Nanjing Imperial Examination Museum （Southeast Gate） — Attraction in Nanjing City

I felt this place was a ripoff. Currently costing 50 yuan, you first enter a nice little plaza with a chair where a friend can take your photo sitting on it, a souvenir shop right at the entrance, and an initial small exhibit showing ancient brocard fabric and weapons. You then have a few funny looking statues to pose with, and then to the right is the museum per se. While the museum has a nice introduction to the Imperial University Examination system of the Ming era with several belongings of the students, the museum can be seen in less than 20 minutes. There really isn't anything to see here, it's mostly just the long hallway of my photo with the small exhibits (almost no English either), a stellae carved by farmers for gratitude that a local government official reduced taxes to stimulate the local economy and a small temple next to a restaurant at the exit. And that's pretty much it. Oh and a depressing large porcelain bowl with some goldfish inside. I did like the expos of the museum and stellar views of the Fuzimiao buildings on the river, but for 50 yuan, it was a real ripoff. I am not really sure if the photos of the other reviews are really of the same place, because I tried to wander everywhere and left after 20 minutes. Maybe I arrived very early and 98% of the exhibits were closed? I dunno, but considering the hefty price tag and availability of much better museums in this city, you would probably do better...

This is the 'Final Examination Hall' during Ming and Qing Dynasties. Candidates passing county exams, provincial exams and eligible to take the final exam. The exams were taken place every 3 years in 2 subjects, Politics and Administration, and Martials and Military, each in different seasons of the year. Candidates with highest scores would be delegated as officials to counties, provinces based on their exam results. Subjected to their performance they would be promoted step by step to Central,or... fired. The system first start in Qin/ Han Dynasties, and China is still using the similar system nowadays. The museum has 2 sections, South and North, each require separate tickets, or a combo of 2 for RMB50 ($7.00), pre-book online or at...

A very well layout museum giving the conception of examination system in China that was ahead of time and how the rest of the world followed. One needs at least 3-4 hours to see and understand the themed displays. A very informative session and...