Xinjiang Geological and Mineral Museum
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 The Xinjiang Geological and Mineral Museum, located
at the City of Urumqi in Xinjiang, is a comprehensive
geological museum of provincial level in China.
It used to be the geological exhibition room of
Xinjiang Geological Bureau. In 1964, the name was
changed into Xinjiang Geological Exhibition Hall.
In 1979, the Exhibition Building was built. In 1982,
its name was changed into Xinjiang Geological and
Mineral Exhibition Hall. On October 1, 1984, it
was officially opened to the public. In August 1986,
it got the present name. |
The Silk Road exhibits have an array of tools, coins, jade, fabrics, pots and paintings all from the area. The most dramatic and interesting exhibits are the "Mummies of Urumqi" - ancient corpses preserved and found in the desert sands. The corpses include a baby who died around 3,800 years ago, still wrapped in swaddling as well as a couple who died at different periods but were found buried together. The most famous however, is the "Luolan Beauty", a corpse of a woman believed to have died in her 40s and be of Indo-European ethnicity. Discovered in 1980 in the riverbed of the Tieban in Loulan city, the corpse is believed to be around 4,000 years old. When found, she was still clutching a small purse and wore leather and fur sandals.
The minority cultures hall introduces tourists to the lifestyle and customs of 12 minority cultures including the Uighur, Kazakh, Russian, Mongol, Kirgis, Hui, Tajik , Tatar and Ozbeck people. It has life size models of a Uighur house and different types of yurts (cloth tents used in the grasslands by the Kazakhs, Kirghiz and Mongolians). There are also household objects, handicrafts, hunting tools, musical instruments and clothing on display.
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