(Photo/Zhejiang Provincial Department of Culture and Tourism)

As a province of profound culture and long history, Zhejiang is ample in museums with distinct characteristics where local cultures are presented vividly. Thus, we are going to share with you those unique museums in Zhejiang which are sure to take your breath away!

Today, let's take a look at China National Sigillography Museum in Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province.

Founded by Xiling Seal Art Society (Hangzhou), a renowned society for arts including seal cutting, China National Sigillography Museum is the first professional sigillography museum in China integrating literature collection, relics presentation and academic communication. With a strong academic ambience and picturesque natural scenery, the museum is entitled as a "national garden museum" and was opened to the public in 1996.

(Photo/Zhejiang Provincial Department of Culture and Tourism)

Covering an area of 7000 square meters, the museum is divided into nine exhibition halls and seal creation workshops, showing completely the development of seals and sigillography in China, including imperial seals, epigraphic art, calligraphy, etc. Besides, there are more than 1,000 pieces of rare historical relics in the museum, and the major buildings in the garden were mainly built during the Ming and Qing Dynasties.

(Photo/Zhejiang Provincial Department of Culture and Tourism)

In 2001, the art of seal cutting of China was present on UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage Lists.

ADD: No. 10, Gushan Houshan Road, Xihu District, Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province