The Fujian Museum is the provincial museum of Fujian, established in 1933 and now housed in a large modern building in Xihú Park. The permanent collection spans maritime history, Neolithic archaeology, and the distinctive crafts of the region. The displays on Fuzhou's role in early Chinese contact with the outside world are particularly strong — the city was a major departure point for the silk road by sea, and the museum has good material on Ming dynasty maritime expeditions.
The lacquerware collection is the best outside specialist venues: Fuzhou botan lacquer (bodiless lacquer, applied in dozens of layers without a wooden core) is one of the city's traditional crafts and the museum has well-preserved historical examples. Entry is free with ID.