Changzhou Museum｜Free Access to Millennia-old Treasures

"Artifacts can speak, you just need to listen patiently." The first time I entered Changzhou Museum, the celadon bowl in the glass display case was reflecting light, as if telling the story of the kiln fire from a thousand years ago. This treasure trove hidden in the city center is free to enter and houses over 30,000 artifacts.

📍 Location: No. 1288 Longcheng Avenue, Xinbei District, Changzhou City

🚇 Transportation: Metro Line 1, "Citizen Square Station" Exit 3, 5-minute walk; Bus B12 direct access

🌿 3 Must-See Exhibition Halls
1️⃣ Prehistoric Changzhou Hall
Through the glass, I stared at a 6,000-year-old ivory carved tube—the tube body is engraved with fine water ripple patterns, thinner than a fingernail, yet these patterns have lasted millennia. The guide said this is the "China’s First Ivory Carving." Touching the glass of the display case, it felt as if I could feel the warmth of ancient ancestors.

2️⃣ Tang and Song Elegance Hall
The Yue kiln celadon ewer is definitely the star! The pale blue glaze looks like it’s wrapped in moonlight, and the spout’s curve flows like a poem. Next to it, a Song Dynasty bronze mirror is carved with entwined branch patterns. Though the mirror surface is mottled, it still reflects visitors’ shadows—showing that the aesthetics from a thousand years ago still meet our gaze today.

3️⃣ Calligraphy and Painting Gallery
I visited during the "Ming and Qing Calligraphy and Painting Special Exhibition." Dong Qichang’s running script scroll has ink tones rich and varied; up close, you can see the flying white brush strokes. The best part is the display case lighting—warm yellow light shines on the rice paper, and the four characters "Ink and Brush Through the Ages" suddenly feel weighty.

📸 Photography Tips

- Lobby Light Corridor: At noon, sunlight streams through the glass curtain wall, casting geometric light spots on the floor. Take a few steps and capture dynamic shots with the caption "Walking Side by Side with Time."
- Artifact Close-ups: When photographing celadon, focus on the glaze reflections and add the phrase "Every pattern is a fingerprint of time" for instant cultural vibe.
- Calligraphy Gallery Corner: Stand beside Dong Qichang’s calligraphy scroll, use a telephoto lens to compress space, capturing people and ink characters in one frame for an amazing ancient atmosphere.

🏨 Accommodation Recommendations
✅ All Season Hotel (Changzhou Administrative Center Branch)｜💰220 RMB/night
10-minute walk to the museum, rooms are new and quiet, includes buffet breakfast (highly recommend the freshly made Changzhou hemp cake)
✅ Hanting Youjia (Xinbei Wanda Branch)｜💰180 RMB/night
One metro stop away, snack street downstairs, top choice for students

🍜 Local Flavors for 50 RMB Nearby
🍜 East side of the museum "Old Changzhou Noodle Shop": 15 RMB silver thread noodles (with shrimp topping, as fine as hair) + 3 RMB hemp cake (sweet with sesame aroma)
🥣 Wanda Golden Street "Shuangguifang Branch": 10 RMB tofu soup (topped with crushed fried dough sticks) + 8 RMB radish dry fried rice, popular with locals

💰 Expense Summary (Per Person)

- Admission: Free
- Accommodation: 180-220 RMB
- Food: 50 RMB
- Transportation: 5 RMB
Total: 235-275 RMB (1 day 1 night)

When leaving, the sunset was shining on the museum’s glass curtain wall, and the artifacts in the display cases overlapped with the traffic outside. Suddenly I understood: the meaning of a museum is never to seal away the past, but to let the kiln fire from a thousand years ago illuminate the human life of the present.