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Hangzhou's footprints through time are now preserved
By Pan Zheng |
May 20, 2009, Wednesday
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THE Hangzhou History Museum at the foot of Wushan Hill, close to the famous Hefang Old Street, spreads more than 7,000 square meters and comprehensively reflects the history of the city. Pan Zheng looks back in time.
As one of the seven ancient capitals, Hangzhou has its own special section in the history of ancient China. From the Liangzhu Culture, which is regarded as "the dawn of Chinese civilization," to today's modern city which has merged with history, Hangzhou has left a lot of footprints through time. Now, to mark this long journey, the people of Hangzhou have built a museum, to show those "footprints." Hence the Hangzhou History Museum.
Situated at the foot of Wushan Hill, very close to the famous Hefang Old Street, the Hangzhou History Museum spreads more than 7,000 square meters. It was formally opened to the public in August 2001. The comprehensive museum reflects the history of the city of Hangzhou, which annually welcomes 200,000 visitors from home and abroad.
There are three floors and nine main display halls in the museum, and they are arranged by date.
On the first floor you can find the displays of the Hall of the Primitive Society and the Southern and Northern Dynasties (420-589 AD); Hall of the Sui (581-618 AD), Tang (618-907 AD) dynasties and Five Dynasties and Kingdoms; and the Canal Hall.
The second floor includes the hall of the Song Dynasty (960-1279) and the hall of the Yuan (1271-1368), Ming (1368-1644) and Qing (1644-1911) dynasties, as well as the Historic Store of Hangzhou.
And the third floor holds stamps, Chinese calligraphy and paintings halls. These halls mostly showcase the valuable cultural relics which have been excavated in Hangzhou over the years and which reflect the various historical aspects of the city. The halls have on display more than 200 relics, such as a crystal cup from the Warring States Period (476-221 BC) and a stone pagoda of Lingfeng Temple.
Hangzhou was originally called Yuhang in the Xia Dynasty (c. 21st century-16th century BC). In the Qin Dynasty (221-206 BC), it was named Qiantang by the emperor. In 589 AD, just eight years after the Sui Dynasty was established, it was first named Hangzhou. In 610 AD, the Jiangnan Canal was built from today's Zhenjiang City of Jiangsu Province to Hangzhou, stretching more than 400 kilometers. The canal gave Hangzhou a perfect geographical position, promoting its economy and cultural development rapidly.
In the Tang Dynasty, Hangzhou became a Jun (district), a step up from a county. By the Kaiyuan Period of the Tang Dynasty, Hangzhou was one of the leading three trading ports of ancient China, along with Guangzhou and Yangzhou.
In 822 AD, the famous poet Bai Juyi became the governor of Hangzhou. He made great efforts to improve the West Lake. And since that time, the West Lake has become a major attraction.
The most splendid ages of Hangzhou were in the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms and the Southern Song Dynasty. In the Five Dynasties, the Wuyue Kingdom set up its capital in Hangzhou. Under the 85 years' administration of the Wuyue royal family, Hangzhou became one of the richest cities with a dazzling culture. As all the three Wuyue Kings believed in Buddhism, Hangzhou was called "the Buddha State" at the time. Many of the relics of Buddhism that have been excavated around the West Lake were produced at that time.
Another highlight in Hangzhou's history appeared in the Southern Song Dynasty. At that time, Hangzhou became the capital for the entire country, and was renamed Lin'an. Becoming the city of the emperor brought many benefits to Hangzhou. The most important advantage was the rapid increase of the population, which soared to 1.24 million, double that of the population in the Northern Song Dynasty. The large population brought the thriving economy, and Hangzhou definitely became the economic and cultural center of China.
The famous Italian explorer Marco Polo used to call Hangzhou "the most beautiful and luxurious city of the world." But how is this heavenly city really defined? All the answers are now lying in display cases, waiting to share their secrets with you.
Address: 18 Liangdao Hill (southeast of Wushan Plaza)
Hours: 9:30am-4:30pm, closed on Mondays
Admission: Free
Buses: 25, 8, 38, Y8, 35, 850, 85, 40, 34, 59, 210, get off at Wushan Plaza
Tel: (0571) 8780-2660
As one of the seven ancient capitals, Hangzhou has its own special section in the history of ancient China. From the Liangzhu Culture, which is regarded as "the dawn of Chinese civilization," to today's modern city which has merged with history, Hangzhou has left a lot of footprints through time. Now, to mark this long journey, the people of Hangzhou have built a museum, to show those "footprints." Hence the Hangzhou History Museum.
Situated at the foot of Wushan Hill, very close to the famous Hefang Old Street, the Hangzhou History Museum spreads more than 7,000 square meters. It was formally opened to the public in August 2001. The comprehensive museum reflects the history of the city of Hangzhou, which annually welcomes 200,000 visitors from home and abroad.
There are three floors and nine main display halls in the museum, and they are arranged by date.
On the first floor you can find the displays of the Hall of the Primitive Society and the Southern and Northern Dynasties (420-589 AD); Hall of the Sui (581-618 AD), Tang (618-907 AD) dynasties and Five Dynasties and Kingdoms; and the Canal Hall.
The second floor includes the hall of the Song Dynasty (960-1279) and the hall of the Yuan (1271-1368), Ming (1368-1644) and Qing (1644-1911) dynasties, as well as the Historic Store of Hangzhou.
And the third floor holds stamps, Chinese calligraphy and paintings halls. These halls mostly showcase the valuable cultural relics which have been excavated in Hangzhou over the years and which reflect the various historical aspects of the city. The halls have on display more than 200 relics, such as a crystal cup from the Warring States Period (476-221 BC) and a stone pagoda of Lingfeng Temple.
Hangzhou was originally called Yuhang in the Xia Dynasty (c. 21st century-16th century BC). In the Qin Dynasty (221-206 BC), it was named Qiantang by the emperor. In 589 AD, just eight years after the Sui Dynasty was established, it was first named Hangzhou. In 610 AD, the Jiangnan Canal was built from today's Zhenjiang City of Jiangsu Province to Hangzhou, stretching more than 400 kilometers. The canal gave Hangzhou a perfect geographical position, promoting its economy and cultural development rapidly.
In the Tang Dynasty, Hangzhou became a Jun (district), a step up from a county. By the Kaiyuan Period of the Tang Dynasty, Hangzhou was one of the leading three trading ports of ancient China, along with Guangzhou and Yangzhou.
In 822 AD, the famous poet Bai Juyi became the governor of Hangzhou. He made great efforts to improve the West Lake. And since that time, the West Lake has become a major attraction.
The most splendid ages of Hangzhou were in the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms and the Southern Song Dynasty. In the Five Dynasties, the Wuyue Kingdom set up its capital in Hangzhou. Under the 85 years' administration of the Wuyue royal family, Hangzhou became one of the richest cities with a dazzling culture. As all the three Wuyue Kings believed in Buddhism, Hangzhou was called "the Buddha State" at the time. Many of the relics of Buddhism that have been excavated around the West Lake were produced at that time.
Another highlight in Hangzhou's history appeared in the Southern Song Dynasty. At that time, Hangzhou became the capital for the entire country, and was renamed Lin'an. Becoming the city of the emperor brought many benefits to Hangzhou. The most important advantage was the rapid increase of the population, which soared to 1.24 million, double that of the population in the Northern Song Dynasty. The large population brought the thriving economy, and Hangzhou definitely became the economic and cultural center of China.
The famous Italian explorer Marco Polo used to call Hangzhou "the most beautiful and luxurious city of the world." But how is this heavenly city really defined? All the answers are now lying in display cases, waiting to share their secrets with you.
Address: 18 Liangdao Hill (southeast of Wushan Plaza)
Hours: 9:30am-4:30pm, closed on Mondays
Admission: Free
Buses: 25, 8, 38, Y8, 35, 850, 85, 40, 34, 59, 210, get off at Wushan Plaza
Tel: (0571) 8780-2660
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