Museum+ Night at the Terracotta Warriors Exhibition
A special Chinese culture night in Budapest
If you are in Budapest on March 11 and looking for something truly unique to do in the evening, head to the Museum of Fine Arts (Szépművészeti Múzeum) for a special Museum+ night built around the blockbuster exhibition The Civilization of the Qin and Han Dynasties – The First Chinese Emperor’s Terracotta Warriors. This one-night event comes with extended opening hours, live performances, creative workshops, and tastings, turning your museum visit into a full cultural experience with a Chinese twist.
Terracotta warriors and a vibrant evening atmosphere
The highlight of the night is the spectacular exhibition of the famous terracotta warriors of China’s first emperor, presented with more than 150 archaeological objects from the Qin and Han dynasties. You can join guided tours of the Guardians of Eternity – The First Chinese Emperor’s Terracotta Warriors exhibition, as well as other temporary shows and the museum’s permanent collections, all included in your Museum+ program ticket. Throughout the evening, English-friendly programs and visual performances make it easy to enjoy the experience even if you do not speak Hungarian.
The Museum of Fine Arts stays open from 17:00 with a dedicated Museum+ ticket, so you can explore the galleries at a relaxed pace, then dive into themed programs, music, and gastronomy. The full-price Museum+ ticket costs 8200 HUF, while the discounted ticket is 4400 HUF, and a limited number of tickets are also available on site on the evening of the event.
Dragon dances, lion dances, and Chinese martial arts
To bring Chinese traditions to life, the Renaissance Hall turns into a stage for impressive live performances. You can watch an authentic Chinese lion dance between 19:00 and 19:15, performed in a richly decorated lion costume symbolizing strength, courage, and protection against evil spirits. A little later, from 20:00 to 20:15, the dragon dance fills the hall with color and movement, with several dancers animating a long, undulating dragon figure, a traditional symbol of power, wisdom, and prosperity.
From 21:00 to 21:15, a Chinese martial arts demonstration introduces visitors to the worlds of kung fu and tai chi. You will see bare-handed forms, traditional weapon routines with swords and fans, and a meditative tai chi sequence that highlights harmony and inner energy. These short but dynamic shows make the evening feel like a festival, right in the heart of Budapest.
Traditional Chinese music in the Roman Hall
If you love live music, make sure to stop by the Roman Hall for concerts by Chinese guest students from the ELTE Institute of Arts Communication and Music at 19:30 and 20:30. Here you can listen to traditional Chinese melodies played on instruments such as the guzheng (Chinese zither) and bamboo flute. The acoustics and impressive setting of the Roman Hall make this concert a particularly atmospheric way to experience Chinese culture through sound.
Creative workshops: tea, calligraphy, knots, and fans
Throughout the evening, from 18:00 to 22:00, a series of workshops invites you to get hands-on with Chinese traditions. At the Chinese Tea House, teachers from the ELTE Confucius Institute guide you through the refined world of Chinese tea culture, showing traditional tools and rituals while you taste several types of tea. If you enjoy art and design, try the calligraphy workshop, where you can practice brush techniques, request a good luck inscription, or even receive your name written in Chinese on rice paper to take home as a personal souvenir.
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You can also learn Chinese knotting, a traditional decorative craft where a single cord is tied into complex patterns symbolizing luck, longevity, and happiness, and then join a Chinese fan-making workshop to create your own elegant fan decorated with motifs inspired by Chinese art. For something more playful, the stencil workshop lets you create quick, terracotta-warrior-themed artworks using simple templates, ideal even if you do not consider yourself especially skilled at drawing.
Snacks, wine, Chinese liqueur, and jazz in the Marble Hall
Between programs, you can take a break in the Marble Hall on the ground floor, where the Fine Art Bistro serves tasty snacks paired with a selection of Hungarian wines. For a more adventurous flavor, try the Chinese baijiu Luzhou Laojiao 1573 during a guided liqueur tasting session. This strong but refined drink, made from red sorghum and aged in historic fermentation pits, offers a memorable cultural and gastronomic experience.
The Marble Hall also hosts the Jazz Salon, where the Fine Arts Jazz Group, a well-known Budapest jazz quartet, performs evergreen tunes in different jazz styles. For this evening, they are joined by singer Róza Hárs as a special guest, creating a relaxed yet sophisticated musical backdrop for your night at the museum. It is a great spot to unwind, enjoy live music, and soak up the elegant atmosphere after exploring the exhibitions.
Inclusive guided tours and special programs
The Museum+ night also includes a wide range of guided tours in the temporary exhibitions and the permanent collection. You can join thematic tours of the terracotta warriors exhibition focusing on topics such as ancient Chinese thought, life in the afterlife, and the structure of the first clay army. There are also tours of other temporary shows, including one about the Great Wall of China and a graphic art exhibition through a mannerist lens, as well as a Bridgerton-inspired tour of 18th-century life, fashion, and society in the permanent galleries.
The museum places special emphasis on accessibility. There are dedicated guided programs for visitors who are deaf or hard of hearing, focusing on the rich symbolism of still life paintings, and tactile experiences for visitors with visual impairments, including a “Journey to the Acropolis” where ancient Greek temples and theatres are presented in a tangible way. Participation in the various programs is on a first-come, first-served basis, so it is worth arriving a little early to secure your spot.
Practical information for your visit
The Museum+ Terracotta Warriors night at the Museum of Fine Arts is an ideal evening program if you are visiting Budapest and looking for culture, live performances, and great food and drink all in one place. The event on March 11 starts from 17:00 with a special Museum+ program ticket, and you can stay until late evening enjoying exhibitions, shows, and workshops. The museum is located at Heroes’ Square on the Pest side of the city, easily reachable by metro line M1 (the yellow line), tram, or trolleybus.
Whether you are a fan of ancient history, Chinese culture, live jazz, or simply unforgettable city experiences, this one-night-only event offers a memorable addition to your Budapest itinerary and a chance to see the legendary terracotta warriors in a truly festive setting.