Hangzhou is situated in Zhejiang Province; it has a very deep historical and cultural heritage. The history of silk production in Hangzhou can be traced to the age of the Liangzhu Culture (circa. 3400 – 2250 BC). The surrounding West Lake Cultural Landscape is named on the UNESCO World Heritage List, the only Lake District in China to have been so honoured. In its history that goes back over 2,200 years, Hangzhou is not unlike a pearl on the Southeast Coast of China, with a natural shimmer as well as humanistic gloss. The ancient proverb says, ‘Suzhou and Hangzhou, Earthly Paradise’.

Historically Hangzhou has been an area with significant agricultural output. Marco Polo, after visiting the Yuan Dynasty Hangzhou, has proclaimed it to be "the most glamorous city in the world." In the long course of history, the ancient capital, surrounded on three sides by 'cloud-capped hills' and on the fourth by the city, has attracted many emperors and aristocrats as well as droves of men of letters, whose sojourns here have inspired a wealth of odes to the Jiangnan (i.e., the area south of the Yangtze River). While keeping watch on the ink and water landscape characteristic of the Jiangnan, it also composes a unique, human story.

The site of the current campus of China Academy of Art, by West Lake, was established in 1928. It was the first comprehensive national institution for higher education in art. China Academy of Art is a pioneer in contemporary Chinese art education and has a unique and distinctive position within art at a national and international level.

In China, research in contemporary fiber art started with the establishment of the Varbanov Tapestry Research Centre at the Zhejiang Academy of Fine Arts (the predecessor of China Academy of Art) in 1986 and in collaboration with Zhejiang Art Carpet Factory. In 1987 three tapestry works created by the Research Centre were selected for the Biennale Internationale de la Tapisserie in Lausanne, Switzerland and became international renowned. This saw the advent of a new era for research in Chinese contemporary fiber art. Influential exhibitions were then held in Shanghai in 1987, Hong Kong in 1988, and than in 1989 in USA and Japan.

China Academy of Art leads the way in the development of contemporary fiber art in China. It maintains this position by combining people, location and a high-end education. There is a number of very experienced faculty staff that is fully engaged in international activities, exchanges and events.

In addition, the Varbanov Tapestry Research Centre has been expanded into a Fiber and Space Art Studio, then transformed to Department of Fiber Art and Contemporary Fiber Art Research Institute of CAA, that is fully incorporated into the educational system of the academy. Fiber art education has been renewed with courses at undergraduate, postgraduate and PhD levels.

Zhejiang Art Museum (ZAM), with a coverage of 35,000 square meters, is located on No.138 Nanshan Road, Hangzhou, against Wansongling and opposite to the West Lake. In the museum, there are 14 exhibition halls of different sizes, taking up 9,000 square meters, including 6 exhibition halls with constant temperature and humidity. Besides, the museum is equipped with multiple supporting facilities such as the Central Hall, Skylight Promenade, International Academic Reporting Hall, Multi-functional Hall, Hall for Assessment and Appreciation, Center for Art Books and Documentations, Children’s Fine Arts World, Arts Bookstore, Store of Arts Materials and Supplies, and Coffee Bar.

Since its opening in August 2009, the museum, on behalf of the nation, is dedicated to the exhibition, display, solicitation, and collection of art works and art literature, with which it aims to provide and present academic research, education promotion, international exchanges and public cultural services. ZAM is committed to collecting and exhibiting art works, cultural relics and documentations that reflect the development of arts in Zhejiang, especially those created by modern and contemporary artists who are either Zhejiang natives or engaged in significant artistic events in Zhejiang.