China Umbrella Museum

Rainy Jiangnan is responsible for the unique and deep-rooted umbrella culture reigning Hangzhou. As an indispensable part of Hangzhou people's local life, umbrellas have inspired countless folklore stories and legends. Among them, Legend of the White Snake has endured as the greatest Chinese love story. Here goes a brief introduction of the plot: Lady White Snake lent an umbrella to Xuxian with whom Lady White Snake was genuinely in love and thus began their remarkable romance.

Situated on the west bank of the Grand Canal and the millennium-old Gongchen Bridge, China Umbrella Museum ranks as one of the three national themed museums in China, and the first umbrella-themed museum in the world. Covering an area of 2,411 square meters, this unassuming haven houses a constellation of exhibitions depicting the variants, culture, history, stories, craftwork, and art of umbrellas. You can not only feast your eyes on a kaleidoscope of fans accumulated over various dynasties and throughout the country but also exotic fans from all over the world, such as Spain, Japan, and Britain.

Among all the exhibitions contained within the China Umbrella Museum, Wanminsan (万民伞), a kind of enormous umbrella used by commoners to express thanks to their local officials, stands out as the most notable one. It is said that the more Wanminsan an official receives, the more popular he is among the citizens.

Time: 9:00 to 16:30 from Wednesday to next Monday (no entry after 16:00)

Address: 336 Xiaohe Road, Gongshu District

Telephone: +86 571 88197508