China Guide
Jiangsu and Zhejiang
The Suzhou Silk Museum
Opening time: Daily 9am–5.30pm
Price: ¥10
Address: Renmin Lu
Starting from the legendary inventor of silk, Lei Zu, the concubine of the equally legendary emperor Huang Di, the Suzhou Silk Museum traces the history of silk production and its use from 4000 BC to the present day. There are displays of looms and weaving machines, and reproductions of early silk patterns, but the most riveting display – and something of a shock – is the room full of silkworms munching mulberry leaves and spinning cocoons, and copulating moths.