Hangzhou Museums

Don't miss spending some days in Hangzhou, the capital of Zheijiang province on your trip to China. It is one of the most beautiful places in the whole country and lies in the southwest of Shanghai. In fact the distance is around one hundred and eighty kilometers. Hangzhou is well populated with nearly 1.75 million residents. The history of Hangzhou dates back to almost thousand years and you will specially enjoy the natural pristine beauty of the place, do spend time admiring West Lake. Hangzhou was also the capital of Southern Song Dynasty from near the beginning of the twelfth century until Mongol invasions of 12 76 AD. It was the hot seat of many exclusive activities including entertainment and Marco Polo had commented in the thirteenth century that Hangzhou then was one of the finest and noblest in the world. You will catch glimpses of the magnificent past of the city if you visit Hangzhou museums.

Hangzhou museums are dedicated to all the facets of Chinese civilizations. In fact China was one of the few countries where tea was consumed regularly both as a healer and beverage. Making the perfect cuppa was a skill that was mastered by the Chinese centuries back. How the tea was made and how it was taken gives valuable insight in to Chinese social hierarchy, obviously the way tea was taken by the noblemen was not the way the common man took it. You will have a glorious time deciphering the bits and pieces of the history of tea in China in National Tea Museum.

As you are well aware, China had a very developed pottery culture. Pottery in China was for both for decorative and practical purposes. Decorative pottery was masterpieces in themselves, blue Chinese pottery still has several dedicated fans in the contemporary world. Visit Southern Song Imperial Kiln Museum to know more.

For insights into Chinese traditional medicines, the best place is Huquingyutang Traditional Chinese Medicine Museum and for a silky journey to the history and evolution of silk in China do visit China National Silk Museum.