Originally located on Jiangxin Island, the Wenzhou Museum has now been relocated to the Century Square in the city center, making it easily accessible. When people mention ‘Wenzhou,’ many only think of the shrewd business acumen of the locals, with little knowledge of Wenzhou’s historical and cultural heritage. Although not large, the Wenzhou Museum provides a deeper understanding of Wenzhou and its people.
The museum is divided into two floors, with three main exhibition halls worth visiting: the History Hall, the Craft Hall, and the Natural Hall. Upon entering the museum lobby, one is greeted by a magnificent dragon boat model. To the left of the main entrance is the History Hall, which, with its theme ‘Wenzhou People – A Story of Survival and Expansion,’ showcases the history of Wenzhou as a chronicle of the Wenzhou people’s struggle and development. Here, you can see stone tools from the Neolithic Age, stories of Wenzhou literati like Wang Xizhi and Xie Lingyun, reconstructed models of kilns, rickshaws from the past, a Fiat car, and tales of Wenzhou merchants’ global ventures.
Opposite the exit of the History Hall is the Craft Hall, which primarily displays artifacts unearthed from the White Elephant Pagoda during the Northern Song Dynasty. The theme of the exhibit is ‘The Story of the White Elephant Pagoda,’ and it is presented in a narrative format. A realistic replica of the White Elephant Pagoda at the entrance is eye-catching, with a reconstructed underground palace next to it, allowing visitors to see various artifacts scattered inside through glass, as if they were at an archaeological site. The surroundings of the ‘underground palace’ display images of a large number of artifacts found within the walls of the White Elephant Pagoda’s first to fifth levels, including painted sculptures, coins, Buddhist scriptures, and bronzeware, all of which can be admired in the subsequent exhibition hall.
The Ceramics Hall next to the Craft Hall features many precious Ou Kiln treasures, which should not be missed by those interested in ceramics. Compared to the somewhat dry artifact displays downstairs, the Natural Hall upstairs is very popular with children. The entire area is designed to create a jungle atmosphere, with large lifelike dinosaurs hidden behind the trees, giraffes and ostrich specimens set against a vast savannah backdrop, and marine life specimens such as whales displayed against a blue ocean backdrop, all in lifelike poses. These combined displays of images, text, and objects make academic topics such as ancient biological fossils, biodiversity, and environmental protection very vivid, making it an ideal place for children to learn and have fun.
In addition, the museum often hosts temporary exhibitions on calligraphy, painting, and cultural relics. Exhibition information can be found on the museum’s official website. The museum is surrounded by modern urban facilities of Wenzhou, which are also worth visiting.
Opening hours are Tuesday to Sunday from 09:00 to 17:00 all year round; closed all day on Mondays. Service facilities include luggage storage: please store any inconvenient-to-carry boxes and bags before visiting, and keep valuable items with you.
Scenic Spot Interpretation:
1. Interpretation Reservation: Visitors can reserve free interpretation services, which are only available for groups of 8 or more. Please call the reservation hotline at least two days in advance to make a reservation.
2. When making a reservation, it is necessary to register the name of the organization, contact person, contact information, visit time, and the number of visitors. The person making the reservation should register at the service desk with a valid ID on the day of the visit to obtain interpretation services.
3. If there are any changes to the reserved schedule or if you wish to cancel the reservation, please contact our staff promptly to adjust the time. Failure to notify within half an hour of the scheduled time will be considered as a cancellation.
4. Special visitors such as military personnel and people with disabilities have priority in making reservations.
2. Interpretation Reception:
1. Our museum currently only provides interpretation services in Chinese, with each session lasting approximately 40 minutes.
2. Interpretation reception is arranged according to the order of reservations, with 3 sessions per day from Tuesday to Friday, and 1 session per day on weekends and holidays.
Essential Tips:
1. The use of flash is prohibited in the exhibition halls; please do not video record in the exhibition without permission.
Wenzhou Museum
Originally located on Jiangxin Island, the Wenzhou Museum has now been relocated to the Century Squa[...]
