Dehuatang Chinese Ancient Beds Museum

Dehuatang Chinese Ancient Beds Museum

The Dehuatang Chinese Ancient Beds Museum is a national AAAA-level tourist attraction.

The Dehuatang Chinese Ancient Beds Museum was established in May 2011 and underwent expansion and renovation in 2012. The new museum is now located near the historical and cultural context of the Yandunshan Site Park, which dates back to the late Neolithic period over five thousand years ago through the Western Zhou Dynasty. This proximity has created a cultural cluster effect, adding a new highlight to tourism in Ma'anshan.

The new museum was officially opened on October 1, 2012. The first phase features an exhibition area of over 5,000 square meters spread across three floors and five ancient bed display zones, comprising a total of 12 themed galleries. The Dehuatang Ancient Beds Museum houses a collection of more than 300 ancient beds from all over China—the largest of its kind nationwide—making it currently the biggest private museum in China dedicated exclusively to ancient beds. Since the Ming and Qing dynasties, the museum has gathered ancient beds of various materials and from different regions, with a well-documented provenance and clear historical lineage. The Ming Dynasty golden nanmu wood bed, for example, stands out with its simple yet elegant design and well-proportioned structure, embodying the aesthetic ideal of “natural beauty without excessive adornment, like a lotus emerging from clear water.” The Qing Dynasty canopy beds are often described as “a bed within a bed, a cover within a cover,” with the Chaozhou-style bed being a classic representation, showcasing a style that is grand, elaborate, and richly colorful. Crafted from premium materials, these beds feature refined carving techniques, auspicious symbolism, and a soothing, enriching presence. Meanwhile, the Republic of China-era plank beds highlight simplicity, practicality, and diverse artistic appeal, propelling Chinese ancient bed culture to yet another peak. These ancient beds vividly reflect the individuality of traditional Chinese culture and the characteristics of regional cultural identities. A wide variety of styles, broad geographical origins, great antiquity, excellent preservation, and profound cultural meanings are key features of the Dehuatang Chinese Ancient Beds Museum.

The word “Dehua” (德化) in the name of the Dehuatang Ancient Beds Museum is derived from the Zhouyi (Book of Changes), meaning “virtue so broad that it transforms.” The name was chosen with the hope that those who love traditional Chinese culture will “be drawn here by virtue, act according to virtue, and cultivate together in harmony with virtue”—gathering in one place to jointly experience the charm of traditional Chinese culture.