The world's largest silk museum sits south of West Lake and tells the 5,000-year history of one of China's most important exports. The collection runs from neolithic silk fragments to imperial court robes, presented in well-lit galleries with English text. The weaving hall is the highlight: ancient looms are demonstrated by weavers, and you can see the entire production process from silkworm to finished brocade.
The museum is genuinely good for a dedicated textile museum — the imperial robes gallery alone justifies the trip. There is a shop selling reasonably priced silk goods where the quality is reliably better than the tourist markets. The building sits in a garden that makes a pleasant detour on the way to or from Longjing Village.