Hubei Provincial Museum

湖北省博物馆 · hú běi shěng bó wù guǎn

Home of the Zeng Hou Yi bells — 65 bronze bells from 433 BC that still play in perfect tune — and the 2,500-year-old Sword of Goujian that has never rusted.

The story

Discovered in 1978 in a tomb in Suizhou, the bell set proved that ancient China had a full twelve-tone scale, each bell striking two notes. There is a live bell-and-dance concert (编钟乐舞) in the museum's hall several times a day. Free entry but reservation is mandatory.

Getting there

Metro Line 8 → Provincial Museum (省博湖北日报)

Local tips

• Reserve on the museum's WeChat account; choose 护照 (passport) as ID type.
• Closed Mondays.
• Buy the bell concert ticket (~¥30) as soon as you arrive — it sells out.