Plan at a glance
Museum-and-garden layout and entrances
Nantong Museum is at No. 19 Haonan Road, Chongchuan District. Founded by Zhang Jian in 1905, it is regarded as China's first public museum. Chinese gardens and several galleries share the same site. The South Gate is the more useful starting point for first-time visitors, while the North Gate connects more naturally with the Haohe riverfront.
A quick visit to the main galleries and garden takes about 1–1.5 hours. To see the New Hall, Central Hall, North Hall, Haonan Villa and South Hall, allow 2–3 hours. The South Gate has limited parking, especially during weekends and holidays, so public transport or a nearby car park may be easier.
Tickets, reservations and hours
The gardens, New Hall, Central Hall and North Hall are free in most cases. Haonan Villa and South Hall require a CNY 10 combination ticket. Normal hours are 06:00–18:00 for the gardens and 09:00–17:00 for indoor galleries, with last entry at 16:30. Indoor galleries usually close on Mondays except for public-holiday arrangements.
From July 28 to August 31, 2026, a summer schedule provides longer hours: the main exhibition area opens 09:00–18:00, with last entry at 17:30, and some Monday arrangements change. This applies only to that date range; plan by the day's notice and reservation status rather than treating it as a year-round rule.
Tickets and visit details
View visit options for this attraction and confirm the visit date and current arrangements before you go.
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The New Hall, North Hall and gardens
The New Hall is a good first stop for the Jiang-Hai Civilization history exhibition and current special exhibitions. The North Hall's large whale skeleton and animal specimens are popular with families. The central gardens, fountain, lawn and paths provide outdoor space for a break, so visitors who prefer architecture and gardens can divide the indoor visits into two sections.
Haonan Villa is Zhang Jian's former residence, with a red Western-style building and period interiors that suit visitors interested in architecture, modern history and photography. Haonan Villa and South Hall use the CNY 10 combination ticket; a special exhibition may have its own charge.
Who it suits
History and museum enthusiasts can follow the full route. Families can prioritise the whale skeleton, animal specimens and gardens. Visitors who mainly want the museum's exterior and Zhang Jian's role in Nantong can enter from the South Gate, see the New Hall and the exterior of Haonan Villa, and then leave.
Build your day
About 1–1.5 hours: a quick route
Enter through the South Gate and go first to the New Hall for the whale skeleton and main galleries. Continue to Haonan Villa for exterior photos, then walk through the central garden, fountain and lawn before leaving from the North or South Gate.
This route suits visitors who want the main building and a few representative exhibits. If an indoor gallery has a reservation or entry limit, keep the gardens, building exteriors and open galleries in the route rather than making a special exhibition the only reason to visit.
About 2–3 hours: a full route
Enter through the South Gate and visit the New Hall, Central Hall, North Hall and East Hall, followed by Haonan Villa and South Hall. Finish with the gardens and leave through the South Gate; if Haohe is the next stop, move toward the North Gate to connect with the riverfront.
Place the New Hall and North Hall within the indoor opening period. Use the Haonan Villa and South Hall combination ticket after confirming that both are open. During weekends or the summer period, follow the galleries included in your reservation first and decide how long to stay in the gardens afterward.
Get there
Metro and walking
Take Nantong Metro Line 1 to Youyiqiao Station, Exit 4, then walk about 5–8 minutes to the museum. Buses, shared electric bicycles and walking routes also connect the museum with Haohe, Zhang Jian Memorial Hall and the Blue-Printed Nankeen Museum.
Parking and entrances
There is a car park at the South Gate, with a reference rate of about CNY 3 per hour, but spaces are limited. If the South Gate car park is full during a weekend or holiday, use a nearby car park and walk to the entrance.
Know before you go
Reservations, closures and special exhibitions
Under the normal schedule, indoor galleries require a real-name reservation through the Nantong Museum WeChat account. Garden access and indoor-gallery reservations are separate. On a normal Monday, the gardens may remain available while indoor galleries follow their closure rule; summer dates may use a different schedule.
Special exhibitions may charge separately or change the gallery route. Budget the reservation, any special-exhibition ticket and the CNY 10 combination ticket as separate items, and confirm which galleries are open when you arrive.
Walking and nearby stops
The full visit involves repeated indoor and outdoor walking, so wear comfortable shoes. Nantong Museum is next to Haohe; you can continue to the riverfront or a cruise pier on foot. The Blue-Printed Nankeen Museum also works as a later cultural stop, but its ticket and opening arrangements are separate.