Linhai Museum

Linhai Museum

Linhai Museum is a comprehensive museum integrating cultural relic collection, research, exhibitions, public education, and cultural exchanges. Its predecessor was the Taizhou Prefecture Cultural Relics Management Committee, established in March 1951. The museum has relocated multiple times and is now located in the northwest of Linghu Scenic Area.

The museum’s collection includes over 50,000 cultural relics, encompassing bronzeware, calligraphy and paintings, ceramics, jade artifacts, gold and silverware, ancient books, and more. It boasts the largest collection among museums in Taizhou and ranks among the top local museums in Zhejiang Province. The new museum covers an area of 28.6 acres, with a total investment of 169 million yuan. It has a above-ground building area of 21,000 m² and exhibition and auxiliary spaces totaling 8,500 m². The museum features three permanent exhibitions—History, Pterosaur, and Folk Culture—as well as two temporary exhibition halls, making it the best window into the history and culture, local customs, and the mystery of the pterosaurs of Linhai.

Since its opening on December 29, 2017, the museum has attracted enthusiastic visitors from Linhai and surrounding areas. To date, over 550,000 people have traveled through history here, engaging with the past and present, and experiencing the long history of Linhai and even Taizhou.

With a legacy of millennia as a regional capital and a continuous flow of scholarly heritage, Linhai Museum firmly upholds cultural confidence and supports the vision of building a culturally rich Zhejiang. It is committed to preserving historical roots, protecting cultural relics, passing on Chinese civilization, promoting outstanding culture, and striving to establish Linhai Museum as a treasure trove for historical relics, a showcase for historical civilization, a hub for researching historical heritage, and a base for inheriting traditional culture.

“The Elegant Ancient City • The Charm of a Regional Capital”—Exhibition on Linhai’s History and Culture

This exhibition showcases the developmental achievements and social landscape of Linhai across six historical periods using time as a thread. In addition, it highlights the city’s character through stories of notable figures and introductions to local dignitaries, effectively illustrating Linhai’s historical and cultural narrative and revealing the cultural and personal traits of its people. With a long history and rich cultural heritage, Linhai has been the political, economic, and cultural center of Taizhou since the establishment of HuiPu County in the Han Dynasty. It was designated as a National Historical and Cultural City in 1994.

This exhibition hall presents the complete historical timeline of Linhai from prehistoric times to the modern era, tracing the city’s administrative evolution and economic development, exploring its historical figures, and revisiting significant events. The hall is divided into six sections: Spring and Autumn of Ou Region, Ancient Port and Renowned Prefecture, Capital of Three Terraces, Prosperous Governance and Industry, Vast Seas and High Waves, and Moments of Destiny. Multimedia elements such as 2D and 3D animations, video clips, graphic designs, and electronic flipbooks are used to revisit the city’s magnificent historical journey.

“Memories That Last Forever”—Traditional Rural and Urban Customs of Linhai

Surrounded by mountains on three sides and facing the sea on one, Linhai’s diverse environment has given rise to rich and distinctive folk culture. These traditions are reflected not only in daily life—such as clothing, food, housing, and transportation—but also in the social life and spiritual world of its people. Passed down through generations, these customs have formed a unique cultural tradition in Linhai. [Urban and Rural Chronicles] draws on the human geography theories of Wang Shixing, a Ming Dynasty geographer from Linhai, presenting the lives of Linhai people from different regions and showcasing rural scenery, fishing villages, and town vibes. [Life Rituals] depicts the customs of three important life stages: birth, schooling, and marriage. Other sections include [Lunar Festivals and Intangible Heritage], all working together to exhibit the traditional customs of Linhai.

“Soaring in the Cretaceous Sky”—The Story of Linhai Zhejiang Pterosaur

This section displays the appearance, habitat, walking, and flying habits of the Linhai Zhejiang Pterosaur, as well as the coastal forest landscape of its discovery site. The extended area also showcases the evolutionary history of life on Earth. The Pterosaur Hall emphasizes science education, experience, and interaction. Interactive exhibits transform knowledge into engaging activities within reconstructed scenes to enhance the visitor experience, allowing audiences to learn more about natural science in a lively and relaxed atmosphere. Additionally, there is an experimental area where visitors can experience the process of pterosaur excavation, and the space can also be used as a second classroom for student education.

Address: No. 288 Linhai Avenue (West), Dayang Subdistrict, Linhai City, west of Linghu Gymnasium

Further Reading:

· National Second-Class Museum of China