ABC of Xanadu Sites Museum
Xanadu Sites Museum is located about 7 km south of the Site of Xanadu ( or Yuanshangdu Relic Site as the name recognized by google map ). Xanadu, literally “Upper Capital”, was the summer capital of Kublai Khan’s Yuan Dynasty (1271 – 1368) in China.
The museum is specialized in showing the relics and artifacts relative to the once magnificent “Upper Capital”, the most elegant and magnificent city ever built on grasslands in the world.
The two-story museum is built into the east slope of the Aobao Hill of Wulantai, harmoniously matching the surrounding environment. It has four exhibition halls which display the history of Xanadu in four main themes with discovered relics and pictures in Chinese and English subtitles.
Note: There ere two museums relative to Xanadu. One is the Xanadu Sites Museum which we are now talking about; the another museum is called Yuanshangdu Museum ( Xanadu Museum) , which is located in the downtown of Zhenglan Banner ( Zhenglanqi County). When you google Xanadu Sites Museum, it will direct you to Yuanshangdu Musuem in the downtown of Zhenglan Banner. The old name of Xanadu literally means Yuanshangdu in Chinese ( Upper Capital in Yuan Dynasty).
How to get to Xanadu Sites Museum & Tickets
Basically, people usually combine Xanadu Sites Museum and the Site of Xanadu on a day trip. The two attractions are 7km apart. You may come to visit Xanadu Museum from Duolun County or Zhenglanqi County (Zhenglan Banner).
But at the time of my writing, I cannot locate Xandadu Sites Museum on Google Map. Instead the Google Mao directs you to another Xanadu Museum in the downtown of Zhenglan Banner since there are two museums relative to Xanadu.
Google Map uses Yuanshandu ( mandarin) instead of its old name Xanadu. So you can easily find the Yuanshangdu Relic Site on Google Map, which is also known as the Site of Xanadu. And the Xanadu Sites Museum is south of Yuanshangdu Relic Site. See the Google Map below ( Xanadu Sites Museum is unmarked, roughly just 7km south of Yuanshangdu Relics Site).
You’d better off arranging your own transport to visit the two places since there is no public transport connecting Zhenglanqi (Zhenglan Banner) or Duolun Country with the two sites. Even there is no bus service between the Site of Xanadu and Xanadu Sites Museum.
The museum is free of charge, but you need to take your free entrance from the ticket office not far from the parking lot. When you get the ticket, you are requested to pay 5 yuan for the golf cart taking you to the site of the museum, which is built into the east slope of the hill.
Virtual Tour of Xanadu Sites Museum
A huge stone sign engraved with the words “Xanadu Sites Museum” in Mongolian, Chinese and English.
The vermilion museum is built into the hill slope, featuring the harmony between the museum and the surrounding hills and grasslands.
When you enter the museum, you will see a high hall with giant relief sculptures, depicting the history of Xanadu.
The model of Xanadu, imperial palace and the imperial city, the most magnificent city ever built on grassland in the world.
There are four major showrooms displaying the artifacts and pictures with English captions.
Glazed tiles discovered from the buildings in the Site of Xanadu.
Maps, Pictures and Artifacts are combined to illustrate the splendid history and culture of Xanadu.
The gold saddles on display.
The four great god beasts
Add-on
Xanadu Travel Guide
Xanadu Sites Museum
Jinlianchuan Grassland
Wulanbutong Grassland
Asihatu Stone Forest
Gong Geer Grassland
Duolun Travel Guide
How to visit Asihatu Stone Forest
Xi Wuzhumuqin Grassland
Top 10 Attractions in Chifeng
Hassle-Free Private Tour to Visit Xanadu and other parts of Inner Mongolia
If you don’t want go the daunting do-it-yourself-route and prefer an organized hassle-free private tour to visit Xanadu and other parts of Inner Mongolia, no worry and we have the following options:
3 Day Beijing Shangdu (Xanadu) Tour
4-Day Beijing Xilinglo Glassland Shangdu Mongolia Culture Tour
Inner Mongolia Tour
Mid-Inner Mongolia Tour (Hohhot, Baotou, Ordos)
East Inner Mongolia Tour (Xanadu,Wulan Butong, Xilinhot, Chifeng)
Northeast Inner Mongolia Tour (Hulunbuir)
West Inner Mongolia Tour (Alashan “Alxa” League)
Hohhot Tour
Hohhot Highlights & Grassland 3 Day Tour
Hohhot Highlights & Grassland 2 Day Tour
Further Readings
Top Places to Visit in Inner Mongolia
Top 10 Attractions in Hohhot
Best Time to Visit Hohhot
Meidaizhao Temple
How to go to Hohhot from Beijing
Top Souvenirs in Hohhot
Hohhot Taxi: Hohhot Taxi Fares, Tips and Phones
Baotou Taxi: Baotou Taxi Fares, Tips and Phones
Ordos Taxi: Ordos taxi Fares, Tips and Phones
What to see in Hohhot, what to do in Hohhot
Top 10 Attractions in Alxa League
Heicheng Historic Site in Ejin Banner (Tips, Photos & Map)
Guai Shu Lin in Ejin Banner, Inner Mongolia (Tips, Photos & Map)
Populus Forest in Ejin Banner (Tips, Photos & Map)
Badain Jaran Desert (Tips, Photos & Map)
Sunrise Glow over Hulunbuir Grassland
Top 10 Places for Photography in Hulunbuir
How to visit Hulunbuir Grassland
Top 10 Attractions in Hulunbuir
Hulun Lake Travel Tips
World Anti-fascist War Hailar Memorial Park
Road Trip from Ergun to Linjiang Village
Ergun Travel Guide
Aoluguya Travel Guide
Moerdaoga Travel Guide
Shiwei Travel Tips
Wusu Langzi Lake （Tips, Photos & Map)
Dujuan Lake in Aershan National Forest Park
Beihu Park Skyline at Night in Manzhouli
Night View of Manzhouli City
Architecture of Manzhouli
Top 10 Attractions in Manzhouli
Any questions, just drop a line.
what are the opening days and times of xanadu relic site and site museum?
Dear andrew mccarthy,
Summer is the best time to visit xanadu relic site and site museum. Few people will visit the two places from November through April next year since it is very cold out there. probably they are shut down in winter season.
Is the Museum open in October, what days and what are the museum hours?
Dear Anrea,
Not sure whether it will be open in October since few people will visit the museum in October because it is cold in October, a tourist low season.