Museum of Chinese History
Add: East side of Tian'anmen Square Open: 08:30-16:00
Built in 1959 on the east side of Tian'anmen Square, it is China's largest State museum in which more than 60,000 anticlues, historic documents and pictures are stored. It is regarded as a historic vista reviewing the evolution of the Chinese nation.
Museum of Chinese Revolutionary History
Add: East side of Tian'anmen Square Open: 08:30-16:30
Opened in 1961, the museum has collected some 120,000 relics, pictures and documents on the Chinese revolution from the May 4 Movement in 1919 to Liberation in 1949, especially after the founding of the Chinese Communist Party. The museum is adjacent to the Museum of Chinese History.
Military Museum of the Chinese People's Revolution
Add: 9 Fuxinglu, Haidian District Open: 08:30-16:00
The museum, located west of Muxidi, displays weapons and equipment for military history buffs. The exhibits show the evolution of weapons from the prehistoric shield and sword to space-age rockets. Now the museum is under construction for the 50th anniversary of China.
Capital Museum
Add: 13 Guozijianjie, Dongcheng District Open: 09:00-17:00 Closed on Monday
Located in the tranquil Temple of Confucius, the museum holds some 80,000 antiques from the Yuan, Ming and Qing dynasties. An annual temple fair is held at Spring Festival, Portraying the ceremonial ritual in memory of Confucius.
Beijing Museum of Natural History
Add: 126 Tianqiao Nandajie Open: 08:30-16:00
Located on Yongdingmen Street in Chongwen District, the museum traces the evolution and development of human beings over the last 300-400 million years. A myriad of changes of our infinite universe, including a mini-Jurassic Park are open to public view.
Beijing Aviation Museum
Add: Datangshan, Changping County
Asia's largest aviation museum. It has a collection of over 140 aircrafts from different times, including planes used by China's late top leaders. Visitors can also take a China-made Yun-5 for an air tour.
China Science and Technology Museum
Open: 09:00-16:00 Closed on Monday
This is China's only national science and technology museum. Among its exhibits are Jacob's lift, three-dimensional slides and magic plates. The museum also shows the panorama film The Great Valley all year round.
Stone Carving Art Museum
Add: 24 Wutasicun, Haidian District
Located in the Temple of Five Pagodas, the museums stores 6,000 stone sculptures of different dynasties.
Geology Museum
Open: 9:OO-16:30 (closed on Monday) Add: 15 Yangrou Hutong, Xisi
The museum is composed of six exhibition halls featuring mineral resources, history of the Earth, Paleozoic plants and animals, mineral deposits, gems and jade.
Beijing Art Museum
Add: Wanshousi, Suzhoujie, Haidian District
China Physical Culture Museum
Add: 3A AndingLu
Built for the 11th Asian Games in the Olympic Sports Center, the museum is the only museum dedicated to physical culture. The four halls display Chinese ancient sports, contemporary sports, sports achievements of New China and Chinese ethnic sports.
Museum of the Dabaotai Tombs of the Western Han Dynasty
Add: South of Guogongzhuang, Fengtai District
The museum, located atop a tomb of the Western Han Dynasty at Guogongzhuang Village in Fengtai District, features a mausoleum and excavated funerary objects of Han emperors and their wives and concubines.
Arthur Sackler Museum
Add: Inside the west gate of the Beijing University
Open: 09:00-16:OO, Tue-Sun
Museum of Ancient Pottery Civilization
Add: 12 Nancaiyuanxijie, Xuanwu District (near the north gate of Grand View Garden) Open: 10:OO-19:OO Closed on Monday
Museum of Xu Beihong
Add: 53 Xinjiekou Beidajie Open: 09:00-11:30, 13:00-16: 30 Closed on Monday
Exhibits here include masterpieces, both Chinese-style and Western oil paintings, created by Xu at different stages of his life. Also on display are photos and items used by the painter as well as his art collection. The current curator is Xu's widow, who managed to preserve this part of the nation's art heritage during the chaotic "Cultural Revolution" by donating everything to the State.