Archaeological expositions in museums of Northwestern China

This article describes the scholarly trip to Gansu Province and Ningxia-Hui Autonomous Region of China in July, 2019, where the authors visited the Historical Museum of Gansu Province, Museum of Northwestern Pedagogical University in Lanzhou, Historical Museum of the Ningxia-Hui Autonomous Region, Museum of Western Xia (Xi Xia) Dynasty in Yinchuan, and Guyuan Museum. Main principles of organizing exhibitions and permanent archaeological expositions of these museums are summarized. Historical exhibitions in the museums were organized primarily according to chronological scale with special focus on local aspects. The museums of Gansu Province vividly display decorated pottery from archaeological cultures which existed in this region in the Neolithic Early Iron Age, as well as objects of Buddhist art (originals and replicas) from cave temple complexes. Main thematic areas in the Ningxia museums included the rock art of the Helan Mountains, bronze items of the Scythoid cultures, and heritage of the Tangut state of Western Xia (Xi Xia). A common feature of all museums examined was emphasis on the role of communications along the Silk Road in the cultural development of the northwestern regions of China. Imported items and images offoreign merchants are widely represented, and importance of contacts along the Silk Road for the spread of Buddhism is emphasized. Archaeological collections and exhibitions of museums in Northwest China are valuable sources of information about the contacts of this region with the adjacent territories of the Great Chinese Plain, Central Asia, and Siberia.