Hangzhou / China National Silk Museum

The National Silk Museum is the only silk-themed museum in China. I researched similar museums and found the Yunjin Museum in Nanjing. I think I'll definitely want to visit someday!

The highlight of the museum is a replica of the crown worn by Emperor Zhenzong of Song, Empress Zhangxian Mingsu, using a whopping 10,000 pearls.

Seeing it in person was truly astonishing. How could someone in the Song Dynasty have crafted something like this? Even modern production would take a year, let alone the Song Dynasty...

As for clothing, the museum houses four imperial dragon robes, including a replica of the court robe. Looking closely at the robes, some of the dragons look quite comical, but they're still dragons.

There's also a display of the costumes of the concubines, including cloud shoulders.

The most striking piece of clothing is the last photo, showcasing the understated luxury of the Song Dynasty. Gold was beaten into thin sheets and then glued onto the garment using a gilding technique. It was the first time I'd actually seen gold applied to clothing. I'd only heard of embroidery using gold and silver thread, but I never imagined it would be real.

I call it understated luxury because it's really hard to see, but if you look closely, you can still see a subtle shimmer under the light! It truly is "understated luxury."

📍Admission: Free
📍Opening Hours: 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM (last entry at 6:30 PM)... more

Post by Lee Lee Sam | Oct 26, 2025