Soochow University Museum

Soochow University Museum
苏州大学博物馆

Address: 1 Shizi Street, Wuzhong district, Suzhou, Jiangsu province.
Hours: 8:30-17:00 (Monday-Friday)
(On weekends, national holidays and summer and winter vacations the museum is only open to tours arranged by the university.)
General admission: Free
Tel: (+86-12)-65113831/65733867

As a subordinate venue of Soochow University, the museum was founded in March 2007 to showcase the century-long history of the university and further protect its cultural heritage. It opened to the public on May 10, 2010.

The museum is a member of the National Education Alliance of University and College Museums, a group member of the Chinese Museum Association and a standing member of the Committee of University and College Museums, which is led by the Chinese Museums Association.

It highlights relics displaying the university's history and the development of modern Chinese higher education. It also presents exhibits that illustrate the local culture and the university’s development in arts and social sciences.

The museum was built on the original site of Sima De Gymnasium of Soochow University (formerly known as Dongwu University). It consists of three parts with a total floor space of 6,000 square meters. The Front Hall, the former site of the gymnasium, was renovated to maintain the original appearance and structure of the stadium, and is home to temporary exhibitions; the Rear Hall, an expansion project on the former Sima De Swimming Pool, consists of an underground floor and a three-floor building on the grounds. It is the venue for permanent exhibits, and houses thematic exhibitions ranging from the university’s history, art and calligraphy to antiques and relics and epigraphs and inscriptions.

It houses more than 3,000 relics, including historical ones pertaining to the university, calligraphy, paintings, inscriptions, stones, ceramics, porcelain, bronze, silver, jade, coins, wood carvings, and clothing; their characteristics are as distinct as their range is wide.