One of the oldest surviving forms of Chinese opera, Kunqu (Kūnqǔ, 崑曲) is given full voice at this museum, which opened in 2003.

Housed in a beautiful old theater, the Kunqu Opera Museum (Kūnqǔ Bówùguǎn, 崑曲博物馆) displays a host of more than 10,000 opera-related objects, including masks, costumes, manuscripts and ancient instruments. It also hosts occasional performances (typically between 1 and 4pm).

Kunqu originated in the area around Suzhou and has survived for more than 600 years. In 2001, it was designated a Masterpiece of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO. Today, after a period of near-extinction during the Cultural Revolution, it survives in plays such as The Peony Pavilion and The Peach Blossom Fan. The nearby Pingtan Museum celebrates another local musical art form.

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