Liangzhu Museum (良渚博物馆), covering an area of over 40,000 square meters, is home to an extensive collection of exquisite jade artifacts dating back four to five thousand years from the Liangzhu archaeological site. The museum currently houses 3,266 pieces/sets of artifacts, including 114 precious cultural relics. It features three permanent exhibition halls: “Water Town and Marshland,” “Sacred Land of Civilization,” and “Jade Soul and National Spirit,” showcasing the archaeological achievements and heritage value of the Liangzhu site and culture.
The museum’s architecture itself is a work of art, designed by a British architect with inspiration drawn from the concept of “a jade awl falling to the ground.” The contemporary design enhances the overall aesthetic appeal of the museum.
Liangzhu Culture, dating from approximately 5,300 to 4,000 years ago along the Qiantang River, represents the late Neolithic period with distinctive features such as black pottery and polished jade artifacts. Many scholars consider Liangzhu Culture as China’s first dynasty, while others view it as the origin of the Xia culture. The museum serves as a significant repository, preserving and presenting the rich archaeological legacy and cultural significance of the Liangzhu civilization.
Table of Contents
- Basic Information
- Location and Transportation
- Exhibitions in Liangzhu Museum
- Vlog about Liangzhu Museum
Basic Information
| Estimated Length of Tour | 2 hours |
| Ticket Price | Free |
| Opening Hours | 9.00 – 16.30 |
| Telephone Number | 0086-0571-88773875 0086-0571-88773875 |
Location and Transportation
Liangzhu Museum is located within the Liangzhu Cultural Village at 1 Meilizhou Road, Yuhang District, Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, China. To get there, tourists can take bus 428M, 1222M, 1223M and get off at the Main Gate of Liangzhu Museum Stop (良渚博物馆正门站).
Exhibitions in Liangzhu Museum
Water Town and Marshland
The first exhibition hall narrates the rise and development of a kingdom established in wetlands. Seven thousand years ago, the formation of Taihu Lake influenced human lifestyles, creating the material foundation for survival and development. During the Liangzhu Culture period around five thousand years ago, ancestors engaged in rice cultivation and aquaculture, with rice becoming the primary staple food and domesticated pigs serving as the main source of meat. Various crafts such as pottery making, textile production, bone carving, stone tool crafting, lacquering, and jade carving became more specialized and systematic. Additionally, a set of pictorial symbols, considered an early form of writing, emerged. The highly developed agriculture and craftsmanship laid a solid economic foundation for the formation and development of Liangzhu Civilization.
Sacred Land of Civilization
The Liangzhu ancient city site discovered in 2007 stands as tangible evidence of China’s five-thousand-year civilization history, acclaimed as the “First City of China.” Through over eighty years of archaeological exploration, the Liangzhu ancient city’s planning, construction, and structural layout have revealed a paradigm of early urban civilization in East Asia.
Jade Soul and National Spirit
During the Liangzhu period, the use of jade demonstrated clear social hierarchies. The exhibition explores the unique jade rituals in Liangzhu society, including the shared worship of deities represented by jade artifacts such as divine emblems and the distinct roles of jade cong, jade yue, and jade bi in symbolizing divine authority, military power, and royal authority. This reflects a distinct socio-political structure in Liangzhu society with a fusion of politics and religion. The dissemination of Liangzhu jade cong has had a lasting impact on Chinese civilization, influencing its development and continuity to this day. The exhibition sheds light on the intricate relationship between Liangzhu culture, jade artifacts, and the societal structure, providing visitors with a comprehensive understanding of this ancient civilization.