Hangzhou Linping Museum (China Museum of Southern Water Town Culture)

Hangzhou Linping Museum (China Museum of Southern Water Town Culture)
杭州市临平博物馆（中国江南水乡文化博物馆）

Address: No 95 Nanda Jie, Nanyuan subdistrict, Linping district, Hangzhou
Opening Hours: Tuesday to Sunday, 9am-5pm (last entry at 4:30pm)
Closed Mondays (except for national holidays)
Admission: Free
Tel: +86-571-89172233; +86-571-86136950

The Hangzhou Linping Museum, also known as the China Jiangnan Water Town Culture Museum, is a cultural gem in Hangzhou's Linping district, located north of the People's Square.

Opened in 2003 and recently renovated in 2022, it spans over 21,000 square meters and consists of the East Pavilion and the West Pavilion.

The museum's design is said to be a masterpiece, with its East Pavilion inspired by Wu Guanzhong's ink paintings of Jiangnan water towns and its West Pavilion modeled after the Liangzhu jade cong – a tube-shaped jade artifact from the Liangzhu culture of Neolithic China – blending modern architecture with cultural symbolism.

The museum offers two permanent exhibitions. The West Pavilion's Enjoying Everlasting Prosperity explores Linping's 7,000-year history, covering themes like the cradle of Eastern civilization, the Grand Canal's southern port and the vibrant literary and cultural contributions of the region.

In the East Pavilion, the Jiangnan Watery Region Culture Exhibition delves into the cultural essence of Jiangnan water towns, from their geographical beauty and economic prosperity to their poetic lifestyle and modern transformation.

Beyond its exhibitions, the museum features unique spaces like the Water Town Workshop, where young visitors can engage with Jiangnan culture through games and hands-on activities.

The Jiangnan Literature Research Center fosters cultural studies, while the museum's gift store provides a welcoming space for relaxation and shopping.