The National Cultural Heritage Administration recently announced the fifth batch of 123 national first-class museums, eight of which were located in Zhejiang province. Of those, Hangzhou alone accounted for five, making it second only to Beijing and tying with Shanghai for second place nationwide.

The newly designated first-class museums in Hangzhou are:

1. National Water Museum of China: Located on the southern bank of the Qiantang River, ithis national museum is under the Ministry of Water Resources, focusing on education, research, collection, protection, and exchange.

The National Water Museum of China. [Photo/WeChat account: gh_e9c85e97cccd]

2. Linping Museum: A comprehensive museum that integrates collection, research, and education, Linping Museum plays a crucial role in the study and showcasing of Jiangnan culture and local history.

3. Xiaoshan Kuahuqiao Site Museum: Showcases artifacts from the Kuahuqiao site, including daily utensils, production tools, hunting implements, and ornaments, reflecting the prehistoric development in the Xianghu Lake area.

The Xiaoshan Kuahuqiao Site Museum. [Photo/WeChat account: gh_e9c85e97cccd]

4. Zhejiang University Museum of Art and Archaeology: Located at Zhejiang University's Zijingang Campus, this museum facilitates physical teaching through the collection, research, and exhibition of art and archaeological works.

5. Liangzhu Museum: An archaeological site museum that collects, researches, and displays the cultural heritage of the Liangzhu civilization.

These additions bring the total number of national first-class museums in Hangzhou to 12. The city currently boasts 224 museums, including 54 registered public museums, 33 private museums, and 140 rural (community) museums.