West Lake Museum

The West Lake Museum is a modern facility in Hangzhou built largely underground and topped with a glass and steel structure that blends into its surroundings. The exhibition documents the lake's development across several areas with historical objects and visual records spanning different periods.

The museum was established in 1929 and relocated several times during the 1937 invasion before returning to Hangzhou in 1945. This period of displacement reflects the broader upheavals that shaped China during the 20th century.

The lake shaped Hangzhou's artistic and spiritual life for centuries, attracting poets, painters, and scholars who made it central to the city's identity. Visitors can see how this place continues to define what the city means to its people today.

The underground location keeps the interior comfortable regardless of weather, making it pleasant to visit year-round. Plan to spend enough time moving through all exhibition areas to get a full sense of what the lake has meant over time.

The collection includes a painting by Yuan dynasty artist Huang Gongwang that forms part of a divided masterwork originally conceived as one complete piece. This fragmented artwork connects visitors to a treasure of Chinese art history split across different locations.