QINHUANGDAO, China — A major cultural milestone was marked on June 15, 2025, with the official opening of the Shanhaiguan Museum of the Great Wall of China in Qinhuangdao, Hebei Province. The state-of-the-art institution, designated as a top-tier national museum, spans 7 hectares and features a total floor space of 30,000 square metres. It houses over 11,000 cultural artefacts across five permanent and three temporary exhibition halls.
The museum forms a central part of China’s broader initiative to establish a Great Wall Culture Park, a project spearheaded by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism. As part of the initiative, 15 provinces and municipalities along the ancient structure have been directed to develop localized plans to support and showcase their respective sections of the Great Wall.
Exhibitions at the newly launched museum spotlight the historic significance of the Shanhaiguan Pass—long known as the eastern gateway of the Great Wall. Displays include military relics from various Chinese dynasties, traditional armour, and ancient weaponry, offering insights into the defensive strategies and cultural narratives shaped by the wall over centuries.
Deputy curator Guo Ying, speaking to Xinhua News Agency, emphasized the museum’s mission to “safeguard and share the heritage of the Great Wall, to advance its global reach through cultural programs, and to promote academic cooperation and digital displays.”
The Shanhaiguan Pass, steeped in strategic importance, is a critical segment of the Great Wall, which was constructed over more than two thousand years—from the Spring and Autumn period (770–221 BC) through the Ming Dynasty (1368–1644). Today, the Great Wall, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, stretches over 21,000 kilometres across northern China and remains one of the country’s most visited cultural landmarks.
The opening of the Shanhaiguan Museum represents a significant step in China’s ongoing efforts to preserve and reinterpret its ancient heritage for a global audience.
