This fabulous museum had a massive and lavish expansion in 2013 with a brand new, dramatically modern exhibition block added next to its traditional, temple-style hall. All sleekly designed with lashings of marble and wood, alluring displays abound: from Jiāngsū landscape painting, ancient calligraphy (including sutra scrolls from Dūnhuáng) to sculpture (the Ming-dynasty carved wood Guanyin beneath the atrium is gorgeous) and much more. Look out for two magnificent Han-dynasty jade burial suits among treasures from a royal mausoleum.
On the 3rd floor, there's a spectacular selection of gold and copper Tibetan Buddha statues that belonged to the Qing emperors, as well as some extravagant clocks. Ceramics and Qing-dynasty furnishings round out a stunning collection. Several exhibition halls are temporary and will receive new collections down the line.
