Museums serve as preservers and recorders of history, encapsulating time and spanning across eras, connecting us to the past. When visiting a place, it has become a common practice for many people to include a visit to the local museum in their itinerary. In Jiangsu, there are numerous intriguing and interesting theme museums that are worth a visit. Come and embark on a marvelous journey through these museums.
Suzhou Museum of Imperial Kiln Brick
The Imperial Kiln, known as the exclusive brick kiln of the imperial palace, is showcased in the Suzhou Museum of Imperial Kiln Brick. The museum displays over a thousand gold bricks from different eras, each inscribed with historical records, witnessing the rise and fall of the Ming and Qing dynasties and hundreds of years of Chinese history. Visitors can also explore the production facilities within the museum, where the process of crafting the imperial kiln bricks is demonstrated, allowing them to participate in the joyful experience of brick making.
Nanjing Imperial Examination Museum of China
The Nanjing Imperial Examination Museum of China is a renovated and expanded version of the Jiangnan Gongyuan, which was the largest examination hall for the imperial examination system in ancient China. During its peak, it could accommodate over 20,000 candidates taking the exam simultaneously. Its immense scale and vast area make it the most prominent among the provincial examination halls in China, representing the pinnacle of ancient Chinese examination halls.
Wuxi China Yixing Zisha-ware Museum /China Yixing Ceramic Museum
In English, "china" and "China" are homophones, referring to both porcelain and the country itself. China is the birthplace of porcelain, which is a significant creation of ancient laborers. With a focus on ceramics, the China Yixing Ceramic Museum in Yixing is the earliest-established ceramic museum in China. The museum houses a rich collection, including pottery from the Han Dynasty, celadon from the Wei and Jin Dynasties, Jun ware from the Song and Ming Dynasties, and Yixing purple clay pottery from the Ming and Qing Dynasties, as well as contemporary glazed pottery, art pottery, and exquisite pottery, showcasing the charm of Yixing as the ceramic capital.
Xuzhou Imperial Decree Museum
The Xuzhou Imperial Decree Museum is currently the largest and earliest imperial decree cultural museum in China. The museum houses over 18,000 sets of artifacts related to imperial decrees from the Ming and Qing Dynasties, with more than 3,000 sets of precious cultural relics on display. It presents a comprehensive and well-structured history of the development of imperial decrees, providing valuable historical materials. The precious collection of imperial decrees showcases the splendid and diverse traditional culture of the Chinese nation from various perspectives, reflecting the grand historical changes and tumultuous era.
Nantong Abacus Museum of China
The Nantong Abacus Museum of China is located by the picturesque Hao River in Nantong. It houses over 10,000 artifacts and historical materials related to abacus, making it the largest specialized abacus museum in the world. The museum consists of the Abacus History Hall, the Fine Abacus Exhibition Hall, and the Rosewood Abacus Hall. The Abacus History Hall showcases the long history and profound heritage of Chinese abacus through exquisite exhibits and rustic colors. The Fine Abacus Exhibition Hall displays a variety of ancient and modern abacuses in different sizes, shapes, and materials. In the Rosewood Abacus Hall, there are large rosewood abacuses with ancient design and unique structure, combining abacus craftsmanship with rosewood artistry, showcasing the brilliance and splendor of traditional Chinese culture.
Suqian Crystal World Glass Art Museum
The Crystal World Glass Art Museum is transformed from an old factory building, exuding a rich industrial atmosphere. The glass art museum is divided into five main chapters: "Origin of Glass”, "Birth of Glass”, "Factory Stories”, "Technological Innovation”, and "Art Design”. Visitors can explore and experience the unique charm of glass art in a sequential manner. The museum houses a large collection of distinctive glass artworks, ranging from exquisite jewelry to everyday items, encompassing a wide variety and leaving visitors amazed. Getting up close to admire the splendid glass artworks showcased in the display windows is truly a delightful aesthetic experience.
Yancheng China Sea-salt Museum
The only specialized museum in the country that reflects the time-honored history of Chinese sea salt, the exterior of the building is adorned with silver-white hexagonal salt crystal motifs, resembling scattered salt crystals along the Chuanchang River. The new permanent exhibition, titled "Sea Salt Elegance”, consists of four parts: "Introducing Sea and Making Salt”, " Salt Sales and Transport”, " Salt Management History”, and "City Thriving on Sea Salt”. In addition, there are two thematic halls, "The Song of Boiling the Sea" and "Salt Fun Around the Sea”, which reflect the culture of sea salt and provide an overview of the global salt industry. There is also a temporary exhibition hall, aiming to comprehensively and from multiple perspectives collect, protect, and research historical materials related to Chinese sea salt culture. It showcases the outstanding achievements and contemporary charm of Chinese sea salt culture.
