Tianjin Folk Museum

　　One of only a few local folk museums in China, this museum is housed in a group of ancient buildings, primarily the main hall of the Tianhou Palace, showcasing the traditional customs and culture of Tianjin. The Tianjin Folk Museum is a local folk museum in China. It is located in the center of the Ancient Culture Street in Tianjin. Established in 1985, it opened to the public on New Year’s Day in 1986. The museum is housed in a group of ancient buildings, primarily the main hall of the Tianhou Palace. This architectural complex includes a mountain gate, memorial archway, bell tower, drum tower, front hall, main hall, scripture depository, and rear hall (Qisheng Shrine), with four side halls on either side of the main hall. To the north of the mountain gate stands the Zhangxian Pavilion, which hangs above the street, serving as a pedestrian overpass for the Ancient Culture Street. About 20 meters outside the mountain gate, two 26-meter-tall flagpoles stand, each flying a banner — the left banner reads “Three Harbors’ Artisans and Hundred Shops Welcome Spring,” while the right one reads “Boundless Waves and Radiant Sun Bring Smooth Sailing.” More than 80 meters beyond the flagpoles, facing the ancient theater stage of the Tianhou Palace, lies another structure. The newly established Tianjin Folk Museum retains the statues in the main hall and front hall of the Tianhou Palace for restored displays. It has also collected over 2,000 folk cultural relics, using them to create basic exhibits across four side halls, the scripture depository, and the Zhangxian Pavilion, focusing on the folk customs and traditions of Tianjin. These exhibits introduce the rise of Tianjin’s canal transport, the development of fishing and salt industries, and their associated customs; various folk flower parades in Tianjin, especially the street performances during the “Imperial Parade”; wedding customs such as bridal processions, wedding ceremonies, the wedding night, and the unique Tianjin custom of “tying a doll”; the various shop signs hanging at the fronts of Tianjin businesses; everyday items and rural life scenes; 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 woven crafts, along with folk opera art. In addition, the museum frequently holds various exhibitions and sales events themed around calligraphy, paintings, costumes, porcelain engraving, root carving, genre paintings, and folk arts. On major holidays, the museum also hosts traditional theatrical performances and folk flower parade shows in the ancient theater stage and the square, along with sales of various folk artworks.

　　Address: Ancient Culture Street, Nankai District

　　Phone: 27356424