Tianjin Folk Museum

Tianjin Folk Museum

The Tianjin Folk Museum is a regional folk museum in China. It is located in the center of the Ancient Culture Street in Tianjin. It was established in 1985 and opened to the public on New Year's Day in 1986.

The museum is housed in an ensemble of historic buildings, primarily the main hall of the Tianhou Palace. This architectural complex includes the mountain gate, memorial archway, bell tower, drum tower, front hall, main hall, scripture depository, rear hall (Qisheng Shrine), and four side halls on either side of the main hall. To the north of the mountain gate stands the Zhangxian Pavilion, suspended above the street as an overpass building along the Ancient Culture Street. About 20 meters outside the mountain gate, there are two flagpoles, each 26 meters tall, flying cloth banners. The left banner reads “Artisans of the Three Ports Welcome Spring,” while the right one says “Vast Waves and Bright Sun Facilitate Trade and Navigation.” Over 80 meters beyond the flagpoles and opposite the ancient theater stage of the Tianhou Palace stands another structure.

The newly established Tianjin Folk Museum not only retains the restored statues in the main hall and front hall of the Tianhou Palace for display but also has collected more than 2,000 folk cultural relics. These are exhibited in the four side halls, the scripture depository, and the Zhangxian Pavilion, forming basic displays that showcase Tianjin’s local customs and folk life. Exhibits introduce the rise of Tianjin’s canal transport, the development of fishing and salt industries, and related customs; the various folk processions—especially the “Imperial Procession”—parading along the streets; wedding ceremonies including the bridal procession, wedding ceremony, wedding night, and the unique Tianjin custom of “tying a doll”; various shop signs hung at storefronts; everyday life items and local cultural flavors; folk customs related to clothing, food, housing, and transportation; as well as folk handicrafts such as Yangliuqing New Year paintings, kites, brick carvings, clay sculptures, velvet flowers, paper-cuttings, and weaving, plus folk performing arts. In addition, the museum frequently hosts special exhibitions and sales events featuring calligraphy and painting, costumes, porcelain engraving, root carving, genre paintings, and other folk crafts.

On major holidays, the Tianjin Folk Museum also holds traditional theatrical performances and folk processions on the ancient theater stage and in the square, along with sales of various folk artworks.

Ticket price: 3 RMB

Opening hours: 6:00–22:00

Address: No. 80, Ancient Culture Street, Nankai District, Tianjin

Phone: 022-27356424 022-27275062

Address: Ancient Culture Street, Nankai District

Phone: 27356424