Tongxiang Museum

Tongxiang Museum

Established in 1976, the Tongxiang City Museum was originally located at No. 1 Huntang Lane, Wutong Street. In 1993, it moved to No. 8 Qingfeng South Road, and in December 2013, the new museum building opened to the public at No. 399 Huanyuan Road, North District of the Botanical Garden.

The new Tongxiang City Museum has a construction area of 9,518 square meters, featuring a public service hall, lecture hall, exhibition area, collection storage area, and office space, among others. The exhibition area spans nearly 5,000 square meters and includes three permanent exhibitions — “Phoenix Perched on Phoenix Trees – Tongxiang Historical and Cultural Exhibition,” “Carving Jade in Liangzhu – Fine Jades from the Liangzhu Culture Exhibition,” and “Brush & Ink Masterpieces – Ancient Painting and Calligraphy Collection Exhibition” — as well as two temporary exhibition halls. Showcasing ancient relics from Luojiajiao, exquisite jades from the Liangzhu Culture, simple yet elegant hard-patterned pottery and proto-porcelain from the Shang and Zhou dynasties, classic bronze ware, and calligraphy and paintings by renowned artists through the ages, combined with cutting-edge designs using sound, light, electricity, multimedia, and computer networks, the new museum has become a high-end cultural leisure venue for studying local history, spreading traditional culture, and promoting patriotic education.

Phoenix Perched on Phoenix Trees – Tongxiang Historical and Cultural Exhibition

“Phoenix Perched on Phoenix Trees – Tongxiang Historical and Cultural Exhibition” is a comprehensive historical exhibition of Tongxiang’s culture. It consists of five main sections: “Phoenix Perched on Phoenix Trees,” “Source of Civilization,” “Threads of History,” “Land of Fish and Rice,” and “Realm of Culture.” The exhibition systematically presents the developmental timeline of the region within Tongxiang’s current administrative boundaries, showcasing the lives, production, and cultural creativity of the people on this beautiful land.

Carving Jade in Liangzhu – Fine Jades from the Liangzhu Culture Exhibition

“Carving Jade in Liangzhu – Fine Jades from the Liangzhu Culture Exhibition” is a special showcase of exquisitely crafted jade artifacts unearthed in the Tongxiang area during the Liangzhu Culture period, allowing visitors to appreciate the remarkable craftsmanship of the region’s ancestors. The main display features artifacts, supplemented by reconstructed scenes that recreate the jade-making process, along with numerous panels and multimedia presentations introducing jade crafting techniques, types of jade artifacts, and the culture surrounding jade use. Visitors can marvel not only at the unique shapes and intricate patterns of these objects but also gain deeper insight into the spiritual power they embody.

Brush & Ink Masterpieces – Ancient Painting and Calligraphy Collection Exhibition

Nestled in the heart of the Hangjiahu Plain, Tongxiang boasts a superior geographical environment, abundant material wealth, and a profound cultural foundation, all of which have nurtured and inspired a humanistic spirit among its people that values literature, virtue, progress, and achievement. The art of poetry, prose, painting, and calligraphy flourished here, giving rise to generations of renowned masters, making artistic talent and tradition a continuous legacy. Through the dedicated efforts of historical figures and centuries of cultural inheritance, Tongxiang has achieved an exceptional level in the arts of painting and calligraphy, excelling in both creation and appreciation or collection, marking a splendid facet of the region’s traditional culture. Looking back at history, Tongxiang was home not only to famous painters in Chinese art history such as Song Xu, Jin Tingbiao, Fang Xun, Wu Botao, and Pan Yasheng, but also produced a host of distinctive artists. Though many treasured artworks were lost due to wars and social upheavals, a considerable number of surviving pieces remain impressive. The Tongxiang City Museum has long been committed to the rescue, protection, and collection of cultural relics, including paintings and calligraphy. Among its collections, artworks — especially those from the Ming and Qing dynasties — form one of its distinctive highlights. Therefore, the museum’s “Brush & Ink Masterpieces – Ancient Painting and Calligraphy Collection Exhibition” features masterpieces by Tongxiang-born painters and calligraphers from the Ming and Qing dynasties to the modern era, displayed in an exhibition hall designed in the style of a Jiangnan garden. These include notable works by masters such as Song Xu, Fang Xun, Wu Jiu, Wu Botao, and Pan Yasheng, offering visitors a rich artistic experience and a deep appreciation of Tongxiang’s vibrant painting and calligraphy heritage.

Opening Hours: Tuesday to Sunday, 9:00–16:30

Closed: Mondays (except statutory holidays)

Venue: No. 399 Huanyuan Road, Tongxiang City, Zhejiang Province

Ticket Information: All exhibitions are free of charge

Further Reading:

· National Third-Class Museum of China