The
Dunhuang Folk Custom Museum is a villa-styled museum to exhibit the folk arts and customs of the Northwest China. It was constructed by raising money from non-governmental channels. The museum covers an area of 10 Chinese mu, specifically over 4,300 square meters in construction. Lying in the west of the memorial arch of the Crescent Moon Spring, it is one of the spots for sightseeing in the Mingsha Mountain and Crescent Moon Spring scenic areas.
The museum is constructed in the traditionally local castle-style capable of preventing the attack of thieves, bandits, wind and sand. The layout is a walled compound, a style most popular in the Dunhuang residential constructions. The museum is simple but elegant in style. The wooden structure is exquisitely carved; the houses are bright and broad, with all kinds of simple furniture. It is an important place to specifically display the cultural life and residential construction of Dunhuang. In the museum, there are about over 20 kinds of exhibition items to display the local folk art, such as marriage and funeral ceremony, ancestor worshiping ceremonies, birthday celebration, religious belief, festivals, food, cloth, shelter, earthen wares, games and contests, farming, daily life, calligraphy and paintings by famous men of letters, jewelry, embroidery art, etc.
The documents about folk customs in Dunhuang cover a long-standing history. Simple and rich in content, it bears a strong interest of knowledge and entertainment. Though the history belongs to the past, people can still get an idea about the history, about how people in Dunhuang lived, labored, thought and what their folk customs are, simply from this museum.
During the period from Dragon Boat Festival to the Mid-Autumn Festival, entertainment shows with the characteristic of northwest China are staged in the ancient-styled theater of the museum from 20:00-22:00. the classical Dunhuang music and the folk dances will bring you to the fairyland, refreshed and relaxed. On every Tuesday and Saturday, visitors can even have the chance to appreciate the traditional
Shanxi opera.
The Folk Custom Museum warmly welcomes visitors from home and abroad to appreciate the excellent performance and to have a feeling about the ancient and simple customs.
