Hangzhou Museums | 10 Best Museums in Hangzhou

Museums are the best history collectors and tellers. Hangzhou, with a long history of over 2,200 years, is rich in museums. Here, you can find over 130 museums of different aspects, including museums about its world-class Longjing Tea, West Lake, silk, Liangzhu Culture, etc. Which are the bests? This Hangzhou Museums Guide will tell you the answers. Here, we list the 10 Best Museums in Hangzhou, including China National Tea Museum, China National Silk Museum, Hu Qin Yu Tang Chinese Medicine Museum, Zhejiang Provincial Museum, Liangzhu Museum, Hangzhou Arts and Crafts Museum, Hangzhou Cuisine Museum, etc.

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Top 1: China National Tea Museum

Being the hometown of China's first-class Dragon Well Tea (Longjing Tea), Hangzhou certainly has a lot about tea and tea culture to tell. China National Tea Museum, the only museum in China that specialized in tea and tea culture, is also located in this city. This wonderful museum is a must-visit for all tea fans. It not only introduces the visitors about Dragon Well Tea, but also over one hundred kinds of other popular teas in China, including Da Hong Pao Tea, Pu'er Tea, Maofeng Tea, etc. Visitors can also taste these various kinds of teas there. Surrounded by many tea plantations with lush Longjing Tea Trees, the China National Tea Museum also allows the visitors to enjoy the fun of hiking and picking tea leaves by themselves. Besides, the museum also offers fantastic tea ceremonies and performances.

Recommended Visiting Hours: 2 hours around

Opening Time: 9:00 - 16:30 (closed on Monday)

Location: Xihu District, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China (中国茶叶博物馆,浙江省杭州市西湖区)

Recommended Hangzhou Tour with China National Tea Museum: ✔ 2 Days Essence of Hangzhou Tour

Learn Tea Culture at China National Tea Museum

Learn Tea Culture at China National Tea Museum

Watch the Master Drying Tea with Their Own Hands

Watch the Master Drying Tea with Their Own Hands

Top 2: China National Silk Museum

China National Silk Museum located on the southern shore of the West Lake is the largest silk museum in the world. It shows visitors the history and culture about silk and the Silk Road over 5,000 years. The exhibits of China National Silk Museum include tradition looms, exquisite Chinese-styled costumes from 1920s to 2010s, Western-styled fashions during the past 400 years, vivid models that recreate the process of making silk, and cherished royal silk treasures and other archaeological objects. Without exaggeration, visitors can learn the most comprehensive story about silk and the Silk Road there.

There are also small shopping malls settled at the museum, where visitors can buy beautiful silk products they prefer.

Recommended Visiting Hours: 2 hours around

Opening Time: 09:00~17:00 on Tuesday to Sunday and 12:00~17:00 on Monday

Location: No.73-1, Yuhuangshan Road, Shangcheng District, Hangzhou (中国丝绸博物馆,浙江省杭州市西湖区玉皇山路73-1号)

Recommended Hangzhou Tour with China National Silk Museum: ✔ 2 Days Picturesque Hangzhou and Xitang Water Town Tour

China National Silk Museum

China National Silk Museum

Exquisite Chinese-styled Costumes at China National Silk Museum

Exquisite Chinese-styled Costumes at China National Silk Museum

Top 3: Hu Qing Yu Tang Chinese Medicine Museum

Hu Qing Yu Tang Chinese Medicine Museum is located on Hefang Street next to the southeastern shore of the West Lake. It is the only museum in China that specialized in Chinese medicines. The museum is consisted of 5 parts, including the exhibition hall, Chinese medicine manual workshop, health care clinic, business hall and medicinal food hall. A visit to Hu Qing Yu Tang Chinese Medicine Museum can not only see a myriad of Chinese herbs and concoctions, but also admire well-kept exquisite Jiangnan Architecture Clusters.

Recommended Visiting Hours: 1 hour around

Opening Time: 08:30~17:00

Location: No.95, Dajing Alley, Shangcheng District, Hangzhou (胡庆余堂,浙江省杭州市上城区大井巷95号)

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Hu Qing Yu Tang Chinese Medicine Museum

Hu Qing Yu Tang Chinese Medicine Museum

Top 4: Zhejiang Provincial Museum

Zhejiang Provincial Museum, also known as Zhejiang West Lake Museum, is the largest-scaled and most comprehensive museum in the whole Zhejiang Province. It has two branches. One is located next to Gushan Park at the West Lake, while the other one is located on the east bank of the Gran Jing-Hang Canal. The both two branches are well worth a visit. They houses a huge collection of rare historical relics and specimens, including remains of Hemudu Culture, jade articles of Liangzhu Culture, Buddhist relics of the Five Dynasties and the Song Dynasty, gold and silver coins of the Southern Song Dynasty, etc. Specially, the Wulin Branch of Zhejiang Provincial Museum displays interesting red furniture related to the traditional wedding customs in east Zhejiang Province.

Recommended Visiting Hours: 2 hours around

Opening Time: 9:00~17:00 (closed on Monday)

Location (Gushan Branch): No 25, Gushan Road, Xihu District, Hangzhou (浙江省博物馆孤山馆区,杭州市西湖区孤山路25号)

Location (Wulin Branch): No. 29, Zone E, West Lake Culture Plaza, Zhongshanbei Road, Xiachengd District, Hangzhou (浙江省博物馆武林馆区,杭州市下城区中山北路西湖文化广场e区29号)

Zhejiang Provincial Museum

Zhejiang Provincial Museum

Zhejiang Provincial Museum

Red Furniture Related to the Traditional Wedding Customs Displayed at Zhejiang Provincial Museum (Wulin Branch)

Top 5: Hangzhou Arts & Crafts Museum Cluster

Hangzhou has a long history of arts and crafts. The city even enjoys a reputation of "City of Handicrafts". And Hangzhou Arts and Crats Museum Cluster, which is composed of 4 museums, including Hangzhou Arts and Crafts Museum, China Umbrella Museum, China Knives, Scissors and Swords and China Fan Museum, offers staggering kinds of art and craft works and is one of the best places to savor this city's art atmosphere. At these museums, you will meet with dizzying carvings, ceramics, embroiders, Chinese umbrellas, fans, knits, etc. There are also over 30 studios opened by masters. When they are creating beautiful art works, you are allowed to admire their superb art skills by their side.

Next to the China Fan Museum, there is also a Workmanship Demonstration Pavilion, where visitors can pay a slight fee to take interesting art classes, like parasol painting class, round fan painting classes, paper folding classes, embroidery class, etc.

Recommended Visiting Hours: 1 hour around

Opening Time: 9:00~16:30 (closed on Monday)

Location: Qiaoxi Historical and Cultural Block, Gongshu District, Hangzhou (杭州工艺美术博物馆,杭州市拱墅区桥西历史文化街区)

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Hangzhou Arts & Crafts Museum

Hangzhou Arts & Crafts Museum

Workmanship Demonstration Pavilion

Workmanship Demonstration Pavilion

Top 6: The Grand Jing-Hang Canal Museum

The Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal, or called Jing-Hang Grand Canal or Grand Canal for short, is the earliest excavated and longest artificial canal in the world. In a sense, one cannot understand the Chinese history without knowing the Grand Canal. This significant canal connecting Yuhang (today's Hangzhou) and Zhu County (today's Beijing) used to be a vital condition for dynasty survival, national unity and economic prosperity. Besides, it is a great evidence of the wisdom of Chinese people.

The Grand Jing-Hang Canal Museum is located next to the Grand Canal, adjacent to the old southern end of the canal - Gongchen Bridge. As its name suggests, the museum has a variety of introductions about the canal. In addition to its rich historical relics and documents, the museum also features a unique design. There is a mini canal designed at the floor, with clear glasses paved that allow the visitors to walk on them. When you strolling around the exhibition hall, you will feel like you are sailing on the canal. What a unique experience!

Recommended Visiting Hours: 1 hour around

Opening Time: 9:00~16:30 (closed on Monday)

Location: No.1, Yunhe Culture Square, 34 Jinhua Road, Gongshu District, Hangzhou (京杭大运河博物馆,杭州市拱墅区金华路34号运河文化广场1号)

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Grand Jing-Hang Canal Museum

Grand Jing-Hang Canal Museum

Top 7: Liangzhu Museum

The Liangzhu Culture can be dated back to 4,300~5,300 years ago, which is a strong proof of the five thousand years of Chinese civilization. It is also well known for its vast legacy of jade objects and black-based and black-burnished pottery, which are considered some of the finest in the world. In July 2019, the Archaeological Ruins of Liangzhu City were inscribed to the UNESCO World Cultural Heritage List.

The Liangzhu Museum, which is less than 4 kilometers away from the ruin site, is the best window to trace the Liangzhu history. It exhibits over 600 pieces of precious jade, pottery and lacquered wood ware unearthed from the Archaeological Ruins of Liangzhu City. History lovers should never miss it!

Recommended Visiting Hours: 1 hour around

Opening Time: 9:00~16:30 (closed on Monday)

Location: No.1, Meilizhou Road, Yuhang District, Hangzhou (良渚博物馆,杭州市余杭区美丽洲路1号)

Liangzhu Museum

Liangzhu Museum

Top 8: Hangzhou Cuisine Museum

Hangzhou Cuisine is a major branch of Zhejiang Cuisine, which is one of the Eight Famous Cuisines in China.

Hangzhou Cuisine Museum is currently the largest museum of local cuisine in China! It introduces different kinds of Hangzhou dishes and snacks in different dynasties in China, especially in the prosperous Southern Song Dynasty (1127~1279). Here, visitors can learn the history and culture of Hangzhou Cuisine and Food and feast the eyes with vivid models of famous dishes and snacks in Hangzhou, like Braised Dongpo Pork, West Lake Fish in Vinegar Gravy, etc. Besides, visitors can order meals and enjoy dinning at the museum!

Recommended Visiting Hours: 1 hour around

Opening Time: 10:00~17:00 (closed on Monday)

Location: Jiangyangfan Ecological Park, No.9, Huyu Road, Shangcheng District, Hangzhou (中国杭帮菜博物馆,浙江省杭州市上城区虎玉路9号江洋畈生态公园内)

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Hangzhou Cuisine Museum

Hangzhou Cuisine Museum

Top 9: Hangzhou Southern Song Dynasty Guan Kiln Museum

Going further south for about 1.5 kilometers around from China National Silk Museum there is also an important museum named Hangzhou Southern Song Dynasty Guan Kiln Museum, which is China's first ceramic museum that built on the basis of an ancient kiln site. "Guan" means "official" in Chinese. Guan Kiln, as its name implies, is a kiln that creates imperial ceramics. The porcelain making in Chinese culture can be traced back to 2,000 years ago, while it is said that in Southern Song Dynasty (1127~1279) such a tradition reached its peak. The Southern Song Dynasty Guan Kiln Museum is such a museum that will trace the pottery and porcelain making and burning scenes during the Southern Song Dynasty. The museum also restored a set of tools and equipment that allows you to enjoy the fun of making antique porcelain by your own hand!

Recommended Visiting Hours: 1 hour around

Opening Time: 9:30~16:30 (closed on Monday)

Location: No.60, Nanfu Road, Shangcheng District, Hangzhou (南宋官窑博物馆,杭州市上城区南复路60号)

Hangzhou Southern Song Dynasty Guan Kiln Museum

Hangzhou Southern Song Dynasty Guan Kiln Museum

Top 10: Hangzhou Museum

Hangzhou Museum, or formerly known as Hangzhou History Museum, is one of the most significant museums to collect, exhibit, and study the history of Hangzhou City. Here, visitors will find lots of interesting exhibits and vivid miniature models that will take you travel back to the ancient Hangzhou. The key highlights of the museum include a 2000-year-old crystal glass, which was magically made of one whole crystal.

Hangzhou Museum is only 400 meters away from the Hu Qing Yu Tang Chinese Medicine Museum on Hefang Street. If you are heading to visit Hefang Street, you are highly suggested to visit the Hangzhou Museum together.

Recommended Visiting Hours: 1 hour around

Opening Time: 9:30~17:00 (closed on Monday)

Location: No.18 Liangdao Mountain, Shangcheng District, Hangzhou (杭州博物馆,浙江省杭州市上城区粮道山18号)

Hangzhou Museum

Hangzhou Museum

How to Plan a Hangzhou Tour

Things to Do in Hangzhou: West Lake, Lingyin Temple, Longjing tea Plantation, Hefang Street, Xixi National Wetland Park, China National Tea Museum, China National Silk Museum…

How to Get to Hangzhou: International flights from Singapore (5 hrs.), Seoul (6.5 hrs.), etc., domestic flights from Guangzhou (2 hrs.), Beijing (2 hrs.), etc., or high speed trains from Shanghai (1~2 hrs.), Suzhou (1.5~3 hrs.), Huangshan (1.5~2 hrs.), etc.

Best Time to Visit Hangzhou: all year around

Usually, visitors spend 2 days around to enjoy a classic Hangzhou tour to visit the West Lake Scenic Area, including the amazing West Lake, Lingyin Temple, Longjing Tea Plantations, etc. If you want an in-depth Hangzhou tour, you can also pay another half day or so to visit Xixi National Wetland Park, one day around to Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal, or one day or so to Thousand Islands Lake, etc. Check all Hangzhou Tours >>

☛ 2 Days Essence of Hangzhou Tour

☛ 3 Days Classic Hangzhou Tour Plus Tea Plantation Exploration

Also, you can spend 1 day to take a side trip to the nearby water towns like Wuzhen and Xitang in Jiaxing, 2~3 days to Putuoshan - one of the four sacred Buddhist Mountains in China, or 1 day to the popular Nanxun Old Town in Huzhou. Check more about Zhejiang Tours >>

☛ 3 Days Best Hangzhou Tour with Wuzhen Water Town

Besides, compared with just travelling Hangzhou, most of the visitors prefer to travel the metropolis Shanghai, Suzhou Gardens and Hangzhou Lakes in One Go! Such an amazing tour will take 5~6 days.

☛ 3 Days Hangzhou & Suzhou Beauty Tour by High Speed Train

☛ 5 Days Shanghai Hangzhou Suzhou Highlights Tour

Some visitors also ride a high speed train to Huangshan to visit the world-famous Yellow Mountain. A Hangzhou Huangshan tour needs about 5 days around.

☛ 5 Days Yellow Mountain Tour from Hangzhou

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Hangzhou West Lake Hangzhou West Lake Summer Sightseeing Our Customers visited Meijia Dock Longjing Tea Plantation, Hangzhou Our Customers visited Meijia Dock Longjing Tea Plantation, Hangzhou

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Since 2012, we China Discovery have helped numerous customers to visit Hangzhou and surroundings. With our fully-inclusive private tour packages, all of our customers enjoyed their trips to the West Lake, Lingyin Temple, etc. Some of them kindly shared their precious photos and stories about their Hangzhou journey, just get inspired now.

"Impression Show is a must see when visiting Hangzhou…" - shared by Nguyen (Read her entire travel story: The Pursuit of Natural Beauty with the Beloved one - 14 Days Beautiful China Exploring Tour)

"This last night in Hangzhou led us to explore a different side of West Lake, vastly changing our erstwhile bland impression of the famed tourist site…" - shared by CS from Singapore (Read her entire travel story: Delightful Journey to Poetic Jiangnan Area)

Besides the wonderful travel stories, many customers who visited Hangzhou with China Discovery also send us their first-hand feedbacks about their trip, feel free to read the Hangzhou Reviews and learn what they say about their experience. If you want to start your Hangzhou tour now, don't hesitate to contact us.

Travel Hangzhou Museums with China Discovery

Want to add some interesting museums into your Hangzhou tour but get troubles to plan your day-by-day itinerary? Travel with China Discovery and let our professional travel consultant help you. We will carefully customize a perfect tour for you according to your budget, interests, group size, time and every other need. Our English-speaking guide will accompany you all the way, arranging the best visiting routes and introducing the interesting history and culture of the relics in the museums for you. Our local driver will escort you to the museum and other tourist sites in Hangzhou from the airport/train station/hotel in ease and convenience. And you can just enjoy your leisure vacation with your friends or family.

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