The Qingdao Folk Museum (青岛民俗博物馆), established in 1996, is housed within the Tianhou Palace. It features four main exhibition areas: the Preface Hall, Folk Customs, Port Customs, and Urban Customs, comprising a total of 29 sections. The museum offers a glimpse into local traditions and daily life, presenting a rich tapestry of Qingdao’s cultural heritage.
In the local opera display area, visitors can enjoy traditional operatic performances such as Maoqiang, Liuqiang, Jiaodong Drums, Donglu Qinshu, Jiaozhou Bajiao Drums, Jiaozhou Drums, and Fisherman Drums. The Folk Customs section recreates scenes from late Qing Dynasty and early Republic of China households, showcasing celebrations such as New Year greetings and weddings. The entrance of a wealthy family’s house is decorated with intricate carvings, including symbols like “dragon heads” and “longevity dogs.” The grand entrance also features items like a flower sedan chair and wedding garments. An exquisite late Qing Dynasty wedding costume, donated by elderly resident Sun Shulan, is one of the highlights of this display.
The Tianhou Palace, situated less than 500 meters from Zhanqiao Pier, overlooks the sea. It was originally built in the third year of the Chenghua reign during the Ming Dynasty (1467 AD), making it over 500 years old. The saying “First there was Tianhou Palace, then there was Qingdao City” highlights its historical significance. It is the oldest surviving brick-and-wood structure in Qingdao’s urban area, having undergone seven major renovations. The current structure covers 1,500 square meters and includes two courtyards with sixteen buildings, such as the Tianhou Holy Mother Hall, the Dragon King Hall, and the Treasury Office, which house statues of various deities including Mazu (the Heavenly Empress), the Dragon King, and the Gods of Wealth. The stage is flanked by bell and drum towers, with exhibition halls now occupying the side rooms. Except for the stage, which has a glazed tile roof, the buildings feature plain brick walls and small gray tiles, adorned with Suzhou-style colored paintings and intricate carvings.
The Qingdao Folk Museum hosts various cultural activities, including exhibitions of folk artifacts and live demonstrations of traditional crafts. Every Sunday morning, there is an appreciation market for folk cultural items, and every Saturday morning features a special lantern riddle contest. Other notable events include the “Auspicious Bell-Ringing Ceremony” on Lunar New Year’s Eve, the “New Year Folk Culture Fair” in January, the “God of Wealth Folk Tourism Festival” on the twenty-second of July, and the “Double Ninth Festival at Tianhou Palace” in September.
Basic Information
| Estimated Length of Tour | 1 hour |
| Ticket Price | Free |
| Opening Hours | 9.00 – 17.00; Last admission: 16.30 |
| Telephone Number | 0086-0532-82880728 0086-0532-82869012 |
Location and Transportation
The Qingdao Folk Museum is located at No. 19 Taiping Road, Shinan District, Qingdao, Shandong Province, within the premises of Tianhou Palace. To get there, you can choose one of the following ways:
Bus: Take bus 6, 26, 202, 214, 228, 304, or 316, get off at University Road Stop (大学路站), and walk about 250 meters to the west.
Metro: The closest metro station to Qingdao Folk Museum is People’s Hall (人民会堂) on line 3 and line 4. After getting out of the station from Exit E, walk about 180 meters to the west to reach the museum.
