Suzhou Classic Silks

苏绸

The charm, beauty, and complexity of Suzhou can all be depicted through its Classic Silks, true pieces of art. Even the smallest pieces of silk and embroideries require incredible amounts of patience, knowledge, technique, and skill, all of which have been passed down from generation to generation, for centuries, earning Suzhou the position of China’s silk capital.

Throughout China’s Imperial past, Suzhou silk weavers have been associated with high-quality silk products, supplying silks to ancient royal families. By the 13th century, Suzhou was already the center of the profitable silk trade, attracting foreign explorers like Marco Polo.

 

Suzhou maintains its importance in the silk industry and any single Suzhou silk product can tell its holder tales of creation, imagination, and beauty. These, big or small, narrate the life of tiny silk worms, from birth, to feeding on delicate mulberry leafs, all the way to their seclusion in cocoons. The cocoons are where fine strands of silk lie, but they must first go through several processes before being ready for use. To prepare each thread, eight strands of silk are united and processed by innovative machinery. And, in order for silk clothes to be made, either artisanal means or hi-tech production lines are used. The final stage in the production of silk objects is also the most beautiful. It is in this final step that skilled hands and imagination take over, creating beautifully decorated works of art.

To fully appreciate the delicate and intricate nature behind it all, a visit to silk factories and institutes is necessary. Though there are many similar places, the No. 1 Silk Museum and the Silk Institute offers the most complete understanding.

 

Suzhou Silk Museum

The Suzhou Silk Museum is located in Jiangsu City, which people call 'Paradise on Earth'. The entire museum design is dignified and elegant - yet unconventional - combining a sense of ancient civilization with modern style. It is divided into several parts: the Introductory Hall, the Ancient Exhibit Hall, the Silkworm-Rearing Room, the Silk Weaving Workshop, the Neoteric (1840 - 1919) Exhibit Hall, and the Modern (1919 - 1949) Exhibit Hall. There are also retail stores for purchasing silk. The dominant color of the museum is white, which represents the purity of silk. Strolling through the gate here, you can see a long and elegant wall running from south to north, crossing an east-to-west road symbolizing the Silk Road.

In the Suzhou Silk Museum you will also find a 'Ming and Qing Street' lined with replicas of time-honored silk stores. Its traditional Suzhou flavor will make a deep and unforgettable impression on you. You can't visit these stores without wanting to buy something!

Whenever you come to Suzhou-the Paradise on Earth--please don't miss the Suzhou Silk Museum. It will not disappoint you!

     Address:

1965, Renmin Rd. 人民路1965号

      Phone:

 0512 6753 6506

Admission Fee:

 

Tickets: 15RMB
 

Opening Hours:

09:00 to 17:00 (Tuesday to Sunday, closed on Monday)

Note: Ticket sale is closed at 16:30.

Recommended time for a visit:

Three to four hours

     Buses:

Busses: 1, 102, Tourist 1, 2

 

Where to buy good Silk in Suzhou

Ten well-known brands in Suzhou

• Embroidered mother, on the long-Kai, the ancient elements, Tsz Wan Shan, Wu Ling, Taihu snow, Wei-yu, Jili, landscapes silk, Yi Tang silk.

 

Main authentic Suzhou Silk place

• Major shopping malls and old (authentic, high prices)
• Shiquan Street silk shops (there are many stores, some are authentic, cheap)
• Silk Museum (authentic, high prices)
• Jiejia Bridge Silk Building (authentic, high prices)