T-shaped silk painting, and lacquerware show Western Han elite life and burial culture in vivid detail.
- The Hunanese exhibition adds background on Hunan's history and Huxiang culture.
- The permanent exhibitions are free and high quality, but reservations are harder than at many ordinary free museums.
Insider Tips
✦Bring the original ID document used for the reservation.
✦Extended summer hours do not mean you can walk in; evening visits still require a reserved time slot.
✦The Lady Xin Zhui gallery can feel cold, so bring a light layer if you are sensitive to air-conditioning.
✦An audio guide or official commentary will make the key objects much easier to understand.
✦If you cannot reserve Hunan Museum, do not treat the Mawangdui tomb site as a full substitute; the two visits have different purposes.
More Changsha Attractions
02Historic Walk
Yuelu Academy
岳麓书院
All Ages
Admission
CNY 40 standard ticket; reduced tickets are usually CNY 20.
Typical Visit
1.5-2 hours
03City Guide
Aiwan Pavilion
爱晚亭
All Ages
Admission
No separate ticket; reserve Yuelu Mountain entry. Yuelu Academy nearby is ticketed separately.
Typical Visit
20-40 minutes; 1-2 hours when paired with Yuelu Academy
04Historic Walk
Mawangdui Han Tombs
马王堆汉墓
All Ages
Admission
Usually CNY 2 for the tomb site; book separately through Hunan Museum's official channels.
Typical Visit
45-60 minutes
05Urban Landmark
Orange Isle
橘子洲
All Ages
Admission
Free entry with reservation; sightseeing train is extra, with the full island route commonly listed at CNY 40.
Typical Visit
2-3 hours
06Urban Landmark
Young Mao Zedong Statue
青年毛泽东艺术雕塑
All Ages
Admission
No separate ticket; included with Orange Isle's free reserved entry. Sightseeing train costs extra.
Typical Visit
20-40 minutes within an Orange Isle visit