Dinosaurs in Keqiao: The Pangu Fossil Museum

[00:00] Amelia Old

There's a museum in eastern China where ancient creatures tell their stories—creatures that lived millions of years before humans walked the earth. Dinosaurs that once roamed the land beneath our feet.

And the woman who curates this collection, a designer from Hong Kong, didn't set out to build a museum at all. She followed her husband to a small ancient town. They had a different project in mind when they moved there, but sometimes the work chooses you.

[00:38] Amelia Old

Today's episode takes us to Keqiao, an ancient town in Shaoxing, Zhejiang Province, a place with 1,700 years of history. And if you're wondering what fossils have to do with an ancient water town, you're about to find out.

I'm Amelia, and this is Voices of Inspiration.

Everyone has a story to tell. We connect and relate to one another when we share our stories. My name is Amelia Old, and I'm your host of Voices of Inspiration. Join me as I share stories of friends, family, and strangers through my everyday life and travels. You will laugh, possibly cry, but walk away feeling more connected than ever to those around you and ready to be the change our world needs.

Everyone has a story to tell. What's yours?

[01:34] Amelia Old

Most people don't think about what lies beneath their feet. We walk on sidewalks, drive on roads, build our homes on solid ground, and we rarely consider the deep time embedded in that earth—the layers of sediment, the compressed remains of ancient life, the story written in stone.

But in Zhejiang Province, that story is particularly rich.

Dinosaur fossils have been discovered throughout the province—not just scattered fragments, but significant finds that have helped scientists understand what life looked like millions of years ago.

My guest is Fang Lei. She's a designer from Hong Kong who, together with her husband, created something unexpected: a private fossil museum in Keqiao's ancient town.

[02:02] Amelia Old

The Pangu Fossil Museum houses over 3,000 specimens. It's also a science education center, and as of 2024 it's connected to Shaoxing's first museum-themed homestay.

Keqiao is definitely one of those towns that exist in layers. You walk through the town and you'll see what 1,700 years of continuous life looks like. Canals wind through stone pathways. Traditional architecture reflects generations of careful preservation.

But there's another layer to the story—and one that goes much, much deeper.

Somewhere in this ancient town, past the traditional houses and over the old stone bridges, there's the Pangu Fossil Museum, named for the primordial being from Chinese mythology who separated heaven and earth.

This isn't a government institution with funding and infrastructure. It's not affiliated with a university. It's a private collection that two people turned into a museum because they believed these ancient specimens deserve to be seen, studied, and shared.

[03:38] Amelia Old

I have to admit, I don't think I've ever really seen dinosaurs before. Maybe once or twice as a child if I went to a museum with school, but nothing like what this museum holds.

If you live in Zhejiang, you're walking on ground that literally contains evidence of creatures from 100 million years ago, 150 million years ago—maybe even further back.

For many people, especially children, that realization changes something. Dinosaurs aren't just creatures from movies. They become part of home, part of your own backyard.

Typically when we visit museums, we look at the exhibits. Maybe we read the plaques—I know I do, I have to read every single one. Some people don't. We take some photos and we leave.

The whole visit might last an hour. Maybe two if we're really engaged.

But what if you could stay?

[04:27] Amelia Old

That's the idea behind the homestay here.

Scientists and researchers were visiting the museum—paleontologists from Beijing and experts from other provinces. They wanted to spend real time with this collection, have conversations, study specific specimens.

But they needed somewhere to stay.

And then it became something more—a space where anyone—families, students, curious travelers—could extend their experience beyond a brief museum visit.

Here's something most people don't think about. For every fossil in a museum, there are countless others that never make it there.

Some remain buried, undiscovered. Some get destroyed during construction or farming. Some end up in private collections where no one will ever see them.

And some—the scientifically significant ones—go to major institutions for research.

This is where someone like Fang Lei makes a difference.

She and her husband could have kept their collection private. Many collectors do. But they chose to create a public space to share what they've gathered and to build programs that help people understand what these objects mean.

And that choice requires sacrifice. Private museums don't have government funding. They operate on admission fees and personal resources.

[05:48] Fang Lei

You can call me Florence. In 2021 I came here with my husband and we became the founders and creators of this museum. The museum's name is the Pangu Fossil Museum.

We also set up the homestay. This homestay is a museum-themed homestay.

[06:23] Amelia Old

How did your husband's love for fossils first begin, and how did it grow into this museum?

[06:33] Fang Lei

My husband and I both come from Hong Kong and we are interior designers. We always had many projects, so we traveled nationwide.

In 1993 we finished a project in Shanghai designing and decorating the Peace Hotel. Around that time we liked visiting boutique stores, and my husband found his first fossil—a dinosaur fossil from Guizhou. That was his first collection.

[07:23] Amelia Old

What was it like to design a museum inside this town? Did the surroundings influence your style?

[07:37] Fang Lei

We always had a dream because we both love the Jiangnan style. Jiangnan style refers to the traditional architecture of the Yangtze River Delta—in Zhejiang and Jiangsu provinces.

We were looking for a building like that to create a place for the collection.

Very fortunately we found Keqiao. This ancient town already had 1,700 years of history. We were very lucky to find such an old building. It became our dream house, and then we redesigned it.

[08:37] Amelia Old

Your museum holds more than 3,000 specimens. Is there one fossil that feels especially meaningful to you and your husband?

[08:53] Fang Lei

Visitors ask us this question many times. It's very hard to say because every single item in the museum has a long history. Every item is a treasure for both of us.

[09:19] Amelia Old

What do you hope visitors learn or feel when they see these ancient pieces from Earth?

[09:33] Fang Lei

I share many stories in the museum with visitors, students, and children. When I stand in front of these ancient items, I feel that human beings are very tiny.

These fossils have a history far longer than ours. I hope visitors feel curious—to explore and learn more about life and its stories beyond human history.

[10:32] Amelia Old

Many visitors come here for science, but they leave touched by the story of you and your husband. What has surprised you about their reactions?

[10:54] Fang Lei

I often share two themes.

One is the beauty of the ancient items. When visitors come to the museum, they see that the display is different from other museums. I carefully design the lighting and angles because I am the curator.

Another theme I share with students is that dinosaurs are actually underneath our feet. In Zhejiang Province there are many fossils beneath the ground, but people never realized it before.

I hope this helps students appreciate their homeland and discover the stories beneath it.

[12:23] Amelia Old

I personally collect antique books. It's something I've only gotten into in the last couple of years.

I always tell people that once history is gone—once those books are gone—you can't get them back. That's why I think it's important that you're preserving these items and giving them a place to be shared with the future.

I'm going to pause here for a quick break, and we'll be right back.

[13:50] Amelia Old

Today's episode is supported by China Eastern Airlines. They offer three nonstop routes from the United States to Shanghai Pudong, which is how I traveled while working on this series.

China Eastern is headquartered in Shanghai and is one of China's major international carriers. The airline operates over 100 domestic and international branches worldwide and serves destinations across China, Asia, Europe, and other global regions.

They're also a member of the SkyTeam Alliance, partnering with airlines such as Delta and allowing SkyMiles members to earn miles across participating carriers.

If you're planning travel to Shanghai or exploring future international trips, you can find booking information on the China Eastern Airlines website, which I'll link in the notes of this episode.

Okay, let's get back to it.

[14:08] Amelia Old

Can you talk a little bit about what visitors can expect staying in your homestay?

[14:15] Fang Lei

In 2021 we built the museum and began sharing knowledge with local students and families. The museum started attracting scientists from Beijing and other places who came to visit and discuss fossils.

I thought maybe we should offer a place for them to stay. That's how we created the Hemu Homestay.

At first it was for scientists and researchers, but since they don't visit every day, we decided to open it to the public.

Visitors who stay here will notice the design and the decoration. Even the room names connect to history. The museum focuses on ancient history, and the homestay focuses more on the history of human civilization.

[16:00] Amelia Old

I think it's a very unique idea and I absolutely love it. I'm really grateful that you welcomed me here and showed me your collection. I feel like I could spend an entire day here—probably multiple days.

I do have one more question that I ask every guest. Do you have a favorite quote or words of wisdom you live by?

[16:50] Fang Lei

Actually, I don't think too much about the future. I don't make detailed plans.

It feels like something pushes me to do these things. When a new task appears, I simply try my best.

For example, with the homestay I had to learn design, curation, and operations. I just keep learning and working hard.

[17:46] Amelia Old

I call that following your intuition—listening to your inner voice.

[17:59] Amelia Old

Thank you so much for taking time to speak with me today. I know you're very busy with the museum, the homestay, and your education programs. I'm very grateful you welcomed me here.

[18:20] Fang Lei

I really appreciate what you have done and why you came here. Thank you for sharing our story.

[18:30] Amelia Old

I think many people in the United States—and even in Europe—may not know about this part of China. That's why it's important to share these stories.

I've learned so much this week. That's the beauty of travel—being open to other cultures and learning from people around the world.

What makes something worth preserving?

We preserve things that represent human achievement—temples, historic documents, works of art.

But fossils are different. They tell us about a world that existed long before us. They remind us that the Earth has a deep history and that life has taken forms we can barely imagine.

When Fang Lei and her husband created the Pangu Museum, they weren't scientists or paleontologists. They were designers who developed a passion for ancient objects and decided that passion should be shared.

Meaningful work often emerges from unexpected places. You don't need credentials or a master plan.

You need curiosity. You need commitment. And you need to believe that what you're doing has value.

The Pangu Museum has given thousands of people access to something they might never have encountered otherwise—a glimpse into deep time and a connection to ancient life.

That's work worth celebrating.

[19:45] Amelia Old

Thank you for listening to this episode of Voices of Inspiration. I'll see you next time.