Zhejiang Provincial Museum in 4 Words:
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Now, that's what I call professional insight.
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I've visited almost all the provincial museums across the country, and as a Zhejiang local, I still find the Zhejiang Provincial Museum disappointing. When I visited the Henan Provincial Museum, I was so moved I almost cried – it was that breathtaking. The new ZPM building just feels like a nicely decorated big house. Another museum in a similar boat was the new Jiangxi Museum four years ago, which had just finished renovations but hadn't moved its exhibits in yet.
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Jiangxi should probably thank Marquis Haihun; otherwise, they wouldn't have many major tombs either.
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Isn't the Liangzhu Jade Cong just as impressive as the 'Galloping Horse Treading on a Flying Swallow'?
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Well, maybe, perhaps, possibly... um, yeah, you're right.
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The Zhejiang Provincial Museum has half of the 'Dwelling in the Fuchun Mountains' scroll. Isn't that enough to be considered its signature piece?
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Most people can't fully appreciate 'Dwelling in the Fuchun Mountains' and wouldn't see it as particularly special compared to other ink wash landscape paintings, of which there's a huge number in existence.
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Finally, someone said it! I was dumbfounded after my visit. Like, 'Is this it?' It's a fact that they lack major artifacts, but what's worse is the crude exhibition design and confusing layout. And this is Zhejiang! Zhejiang, a province renowned for its culture!
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But I still really liked Zhejiang on this trip. I hope it steps up its game!
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Shanghai has financial resources and donations, resulting in countless important artifacts. Hangzhou has Southern Song imperial kilns and Longquan celadon, but unfortunately, few top-tier pieces; the Southern Song imperial kiln items are mostly repaired fragments. The Zhejiang Provincial Museum also lacks significant bronze artifacts, so it can't compare with northern museums. Poor ZPM can't match Shanghai's wealth or the north's archaeological finds, and it didn't even manage to secure any 'miseci' (secret color) porcelain.
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Suddenly, I understand why the Lin'an District Museum was renamed the Wuyue Kingdom Museum.