A Visit to the Oriente Museum on Chinese New Year

It's Chinese New Year - the Year of the Water Rabbit!  So I thought what better way to celebrate but a visit to the Oriente Museum.

For Chinese New Year, it had a fun rabbit theme.

As well as the traditional Chinese New Year decorations - red envelopes and lanterns.

The museum sits on the water's edge in the Alcântara area, next to the Ponte 25 de Abril.  It's housed in an old port warehouse from the 40s. 

It was an easy train ride from Cais do Sodre and then a short walk.  Entry fee was €6.  

​This museum is dedicated to Portugal's presence in Asia. Portuguese presence in Asia is not something that is often brought up in conversation but Portugal has always had a strong connection to the Orient, including the era when Vasco da Gama discovered the sea route to India. Macau is a Chinese territory that was once under rule of Portugal; as a result there are copious amounts of Portuguese influenced artworks, sculptures and trade items for display. The trade agreements between the two lands allow for exhibits from Goa, China, Japan, and East Timor.

The museum is arranged chronologically and by areas. On floors 1 and 2 you’ll find two permanent exhibitions. The first one is about the Portuguese presence in Asia and consists of over a thousand artistic and documentary objects. The second is the Kwok On collection – a donation by the Musée Kwok On Association in Paris, which has over 13,000 pieces.

In addition to the exhibits, the museum also features an auditorium, a shop, a cafeteria and a rooftop restaurant, from where the view of the Tejo River is spectacular.

This slideshow shows some of the photos I took of their collection.  I hope you enjoy until you can see the exhibits personally.

If you want to find out more about the museum you can visit their official website. 

Check out my other Lisbon museum posts!