China Silk Museum

China Silk Museum

The China Silk Museum was planned and designed by Tsinghua University, covering an area of nearly 10,000 square meters. It is divided into five exhibition areas: the Silk Kingdom, A Century of Glory, Silk Reeling and Cocoon Grinding, Dyeing and Apparel, and Performance & Sales. The design and layout employ authentic presentation techniques, restoring indoor scenes to recreate the historical charm of the Yongtai Silk Mill and the “Silk Capital.” The Silk Museum is built on the original site of the Yongtai Silk Mill in Nanchang District, Wuxi, forming the China Silk Museum and witnessing Wuxi’s pivotal role in the history of China’s silk industry.

The Silk Museum not only adds a beautiful attraction to the Qingming Bridge Ancient Canal Scenic Area but also serves as an important platform for both domestic and international visitors to explore Wuxi, understand its history, and witness the resilient development of China’s national industrial and commercial sectors. Known as the land of silk, Wuxi had a thriving silk industry and attracted numerous merchants, earning widespread fame as the “Silk Port.” In the early 20th century, amid the rise of national industries, entrepreneurs such as Zhou Shunqing and Xue Nanming from Wuxi seized the opportunity brought by the opening of Shanghai’s port. With the dream of “industrial salvation for the nation,” and after over 30 years of dedicated effort, they propelled Wuxi to the top of the country in terms of the total number of silk mills, raw silk production, quality, and export status. As a result, Wuxi stood at the forefront of the world and became globally recognized as the “Silk Capital.”

If the silk industry of Wuxi is a microcosm of China’s silk development, then the Yongtai Silk Mill by the ancient canal once played a remarkable role on the stage of China’s — and even the world’s — silk history, featuring vivid characters and enduring charm. According to experts, the Yongtai Silk Mill was jointly founded in 1896 by Xue Nanming and Zhou Shunqing. In 1926, the entire mill was relocated to Dagongqiao near the southern gate of Wuxi. Under the modern scientific management of Xue Nanming’s son, Xue Shouzhen, the mill produced the premium-brand white raw silk “Golden Double Deer,” which was widely exported and sold well in many European and American countries.

The museum exhibition halls are divided into four zones: Zone A serves as the introductory hall, showcasing the history of China’s silk industry and highlighting the influence of Wuxi as the “Silk Capital”; Zone B is the silk reeling hall, focusing on the rise and fall of Wuxi’s silk industry; Zone C is the spun silk, dyeing, printing, and knitting hall, displaying the characteristics of the silk weaving industry and its products; and Zone D is the treasure hall, exhibiting valuable silk “treasures.” The exhibition areas are connected by silk thread as a material element running through both buildings, symbolizing the intricate connections between each zone.