The Museum of Fine Arts in Budapest will open a window onto ancient China in 2026 with The Guardians of Eternity, a deep-dive exhibition accompanied by a full slate of guided tours exploring the world of the first Chinese emperor and the legendary Terracotta Army guarding his tomb. Located at 1146 Budapest, District 14 – Zugló, 41 Dózsa György Road (Dózsa György út), the program brings to life the most thrilling chapters of Chinese culture and history while revealing the secrets behind Qin Shi Huang’s empire and the thousands of clay soldiers unearthed in the 20th century.
Through galleries packed with artifacts, visitors step into more than half a millennium of traditions, beliefs, and daily life. It’s not just about the emperor’s might and mausoleum; it’s also about the objects that sustained a civilization and the rituals that defined it. Tours run with tour-guide devices; receivers and headphones are picked up in the Marble Hall, with headsets disinfected after each use. Prefer your own earphones? Tell the staff in advance. Please arrive at least 20 minutes before your tour begins.
The program fee for standard guided tours is $4.10 per person, plus a valid exhibition ticket. Maximum group size: 18. Duration: 60 minutes.
Dates: Standard Guided Tours
– 2026.02.24
– 2026.02.27 – 2026.03.01
– 2026.03.03
– 2026.03.05 – 2026.03.08
– 2026.03.10
– 2026.03.12 – 2026.03.15
– 2026.03.17
Each session explores the emperor’s legacy, the terracotta formations, weaponry, and courtly protocols that stitched together a newly unified realm. Guides connect the dots between the Qin state’s sweeping reforms and the Han dynasty’s imperial afterlife traditions, highlighting how the dead were honored and protected—sometimes by whole battalions modeled in clay, each figure uniquely detailed from armor plates to hair knots.
Special Guest Tours: Fresh Angles, Hidden Stories
Invited experts and the exhibition’s organizers take the floor to share behind-the-scenes insights and personal perspectives on ancient China:
– 2026.02.25 – Behind the scenes of building the exhibition – led by exhibition organizers Zsuzsa Hudák and Bence Hidas
– 2026.03.04 – Ancient China in the present tense – led by intercultural consultant Gábor Holch
– 2026.04.15 – Behind the scenes of building the exhibition – Hudák and Hidas return
– 2026.04.29 – Birth of an empire – how was China formed? – led by China scholar Gergely Salát, head of the Chinese Department at Pázmány Péter Catholic University, Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences (PPKE BTK)
– 2026.05.13 – How to excavate an imperial tomb in China? Thoughts on archaeological methods through The Guardians of Eternity – led by archaeologist Dr. Krisztina Hoppál, head of Eötvös Loránd University’s (ELTE) Roman World and Far East Research Group
Full-price ticket: $22.60, including exhibition entry and the guided program. Discount ticket: $13.30 for visitors eligible for at least 50% off museum admission. Please arrive 20 minutes early. Tours use audio devices; headsets are collected in the Marble Hall and disinfected after use. You may use your own earphones—just let the team know.
Curator-Led Tours: Qin to Han, Up Close
Join curator Dr. Györgyi Fajcsák and co-curator Judit Bagi as they introduce one of the world’s most spectacular archaeological collections. Expect a brisk walk through the architecture of Qin power, daily routines under the first emperor, the organization of his domains, and the individually modeled warriors of the terracotta ranks—each with distinct features and roles in formation. They’ll also open the vault on the imperial tombs of the Qin and Han dynasties, revealing techniques, beliefs, and craftsmanship tied to the afterlife.
Dates:
– 2026.03.11 – Dr. Györgyi Fajcsák
– 2026.03.18 – Judit Bagi
– 2026.03.25 – Dr. Györgyi Fajcsák
– 2026.04.01 – Judit Bagi
Visitor info: Full-price ticket $22.60, including exhibition entry and tour. Discount ticket $13.30 for visitors with at least 50% admission eligibility. Arrive 20 minutes early. Tours use audio devices; pickup and sanitation as above.
