Nanjing / China Yunjin Museum

Nanjing / China Yunjin Museum

The Yunjin Museum is located opposite the Memorial Hall of the Victims of the Nanjing Massacre, making it very convenient for those wanting to visit both.

The museum isn't large; the main exhibition areas are on the second floor. After visiting the main exhibition, you'll find shops selling Yunjin clothing on the first floor. I also saw a new exhibition! However, many people were renovating it, but I believe it will open in the future.

The museum's special prized possession is the gold-embroidered dragon and phoenix horse-face skirt. This limited-edition piece was released to commemorate the 15th anniversary of Yunjin's successful inscription on the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage list. The horse-face skirt is red and black, woven with gold thread depicting dragons and phoenixes, replicating the craftsmanship of the Ming Dynasty court. China has three famous brocades: Chengdu's Shu brocade (named after a location), Suzhou's Song brocade (named after a dynasty), and Nanjing's Yunjin (named after its shape).

Without Nanjing brocade, there would be no Cao Xueqin. Three generations of Cao Xueqin's family, four of whom served as officials in the Jiangning Imperial Textile Bureau, and Cao Xueqin himself frequently described the details of silk in *Dream of the Red Chamber*. Only someone with a profound understanding of silk could have written such descriptions.

Recommended for those looking to kill time after visiting the memorial hall.

📍Admission: Free
📍Opening Hours: 09:30-17:00

Post by Lee Lee Sam | Nov 1, 2025