MK socks world's first on-site museum within an -airport was unveiled at the T5 terminal at Xi'an Xianyang International Airport Photo: VCG" src="https://www.globaltimes.cn/Portals/0/attachment/2025/2025-02-20/20f7ebe6-8baf-4857-9a0f-ce3378ce02ef.jpeg" />

The world's first on-site museum within an -airport was unveiled at the T5 terminal at Xi'an Xianyang International Airport Photo: VCG

The world's first on-site museum within an ­airport was unveiled at the T5 terminal at Xi'an Xianyang International Airport, which officially began operations on Thursday in Northwest ­China's Shaanxi Province, a staff member with the airport surnamed Chen told the Global Times.

The West Airport Museum will open for online reservations on Sunday and officially open to the public on February 26. 

Visitors can make the reservations on the official WeChat account of the China West Airport Group and tour the museum regardless of whether they are flying or not, Chen told the Global Times on Thursday. 

Covering a total area of 6,400 square meters, the museum was modeled after Tang Dynasty (618-907) architecture. It focuses on showcasing cultural relics unearthed during archaeological excavations throughout the construction of the airport. 

The museum aims to highlight the process of cultural relics protection and archaeological discoveries during the airport's construction, as well as the significance of Shaanxi as the starting point of the ancient Silk Road and the historical grandeur of ancient Chang'an, according to a report by the Shaanxi Provincial Cultural Heritage Bureau on Thursday.

"Looking at major airports around the world, the Xi'an airport is unique in that it mainly showcases archaeological relics unearthed during the airport's own construction and tells profound ­historical stories. It undoubtedly possesses a distinct inherent advantage," said Hou Chao, a member of the preparation team for the museum.

Xi'an, also known as Chang'an in ancient times, has a history stretching back over 3,100 years. Boasting world-famous sites such as the Terracotta Warriors, Xi'an served as the Chinese capital for 13 dynasties over the course of China's history. In its golden era during the Tang Dynasty, it emerged as a metropolis with a population of more than 1 million people.

The museum's main exhibition hall features over 120 cultural relics unearthed during archaeological excavations conducted during the construction of the airport. 

One of the highlights is the national first-class cultural relic, the "Qin Gong Bell," a large percussion instrument from the Spring and Autumn Period (770BC-476BC) over 2,700 years ago. ­Inscribed with 135 characters, it represents a stirring "history of the Qin people's founding endeavors."

The inscriptions on the bell mentions the governance achievements of several Qin reigns, which can supplement and revise historical records about the Qin state. It holds significant reference value for the study of Qin history, according to the bureau.

In addition, the airport has specially set up a Shaanxi intangible cultural heritage creative experience zone where passengers can gain first-hand experience of the charm of traditional Shaanxi handicrafts, including shadow puppetry, paper-cutting, and Lantian jade carving.

In the future, the museum will continuously improve its exhibition design and incorporate advanced technologies such as AR relic displays, digital humans, and virtual reality. These innovations will create an immersive digital experience of ancient Chang'an, "recreating" the ancient capital for visitors.