China National Silk Museum

On the southern bank of West Lake in Hangzhou, the China National Silk Museum traces the history, development, and culture of the silk industry in China, serving as a center for culture, tourism, and education.
The museum consists of various exhibition halls, including the Preface Hall, Relics Hall, Dyeing and Weaving Hall, and Modern Achievements Hall. The exhibits range from silk products from the Neolithic Age through to the Han, Tang, Song, Yuan, Ming, and Qing dynasties, right up to the present day.
The Preface Hall introduces the 5000-year-long history of silk in Chinese culture and demonstrates the history of the Silk Road, by which silk was spread abroad. In other sections, there are demonstrations showing the processes involved in silk production, from silkworms to weaving, printing, and dyeing.

Practical Info

To reach the museum, take a K12 or Y3 bus on Tourism Bus Line 3 and alight at Silk Museum Station. There is a teahouse and a souvenir shop within the museum grounds.