China National Silk Museum

Silk cocoon  Pictures

Situated at the southern bank of the West Lake, in Hangzhou City of Zhejiang Province, China National Silk Museum is the first state-level professional silk museum in the country as well as the biggest of its kind throughout the world. It opened to the public in 1992 and since 2004 people can visit it for free.

The museum includes Silk Road Gallery, Fashion Gallery, Weaving Gallery, Conservation Gallery, Collection Hall, Brocade Hall.
 The Silk Road Gallery of China National Silk Museum shows the history and culture of Chinese silk and Silk Road. China is the earliest country that engaged in sericulture, filature and making clothes with silk. Here you can enjoy many gorgeous silk relics discovered along the ancient Silk Road. Having gone through 5,000 years, those silk products can still leave you a strong impression.
 This part of China National Silk Museum is really enjoyable, presenting plenty of both traditional and western silk costumes. Besides folk clothes in ancient China, the imperial robe is also on show. Those modern-style silk dresses show the results of our learning from western culture.
 Weaving Gallery tells people how to dye and weave silk and the scientific theory of it. There are also weavers showing the whole process. Tourists are welcome to participate in the activity and do it themselves.

Stepping further into the China National Silk Museum, you will see Conservation Gallery. It presents the amazing skills to restore the silk relics.
 The Brocade Hall is a leisure place inside the museum, providing food, drinks, films, and some books. 
In the Collection Hall of China National Silk Museum, you can find some precious silk products.

Old textile machine

Silk imperial robe

Clay figurines in silk clothing

China National Silk Museum is a museum equipped with modern facilities and is dedicated to providing convenience for tourists. It offers free guide, free audio guide, free pamphlets on silk information, and even free wheelchairs for the disabled. People can also choose their favorite silk goods in the museum shop and relax in the teahouse.
 Take bus no. 12, 31, 42, 87 or 133, and get off at Silk Museum Station.
Hangzhou Bus / Metro Search