Zhejiang Provincial Museum

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Zhejiang Provincial Museum

Museum

The Zhejiang Provincial Museum is the provincial museum of Zhejiang located in Hangzhou; travellers visit for its archaeology, traditional painting and regional history collections.

Zhejiang Provincial Museum HangzhouNingboWenzhouShaoxingJiaxingTaizhouJinhuaZhoushanZhejiang Provincial Museum

Zhejiang Provincial Museum essentials

Address: West Lake Cultural Square, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China

The museum was founded in 1929 as the West Lake Museum on Gushan Island and has evolved into Zhejiang’s principal provincial museum, now housed in a modern building on the West Lake Cultural Square. The current facility, opened in 2009, sits close to the Grand Canal and provides more gallery space than the older Gushan site.

Its permanent holdings exceed 100,000 items and cover archaeology, fine art, calligraphy, and revolutionary history; highlights include Neolithic material, important paintings and regional artefacts. Key pieces include Liangzhu jade objects, an ivory carving from Hemudu culture, the Sword of the Yue King, and The Remaining Mountain by Huang Gongwang, part of the famous Dwelling in the Fuchun Mountains. The museum’s displays combine archaeological contexts with traditional painting galleries and a section on provincial history, and the institution reorganised branches in recent years when the Wulin branch closed in 2023 after the Zhijiang Branch opened.

  • Liangzhu jade collection: Extensive Neolithic jade pieces illustrate the sophisticated ritual and craft traditions of the Liangzhu culture.
  • The Remaining Mountain (Huang Gongwang): A surviving portion of the famed Dwelling in the Fuchun Mountains by Huang Gongwang shows Yuan-dynasty landscape painting at close quarters.
  • Hemudu ivory carving: An early Neolithic ivory carving from Hemudu demonstrates ancient material use and carving skill in the region.
  • Sword of the Yue King: An important metalwork object tied to the ancient Yue kingdom and regional history.
  • Archaeology and regional history galleries: Displays walk visitors through Zhejiang’s prehistoric cultures, archaeological finds, and provincial historical developments.
Things to Do
When to Go

Best Time to Visit Zhejiang Provincial Museum#

Hangzhou has a humid subtropical climate with hot, humid summers and a distinct rainy season; museum visits are comfortable year-round but you may prefer drier, cooler months.

Winter (best)
November - February · 1°C - 17°C (34°F - 63°F)
Cooler, drier weather and lower visitor numbers make this a convenient time to visit indoor attractions such as the museum.
Spring (good)
March - May · 6°C - 26°C (43°F - 79°F)
Mild temperatures and spring blooms are attractive for combining the museum with nearby outdoor sights, though rainfall increases toward late spring.
Summer (wet and hot)
June - August · 21°C - 33°C (70°F - 91°F)
Hotter conditions and heavy summer rain mean the museum is an appealing indoor option, but expect higher humidity and occasional downpours when moving between sites.

Weather & Climate near Zhejiang Provincial Museum#

Climate

Zhejiang Provincial Museum's climate is classified as Humid Subtropical - Humid Subtropical climate with hot summers (peaking in July) and cold winters (coldest in January). Temperatures range from 1°C to 33°C. Abundant rainfall (1314 mm/year), wettest in June.

Air Quality: AQI 99 Moderate
Best Time to Visit
OctoberNovemberMay
Temperature & Rainfall
Temperature Range
42°
Warmest Month
-14°
Coldest Month
Monthly Conditions
Month Comfort Temp Feels Rain Sky Humidity Wind UV Daylight
January Acceptable 1° - 8° 3° 54 mm partly cloudy 80% 2.1 m/s 0.4 low 10.3h
February Acceptable 2° - 10° 4° 81 mm partly cloudy 81% 2.5 m/s 0.6 moderate 11.0h
March Acceptable 6° - 14° 9° 114 mm partly cloudy 79% 2.8 m/s 0.9 moderate 11.9h
April Good 12° - 21° 16° 123 mm partly cloudy 77% 3.0 m/s 1.1 high 12.8h
May Good 17° - 26° 21° 155 mm overcast 76% 2.9 m/s 1.3 high 13.6h
June Good 21° - 29° 25° 188 mm overcast 80% 2.8 m/s 1.2 high 13.9h
July Good 25° - 33° 35° 128 mm partly cloudy 81% 2.8 m/s 1.7 very high 13.8h
August Good 24° - 32° 33° 141 mm partly cloudy 81% 2.3 m/s 1.6 very high 13.1h
September Good 20° - 28° 24° 164 mm overcast 80% 2.5 m/s 1.2 high 12.2h
October Very Good 15° - 23° 19° 70 mm partly cloudy 77% 2.2 m/s 0.9 moderate 11.3h
November Good 9° - 17° 13° 54 mm partly cloudy 78% 2.1 m/s 0.5 moderate 10.5h
December Good 3° - 11° 6° 42 mm partly cloudy 78% 2.0 m/s 0.4 low 10.1h
Getting There & Around

How to Get to Zhejiang Provincial Museum#

The museum is in central Hangzhou on the West Lake Cultural Square, near the western end of the Grand Canal and a short distance from West Lake’s lakeshore.

By air use Hangzhou Xiaoshan International Airport; high-speed trains serve Hangzhou East Railway Station (and other city stations). From any central station or the airport the last stretch is most easily done by taxi or local public transit to the West Lake Cultural Square or nearby Wulin Square; check local metro and bus routes for current stops and connections.

Tips for Visiting Zhejiang Provincial Museum#

  • Check opening days and any temporary closures or exhibition rotations before you go.
  • Photography rules vary by gallery and object; look for signs and ask staff if in doubt.
  • Allow at least 1.5 to 2 hours to see the main collections, longer if you want to study the paintings and archaeology in detail.
  • Combine a visit with a walk around West Lake or along the nearby Grand Canal to make a day of central Hangzhou sightseeing.
  • Some specialist labels and catalogues may be primarily in Chinese; ask the information desk about English materials or guided options.