First opened in 1992, the museum, located on a 40,000m2 southern Chinese garden site, was given a facelift and reopened in time for the G20 summit in Hangzhou that ran from September 4 to 5 last year.
Concept Silk production in Hangzhou dates back to the 13th Century and the museum houses six permanent galleries showcasing the history of silk, the Silk Road, silk artefacts and modern Chinese and western silk fashion. There are also areas for sericulture, weaving and textile training and research.
The museum provides a look at raising silkworms, dyeing, weaving, the earliest pattern loom models and preserved silk items from China as well as European painted and embroidered silks mainly from the 18th and 19th Centuries.
Its interactive video wall at the entrance introduces silk and silk weaving from all over the world.
MICE application The museum provides a beautiful backdrop and its opening act after its renovation was a G20 spouses’ tour of the facility.
The museum is now considering how it can collaborate with meetings planners interested in using the venue.
For now, the Brocade Café and sunken open air space can be used for cocktails and receptions and visitors can do a bit of shopping and buy designer silk products at the Jingluntang World Silk Boutique and local silk products at the Sibo Silk Shop.
The museum organises public lectures by industry experts and offers hands-on experience for visitors, who can try their hands on the looms to create items made with different types of yarn, dyeing, etc.
In addition, the museum, which owns the most advanced technology in textile conservation in China can show visitors how silk treasures are treated, repaired and packed for joint projects with partners like the British Museum and the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
Service The escorted service for the site inspection was efficient, insightful and professional.
Website: http://en.chinasilkmuseum.com/
Contact: (86-571) 8703 5150
Operation hours: 09.00 to 17.00; (Mondays) 12.00 to 17.00
