Brief information on Wei-Jin Art Gallery  

Located about 15 kilometers northeast of Jiayuguan, Wei-Jin art gallery is actually is a big mural brick tomb group with thousands of tombs dating from the Wei (220-65 B.C.) and Jin (A.D. 265-420). 
Renowned as the largest subterranean art gallery in the world, housing a great deal of colorful murals, the gallery has attracted tourists from both home and abroad since 1972 when it was excavated. Most tombs are of families, housing bodies of three or four generations, and now only Grave 6 and Grave 7 are open for tourism. You will see the tomb of a sixth-rank official, the lowest rank in the imperial pecking order.
Entering the cold stone tomb, you will marvel at the vivid murals and special layout inside. Each Wei-Jin tomb generally has two or three chambers which are connected by corridors paved with tiles in various flower patterns. The gate was decorated with delicate patterns and easy lines symbolizing clouds, water, fire, gods and weird animals. The exquisite murals on the inner chamber walls tell the master and mistress’s contemporary carefree life, and servant’s hard working one. Most reflect the political, cultural, military, and scientific developments of the Wei and Jin Dynasty age...an insight into this ancient Chinese feudal society. Mainly painted realistically and earlier than Mogao Grottoes, Wei-Jin Art Gallery provides an example of unmixed Chinese realism art - filling in gaps in the fields of painting between the Wei and Jin periods, and so considered highly valuable for historic research.

*You can download the bilingual note to show it to a taxi driver or someone else to find your way to Wei-Jin Art Gallery if you plan to visit Wei-Jin Art Gallery and have language problems.

   

Hours: 08:30-20:00
Transportation: About RMB 80 for a round trip from Jiayuguan
Prices: Admission: RMB 35