A Treasure Hunt at the Zhejiang Provincial Museum: A Glimpse into a Century – A Cultural Feast Hidden in the Zhijiang Museum Area
The Zhejiang Provincial Museum's Zhijiang branch is a living encyclopedia of Zhejiang civilization. The museum features a "159" exhibition system: one general history exhibition of Zhejiang, five thematic exhibitions on Zhejiang culture, and nine experiential exhibitions to expand functionality. Ritual artifacts from the Liangzhu Kingdom, swords from the Yue Kingdom, the elegance of the Southern Song Dynasty, and the craftsmanship of the Ming and Qing Dynasties are all presented here, taking you closer to 10,000 years of Zhejiang history.
👍Collection Level: National Museum
✅Main Collections: First and Second Floors: General History Exhibition – 10,000 Years of Zhejiang
Organized chronologically, this exhibition presents the most representative cultural relics and civilizational imprints from various historical periods in Zhejiang. Highlights include: "The Qiliting Site in Changxing, Zhejiang, Evidence of Millions of Years of Human History in Zhejiang," "The Wannian Shangshan Culture: The Origin of Rice Agriculture in the World, the World's Earliest Painted Pottery, and China's Earliest Agricultural Settlement," "The Liangzhu Culture: The Emergence of Cities and the Initial Form of a State, and the World's Earliest Water Conservancy System, Evidence of 5,000 Years of Chinese Civilization," and "The Founding of the Communist Party of China in Nanhu, Jiaxing in 1921."
Third Floor: Historical and Cultural Exhibition Hall
Folklore Hall: The Beauty's Red Dowry—Traditional Wedding Customs and Dowry in the Ningbo-Shaoxing Plain
From the mid-Qing Dynasty to the Republic of China period, lavish wedding processions were popular in the Ningbo-Shaoxing Plain. A wide variety of red dowry furniture stretched for miles, known as the "Ten-Mile Red Dowry." This exhibition vividly recreates the wedding scene in the Ningbo-Shaoxing Plain, showcasing the joyous scene of the "bridal sedan chair procession," introducing the folk wedding customs of the Ningbo-Shaoxing region, and the dowry items that have been passed down to this day, depicting the life of a woman awaiting marriage, getting married, and becoming a wife and mother.
Fourth Floor: Calligraphy and Painting Exhibitions
Original "Dwelling in the Fuchun Mountains: Remaining Mountain" + Digital Scroll (Must See) and Guqin Art Museum
🌟Must-See Treasures:
❤Liangzhu Jade Cong King
This is a national treasure among national treasures and a pinnacle symbol of Liangzhu culture. Its massive size and exquisite decorations, with a central circular hole corresponding to the concept of "round heaven" and an outer square outline symbolizing "square earth," perfectly embody the ancient Chinese cosmology of a round heaven and a square earth. Most astonishing are the hair-thin anthropomorphic and animal-face patterns on its surface. How did our ancestors carve such delicate lines 5,000 years ago without metal tools? It remains a mystery. Standing before it, you can directly feel the weight and awe of five thousand years of Chinese civilization.
❤The Sword of King Goujian of Yue
A "King's Sword" that still gleams coldly after more than two thousand years. This is the sword of the son of King Goujian of Yue. The blade is inlaid with turquoise, and the bird-and-insect script inscription is clear and powerful. Even the silk binding on the scabbard is perfectly preserved. It not only represents the highest level of bronze casting craftsmanship in the Wu and Yue regions, but also seems like a spiritual symbol of an ancient warrior; even through the glass, one can feel its sharp edge and domineering aura.
❤Republic of China Era Craftsmanship Sedan Chair
This is undoubtedly the most "lively" and eye-catching treasure in the exhibition hall, a masterpiece of late Qing Dynasty and early Republic of China wood carving craftsmanship. Known as the "Number One Sedan Chair in the World," it is constructed from thousands of components joined together using mortise and tenon joints. The entire chair is covered with carvings of figures, dragons, phoenixes, flowers, and birds, depicting hundreds of figures with diverse expressions. Imagine the grand and solemn scene of an ancient bride sitting in such a magnificent, miniature palace-like sedan chair—every stroke of the knife is imbued with the joy and auspiciousness of bygone eras.
❤Gilded Silver Ashoka Stupa
This is a sacred object from the Five Dynasties period of the Wuyue Kingdom, and a physical testament to the practice of burying Buddha's relics. It is entirely made of hammered and gilded silver, with a solemn and beautiful design. The exquisite reliefs on the stupa fully depict the Jataka tales of the Buddha. Inside, a golden coffin once housed Buddha's bone relics. Touching its texture, one can almost hear the lingering echoes of a thousand years of Buddhist teachings, inspiring a solemn sense of awe.
❤ *Dwelling in the Fuchun Mountains - Remaining Mountain*
This is a unique masterpiece that has captivated the art world, a celebrated story in the history of painting and calligraphy. Originally a long scroll painted by Huang Gongwang in his later years, it was tragically destroyed by fire, splitting in two. The section of "Remaining Mountain" presented before you today, though only a corner of the entire scroll, uses minimalist brushstrokes to perfectly capture the tranquility, vastness, and serenity of the banks of the Fuchun River. Standing before the painting, one can almost hear the flowing river and feel the transcendent peace and serenity of the painter's later years, a place where he found solace in nature.
❤ Tang Dynasty Qin (Colorful Phoenix Singing in Qishan)
This is a unique Tang Dynasty qin with a history of 1300 years, universally recognized as a peerless masterpiece. Made by the Tang Dynasty qin master Lei Wei, its body is simple and elegant, its surface covered with "ice crackle" patterns resembling the marks of time. Even more precious is the inscription inside the instrument, a testament to its thousand-year history. When fingertips brush the strings, the clear, resonant tone, like metal and stone, seems to transport you back to the glorious Tang Dynasty, captivating the senses.
❤ "Two Birds Facing the Sun" Ivory Carving
This iconic national treasure of the Hemudu Culture captures the romantic imagination of our ancestors 7,000 years ago. It is a butterfly-shaped piece carved from ivory, with a five-concentric circle "sunrise" carved in the center, flanked by two birds with heads held high and wings outstretched. The lines are fluid, the polished surface glossy, and the composition symmetrical yet full of vitality. This is not only a beautiful work of art, but also an ancient totem epic, inspiring awe at the remarkable wisdom and yearning for light of our ancient ancestors.
🕙Opening Hours:
Closed on Mondays. Open as usual on public holidays; closing time will be extended to the first day after the holiday. Open Tuesday through Sunday, 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM. Last entry at 4:30 PM; closing time 5:00 PM.
📍Address:
The Zhejiang Provincial Museum (Zhijiang Branch) is located at the Zhijiang Cultural Center, intersection of Wenjing Road and Bibo Road, Xihu District, Hangzhou.
🚉Transportation:
Within Hangzhou city, take bus routes 324M/1499/500/1411/8514 to the Zhejiang Provincial Museum (Zhijiang Branch) stop/Bibo Road/Wenjing Road intersection stop; or take Metro Line 6 to the Zhijiang Cultural Center stop/Fenghua West Road stop.
💰Average Cost:
Free (except for special exhibitions). No reservation required for individuals; simply scan your ID card for entry.
Zhejiang Provincial Museum (Zhijiang Branch)