Three Gorges Museum
Three Gorges Museum
Introduction
The Chongqing China Three Gorges Museum, commonly known as the Three Gorges Museum, stands as a testament to the rich cultural heritage and history of Chongqing and the broader region of Southwest China.
Established in 2000, the Three Gorges Museum was conceived to conserve and display the invaluable artifacts uncovered during the monumental construction of the Three Gorges Dam. The museum's origins trace back to the Southwest Museum, founded in 1951, which was later renamed Chongqing Municipal Museum in 1956.
The museum is comprised of four significant sites: the main museum, the Underwater Museum of the Historical Inscription at the White Crane Ridge, the Headquarters of China Defense League (a gallery located in the former residence of Soong Ching Ling), and the site of the Tushan Kilns. Each site holds its unique historical significance, contributing to the overall narrative the museum aims to impart to its visitors.
With an impressive collection of 113,500 pieces of art and 18,000 rare books, the museum offers a panoramic view into the cultural and historical tapestry of Chongqing and its surrounding areas. These collections are meticulously categorized into 35 distinct themes, ranging from bone fossils of ancient humans and artifacts from the Three Gorges Dam to bronze ware unearthed in Chongqing. The museum also houses historic relics dating back to the Han Dynasty, folk items from southwestern ethnic groups, and historical items from the Great Rear Zone during the War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression.
Furthermore, the museum offers a unique glimpse into the hydrological wonder known as the White Crane Ridge. Located at the confluence of the Yangtze and Wujiang rivers in Fuling district, Chongqing, this remarkable stone ridge has served as a canvas for inscriptions since the Tang Dynasty. These inscriptions record low water levels and feature intricately carved fish, serving as water-level benchmarks for over 1,200 years. The White Crane Ridge inscriptions are renowned worldwide, showcasing literary and calligraphic masterpieces of various dynasties, and earning it the nickname of "underwater stele forest".