China National Silk Museum in Hangzhou

Why is China National Silk Museum So Special?

China National Silk Museum is one of the first state-level museums in China and one of the largest textile and costume museums in the world. It was founded and opened first in February 26th, 1992, covering an area of 50,000 square meters, and was reopened in September 2016 after its renovation, with a building area of 23,000 square meters, including the Silk Road Gallery, Intangible Culture Gallery, Textile Conservation Gallery, Chinese Fashion Gallery, Western Fashion Gallery and Xinyou Archives Gallery. Now it owns collections of not only ancient Chinese silks, but also textiles with other fibers, and costumes from all over the world.

Where is China National Silk Museum

Near the West Lake in Hangzhou, a world heritage on UNESCO’s list, is one of the first state-level museums in China and one of the largest textile and costume museums in the world. The address in Chinese is 浙江省杭州市玉皇山路73-1号. The museum lies about 5 km from Hangzhou Railway Station. 
About 1.2 kilometers from West Lake
About 2 kilometers from Su Causeway & Leifeng Pagoda
About 5.2 kilometers from Broken Bridge & Bai Causeway
About 3 kilometers from Hefang Street
About 8 kilometers from Liuhe Pagoda

How to Get to China National Silk Museum

Travel with China Dragon Tours (top recommended)

If you want to get rid of hustle of transportation and troublesome navigation, you can book a private tour package which covers visiting, dining and transfer from us. Our local tour guide and driver will escort you to China National Silk Museum with speed and convenience, and take care of all the details. You just need to focus on travel.

Independent Travel

For independent travelers you can 

Independent travelers can take taxi, bus, or bicycle to reach China National Silk Museum. If you take taxi from your hotel, it may take 15 minutes. Also, you can take bus No. 4, 12, 42, 51, 52, 87, 133, 334, Y6, Y2 and more to stop at Silk Museum station. If you take a bike to cycle around West Lake and its nearby attraction, you can add China National Silk Museum into your travel list which it takes about 8 minutes from Su Causeway and Leifeng Pagoda Scenic Area to China National Silk Museum.

Main Attractions in China National Silk Museum

Preface Hall

This hall exhibits the history of silk and silk culture, which dates back to about 3,000 years ago. It exhibits evidence about the Silk Road and evidence that China was the first country to engage in sericulture and making of clothes from silk.

Relics Hall

The hall exhibits preserved ancient silk relics from all dynasties of ancient China. An example of the exhibited relics is the oldest silk ever discovered in the country, which is a piece of fragmentary brocade that dates back 5,630 years. The hall also exhibits pictures that explain Chinese silk culture. The relics are sourced from various districts around China. Examples include relics excavated along the Silk Road. Other relics were excavated from grasslands in the northern regions and south of the Yangtze.

Costume Hall

The hall combines silk costumes with miniatures of garment character models, drawing boards, and symbolically restored scenes. It vividly interprets the function of silk in the ancient society, and displays the daily-use embroideries and fine royal clothes, such as coats, skirts and gowns popular between the Warring States Period and the Qing Dynasty, mending clothes and dragon robes.

Useful Travel Tips

1. Free Docent Appointment
   Travelers can make a reservation for free explanation about this silk museum. It is available from Monday (12:00~17:00) to Sunday (09:00~17:00). 
2. Audio Guide Device
   The museum provides travelers with digital audio tour for free. Both Chinese and English languages are available. Travelers should show your ID card or passport card and fill the registration form of audio tour use. 200 RMB of guarantee deposit is needed for each device and it would be returned after the device returned in its original condition.

Nearby Attractions

• China National Tea Museum in Hangzhou
• Xixi National Wetland Park in Hangzhou
• Thousand Islets Lake (Qiandaohu Lake) in Hangzhou
• Hefang Street in Hangzhou
• West Lake
• Longjing Tea Village in Hangzhou

Edited by Emily Wang/王海玲