Hotan Cultural Museum

Hotan Cultural Museum is a regional institution in Xinjiang that displays artifacts from ancient cities in the area. It presents pottery, coins, silk fabrics, wooden documents, clay figures, and preserved mummies spanning different historical periods.

The museum was established in 1995 to preserve archaeological findings from ancient cities such as Niya, Mallikurwatur, and Yotkan. These sites are dated to around 2,000 years ago.

The name reflects Hotan's centuries-long role as a center for jade carving and silk production. Visitors can see craft techniques that continue to be practiced in the region today.

The exhibition spreads across multiple levels, with ancient artifacts on the ground floor and local craft collections displayed upstairs. A visit is easy to organize since the different sections are arranged in a logical order.

The collection of nephrite jade pieces is particularly extensive and shows the skill that has marked this region for centuries. Many visitors overlook these works in favor of the better-known archaeological objects.