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China National Silk Museum, Hangzhou

Curved glass entrance hall of the China National Silk Museum with fountains in the forecourt
Photo: Siyuwj, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons

The essentials in 10 seconds

Entry
Free, passport required
Hours
Tue–Sun 9:00–17:00, last entry 16:30
officialConfirmed by an official source: the venue, a ministry or the operator.
Time on site
A typical visit without queueing. In high season add 15–30 minutes.
1 h 15 min
With kids
Fine with kids
Admission
Free, passport required
officialConfirmed by an official source: the venue, a ministry or the operator.
Booking
Not needed for individual visitors
officialConfirmed by an official source: the venue, a ministry or the operator.
Closed
All day Monday; open on public holidays
officialConfirmed by an official source: the venue, a ministry or the operator.
Address
73-1 Yuhuangshan Road (玉皇山路73-1号), south of West Lake
verifyingFrom reliable travel sources; we are still checking it against an official one. Double-check before you go.
Coordinates
30.22500, 120.14722YesGo MapGoogleApple
Enquiries
+86 571 8703 5150
officialConfirmed by an official source: the venue, a ministry or the operator.
Guided tour
Paid, book on +86 571 8703 5223
officialConfirmed by an official source: the venue, a ministry or the operator.
Audio guide
Free smart guide on the museum’s WeChat account; paid audio guide on site
officialConfirmed by an official source: the venue, a ministry or the operator.
Getting there
Taxi from the Hubin lakefront in 10–15 minutes, or walk from Leifeng Pagoda; buses to the Silk Museum stop
verifyingFrom reliable travel sources; we are still checking it against an official one. Double-check before you go.

Key facts

Freeadmission for everyone since 1 January 2004
Sourceofficial museum website, About section
Mondayclosed all day; open when a public holiday falls on a Monday
Sourceofficial museum website, opening-hours notice
Largestsilk museum in the world and China’s largest textile museum
2 sourcesEnglish WikipediaChina Educational Tours
1992opened on 26 February as one of China’s first state-level museums
2 sourcesofficial museum websiteEnglish and Chinese Wikipedia
2016reopened after a full rebuild that began in 2015
2 sourcesChinese Wikipediaofficial museum website
42,286 m²site area, garden included
Sourceofficial museum website
22,999 m²floor area after the rebuild
Sourceofficial museum website
First gradeNational First-Grade Museum since 2012
2 sourcesChinese WikipediaEnglish Wikipedia
4 long-termexhibitions: silk and the Silk Road, sericulture and weaving, textile conservation, the Xinyou archive
Sourceofficial museum website
中国丝绸博物馆the Chinese name to show a taxi driver
2 sourcesofficial museum websiteEnglish Wikipedia

Is the China National Silk Museum free?

Yes. Entry to the China National Silk Museum has been free since 2004, and in 2024 the museum dropped advance booking for individual visitors. There are no tickets: show your passport at the door — the original, not a copy or a photo. Groups and anyone wanting a guided tour should phone ahead.

The museum states plainly that it has never authorised any third-party site to sell tickets or tours in its name. If someone offers you a paid “Silk Museum ticket”, you’re being sold free entry. Only some temporary exhibitions are ever charged, and the museum announces those on its own website and WeChat.

You’ll still need money for the shop, the café and getting there. Link a foreign Visa or Mastercard to Alipay or WeChat Pay before you fly, and keep some small yuan notes as a backup.

What is the China National Silk Museum?

It’s the largest silk museum in the world and China’s leading textile museum (中国丝绸博物馆). It opened in 1992 as one of the country’s first state-level museums and was named a National First-Grade Museum in 2012. Hangzhou is the natural home for it: the city and the villages around it lived off silkworms and looms for centuries.

A full rebuild in 2015–2016 turned it into a campus of buildings in a garden at the foot of Yuhuang Hill: a curved glass entrance with fountains, separate halls for fashion and sericulture, a conservation centre and an archive. It’s a working institution too: since 2010 it has housed the Chinese Center for Textile Identification and Conservation.

Labels in the main galleries are in Chinese and English. For the detail — how a draw loom works, what makes one weave different from another — use the free smart guide on the museum’s WeChat, rent the paid audio guide or book a guided tour in advance.

What to see at the Silk Museum

  • Chinese Silk and the Silk Road (锦程) — the core exhibition: silk from Neolithic times to the Ming and Qing dynasties, excavated fabrics and garments, and silk’s journey west.
  • Sericulture and silk weaving (天蚕灵机) — the craft listed as intangible heritage: mulberry leaves, silkworms, reeling cocoons, dyeing and the big pattern looms.
  • The weaving workshop — a hall of historic looms in working order. Weavers demonstrate on some days and at some times; if you catch one at work, stop and watch — it’s the best thing here.
  • Textile Conservation Gallery — how ancient silks are saved: tools, techniques and finds after restoration.
  • Fashion Gallery — changing exhibitions of Chinese and Western dress. Check the exhibitions page on the museum’s website for what’s on.
  • Xinyou Archive Center — fabric samples, books and records on silk, mainly for people who study textiles.
  • The museum shop — silk scarves, fabric and gifts sold by the museum itself.

How to get to the China National Silk Museum

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on footdestinationStreet view

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On foot

More tips

  1. From the Hubin lakefront (Longxiangqiao metro, 龙翔桥, Line 1) it’s about 5 km by road around the east and south shores of the lake. There’s no metro station near the museum.
  2. Easiest is a taxi or DiDi: 10–15 minutes without traffic. Show the driver “中国丝绸博物馆 玉皇山路73-1号”. DiDi runs inside Alipay in English.
  3. By bus, get off at Silk Museum (丝绸博物馆, Sichou Bowuguan). Guides list different route numbers — most often 42 and 12 — and lines here have changed, so check the trip in Alipay’s transport section. The Alipay transit QR code covers the fare.
  4. If you’re already at Leifeng Pagoda on the south shore, walk: the museum is about 1 km south along Nanshan Road and Yuhuangshan Road, 15–20 minutes.
  5. On a hire bike it’s about 8 minutes from Leifeng Pagoda or the Su Causeway.

Silk Museum or Tea Museum?

Silk Museumyou are hereFree, passportNot neededMonday (official)South shore of the lake, near Leifeng PagodaSilk Road, silkworms, looms1–1.5 hours
Tea MuseumFree, passportWeekdays no; weekends via WeChatUsually Monday; some guides say TuesdayTea hills south-west of the lakeTea history, plantations around1–1.5 hours

Both national museums are free. The Silk Museum fits a walk along the lake and Leifeng Pagoda; the Tea Museum pairs with Longjing village. With one day in Hangzhou, pick whichever sits on your route.

Before you go

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Is it worth it, and how long to spend?

Worth it if you care about crafts, fashion or the Silk Road: it’s free, by the lake and far calmer than the temples. Allow 1–1.5 hours for the main galleries, the sericulture hall and the weaving workshop. Textile lovers who read every label can easily spend 2–3 hours.

If museums aren’t your thing and you have one day in Hangzhou, spend it on West Lake and Lingyin Temple. The Silk Museum works best as part of a south-shore day: the pagoda in the morning, the museum after lunch, Hefang Street in the evening. It’s also the best rainy-day fallback near the lake, when boats aren’t much fun.

Hangzhou history: compare and choose

Hangzhou places with a story, as scored by YesGo. Tap a column header to sort.

Grand Canal in Hangzhou501 h 30 minFree10.7 km
West Lake443 hFree26 min walk
Hefang Street421 hFree2.8 km
China National Silk Museumyou are here391 h 15 minFree—
China National Tea Museum371 h 15 minFree3.2 km
Leifeng Pagoda351 h¥4018 min walk
Longjing Tea Village341 h 30 minFree4.7 km
Liuhe Pagoda301 h¥20 + ¥10 to climb the pagoda3.6 km
Lingyin Temple282 h 30 minFree5.2 km
Wuzhen164 hXizha ¥150, Dongzha ¥110, both ¥19066.2 km

A day on the south shore

A morning on West Lake, then Leifeng Pagoda, a walk to the Silk Museum and the evening on Hefang Street. Add it to your route — YesGo sets the timing and transfers.

  1. West Lake3 h · Free; island boat ¥55
  2. 10 min walk from the previous stopLeifeng Pagoda1 h · ¥40
  3. 18 min walk from the previous stopChina National Silk Museumyou are here1 h 15 min · Free, passport required
  4. 48 min walk from the previous stopHefang Street1 h · Free

4 places · about 7 h 31 min with walks · 76 min on foot in total

Go · my route

Nearby and on your route

Leifeng Pagoda

Hangzhou, China

1 h · ¥40 · 18 min walk

West Lake

Hangzhou, China

3 h · Free; island boat ¥55 · 26 min walk

How to do it right

  • Pair the museum with Leifeng Pagoda — they’re 15–20 minutes apart on foot.
  • Come at opening time on a weekday: the galleries are nearly empty in the morning.
  • Weavers aren’t always at the looms — ask at the entrance when today’s demonstration is.
  • Save “中国丝绸博物馆” on your phone for taxis and map apps.
  • Don’t buy tickets on third-party sites: entry is free and the museum doesn’t sell them.
  • On a rainy day the museum is the best indoor plan near the lake.

Questions

Where is the China National Silk Museum?

In Hangzhou, just south of West Lake at 73-1 Yuhuangshan Road, about 1 km from Leifeng Pagoda.

Is the China National Silk Museum free?

Yes. Bring your original passport. Only guided tours, the audio guide, the shop and some temporary exhibitions cost money.

What are the China National Silk Museum opening hours?

Tuesday to Sunday, 9:00–17:00, last entry 16:30. Closed all day Monday unless it’s a public holiday.

Is the Silk Museum open on Mondays?

No. Older guides mention Monday afternoon opening, but the official notice makes Monday a full closing day. It opens only when Monday is a public holiday.

Do I need to book in advance?

No. Individual visitors just show a passport at the door. Only groups and guided tours need booking.

How do I get to the China National Silk Museum?

A taxi or DiDi from the Hubin lakefront takes 10–15 minutes. You can also take a bus to the Silk Museum stop or walk 15–20 minutes from Leifeng Pagoda.

How long do you need at the Silk Museum?

1–1.5 hours for the main galleries and the weaving workshop; 2–3 hours if you love textiles.

Are the labels in English?

Yes, the main galleries are labelled in Chinese and English. The free WeChat smart guide and the paid audio guide add more detail.

Is the China National Silk Museum worth it?

Yes if you like crafts, fashion or the Silk Road, or need a rainy-day plan. With only one day in Hangzhou, West Lake and Lingyin Temple come first.

Have you been? Was it worth your time?

1 — no, 5 — absolutely

Your vote counts towards the YesGo score.

Sources and fact-check

  • China National Silk Museum official website: About — opening date, free admission since 2004, site and floor area, rebuild
  • Official website, Visit & Reservation: notices on opening hours, the end of booking for individual visitors, tickets and guided tours; phone numbers
  • Official website, home page: long-term exhibitions
  • English and Chinese Wikipedia: “China National Silk Museum”, “中国丝绸博物馆”; Wikidata Q569019
  • China Discovery, Travel China Guide, China Educational Tours, China for Travelers — galleries, buses, visit length
YesGo editorial team · facts checked 05.11.2026 ·
How we checkedHours, closing day, free admission, booking rules and phone numbers come from notices on the museum’s official website; some guides still list a short Monday opening, which is out of date. The opening date, area and the date admission became free come from the official About page; Wikipedia gives pre-rebuild areas, so we use the official figures. The reopening year is from Chinese Wikipedia, consistent with the official site. The address is from Wikipedia and guides, which name different districts, so it is marked “checking”. Bus numbers differ between sources and routes have changed, so we give the stop and advise checking the trip. The distance from Leifeng Pagoda is worked out from Wikipedia coordinates.

Top YesGo picks: Hangzhou

Grand Canal in Hangzhou

Hangzhou, China

1 h 30 min · Free; water bus ¥3

Hefang Street

Hangzhou, China

1 h · Free

China National Tea Museum

Hangzhou, China

1 h 15 min · Free, passport needed

Longjing Tea Village

Hangzhou, China

1 h 30 min · Free; Imperial Tea Trees ¥10

Liuhe Pagoda

Hangzhou, China

1 h · ¥20 + ¥10 to climb the pagoda

Lingyin Temple

Hangzhou, China

2 h 30 min · Free, book 1–7 days ahead

Wuzhen

Hangzhou, China

4 h · Xizha ¥150, Dongzha ¥110, both ¥190

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