Embarking on a journey to Yuyao, one of the cradles of the ancient Hemudu culture, it’s hard to resist the allure of the Hemudu Site Museum. Nestled in Hemudu Town, this museum is not just a place for history buffs; it’s a window into the past and present of a civilization that has long captivated scholars and curious minds alike.
The museum is a must-visit, especially when accompanied by children, as it offers a wealth of educational opportunities. Divided into two distinct parts—an exhibition hall and an on-site display of the ruins—the museum’s entrance is marked by a striking archway formed by three large stones. Above the arch, a captivating image of two giant birds with wings spread, protecting the rising sun, adds a dramatic touch that draws nearly every visitor to capture a photograph.
The museum’s architecture is a tribute to the Hemudu style, featuring a gabled design and intricate interlocking components that symbolize the mortise and tenon technology characteristic of the era. The first stop on your journey is the exhibition hall, which is home to three distinct exhibition rooms.
The prologue hall sets the stage with an overview of Hemudu culture, presented through text, models, and artifacts. Two skull fossils and their reconstructed faces are particularly enthralling, offering a glimpse into the appearance of ancestors from 7000 years ago.
Moving on to the second exhibition hall, you’ll find a focus on the agricultural activities and hunting practices of the Hemudu people. Displays include stone tools, pottery, bone needles, and bone whistles, all indicative of the Neolithic period. Additionally, remains of crops such as rice and sour jujube provide a fascinating insight into the daily lives and productive activities of our ancestors.
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The third exhibition hall is dedicated to life and art, showcasing architectural wood components and an array of textile tools. Displayed alongside are numerous ornaments crafted from materials such as ivory, bone, jade, and pottery. The craftsmanship and design concepts behind these artifacts are truly astonishing, offering visitors a glimpse into the daily and artistic life of the Hemudu people.
After exiting the exhibition hall and heading southeast, you’ll quickly reach the on-site display area of the ruins. Dominating the landscape is the restored archaeological site, where a multitude of wooden architectural components are preserved within a ground fence, illustrating the prosperity of the Hemudu tribe.
Adjacent to this, a reconstructed Hemudu house stands as a testament to their architectural prowess. These ‘stilt-style’ buildings boast not only an aesthetically pleasing form but also incorporate advanced technologies such as mortise and tenon joints and a unique design that separates living quarters from livestock areas, marking a significant innovation in Hemudu culture.
The museum further enhances the experience with a collection of sculptures that recreate the ambiance of life during that era, making this section one of the most engaging and immersive parts of the museum. Visitors can stroll through the streets as if they were part of the tribe, or step inside a house to witness women spinning and weaving, while men are busy chopping wood and constructing houses. Others are seen grinding bone tools, husking grains, crafting pottery from clay, and engraving with intense focus. This vivid scene transports one back in time, evoking a profound sense of time travel.
—Opening hours:
From May 1st to September 30th, open from Tuesday to Sunday, 08:30 – 17:00; closed all day on Monday throughout the year; from October 1st to April 30th, open from Tuesday to Sunday, 09:00 – 16:30; open from 09:00 – 16:30 on New Year’s Day, Spring Festival, Tomb Sweeping Day, Labor Day, Dragon Boat Festival, Mid-Autumn Festival, and National Day.
Must-see tips:
1. Chinese interpretation in the exhibition hall is 50 yuan per session. Foreign language interpretation (English, Japanese) is 80 yuan per session. Each batch is limited to within 30 people.
2. Tripods and flashlights cannot be used for photography in the exhibition hall.
After the visit, you might consider walking by the nearby Yaojiang River, where the scenery is quite pleasant.
If you are interested in archaeology, about 7 kilometers to the north, the Tianluoshan Site On-site Museum, which is also managed by the museum, is also worth a visit. You can see the archaeological site up close. However, due to the lack of reliable public transportation, you may need to find a tricycle or motorcycle taxi to get there.
