Museums & Former Residences

There are over 120 museums scattered all over the city proper and suburban areas.
In general, all museums are open from 9:00am till 4:00pm, and close on Mondays.

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.

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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.

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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.

Former Residence of Lu Xun
Add: Fuchengmennei Daiie Open: 09:00-16:00
Located next to the White Pagoda Temple, it was the residence of Lu Xun in the 1920s. Lu, one of China's greatest modern writers and thinkers, wrote many of his essays and novels in the small courtyard garden. Inside the hall there is a permanent exhibition of his life and work.

Former Residence of Lao She
Add: 19 Fengfuhutong, Dengshikou Xijie, Dongcheng District
Behind the door of 19 Fengfu Hutong in Dongcheng District lies one of the most significant sites in Chinese literary history. For 16 years until his tragic death in 1966, this was the home of Lao She, one of the greatest of China's 20th century writers. It has been under restoration since 1997 at a cost of 5 million yuan. Lao She used to call his courtyard home the House of Abundance, and within it he planted trees and flowers to remind himself of the Beijing of his youth. The persimmon trees he planted still flourish there today.

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Former Residence of Mei Lanfang
Add: 9 Huguosi Dajie, Xicheng District Closed on Monday
Mei, the greatest Peking Opera Master who was famed for the female roles he performed, created the "Belle epoque" of Peking Opera in the 1920s. The master spent. his last decade in this residence. The current exhibition shows visitors the life story and achievements of this influential actor.

Former Residence of Cao Xueqin
Add: Inside Beijing Botanical Garden, Fragrant Hills
Nestled in the valley of the Fragrant Hills, scholars believe it to be the birthplace of the Dream of Red Mansions-one of China's greatest literary classics. Inside are the living quarters and study of Cao Xueqin, the novel's author.

Former Residence of Soong Qingling
Add: 46 Houhai Bei'an, Xicheng District
Open: 09:00-16:00 Closed on Monday
Once the mansion of a Qing prince regent (father of China's last emperor), the delicate garden was the living quarters of Soong Qingling - widow of Dr. Sun Yat-sen - from the time she moved from Shanghai in 1963 till her death in 1981. Her life story is the epitome of Chinese modern revolutionary history.

Former Residence of Mao Dun
Add: Jiaodaokou Houjie Open: 09:30-16:00, Mon, Thurs, Sat
Mao Dun is the nom de plume of Shen Yanbing, one of China's greatest writers. He spent the last six years of his life in this residence. Now there is an exhibition displaying his manuscripts, photos and other documents.

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