This niche museum blew my mind.

I hadn't even heard of the Qinghai Tibetan Culture Museum before I planned my trip to Xining (embarrassingly ignorant, I know). At the time, I knew almost nothing about Tibetan culture, only that there was a massive 618-meter Thangka painting here. When I finally entered the museum, I regretted not allocating more time… I ended up being ushered out by the closing announcement. But it was truly amazing! Almost everyone lingered in front of the 618-meter Thangka, marveling and gazing intently. Long story short, this place not only houses the Guinness World Record-holding giant Thangka, created by 400 artists over 4 years, but also detailed exhibits on ethnic clothing and architecture, daily life, history and culture, medicine, Tibetan books… everything you can imagine. It encompasses all aspects of Tibetan culture. 🔺Introduction: Located in Xining, the Qinghai Tibetan Culture Museum is the only national first-class museum dedicated to the comprehensive collection, preservation, exhibition, research, education, and inheritance of Tibetan culture. With a total area of 12,000 square meters, it is the only comprehensive museum in the world dedicated to the collection, preservation, exhibition, and research of Tibetan culture. 🔺Exhibition Halls: Starting from the second floor, there are four exhibition halls: the Ethnic Clothing Hall, the Carpet Art Hall, the Tibetan Architecture Art Hall, and the Tibetan Calligraphy Art Hall. The third floor houses the Silk Road and Qinghai-Tibet Plateau Civilization Hall, which tells the story of the origin of civilization on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, from early human hunting and gathering, Neolithic river valley farming, to the Tubo Dynasty with its flourishing metal and textile crafts. Exhibits include birch bark documents and the Four Kings Gold Cup, a testament to cultural exchange. The fourth floor is the Chinese Tibetan Culture and Art Painted Grand View Hall, home to the 618-meter Thangka. It depicts Tibetan landscapes, cultural customs, myths and legends, Buddhist culture, and more, making it a veritable encyclopedia of Tibetan culture in painting form. 🔺Opening Hours: 9:00–17:30. Entry stops half an hour before closing. Closed on Mondays. 🔺Tickets: 60 yuan. Half price for students. The North Hall is free and mainly exhibits Tibetan medicine. However, the essence is still in the South Hall. Museums worth visiting, unique visual impact, must-see exhibitions, you'll regret missing it, Qinghai tourism, Xining travel, Tibetan Culture Museum, Tibetan, niche travel destinations, must-visit museums. Museums worth visiting