Beijing Auto Museum in Fengtai was originally planned in 2001 and finally opened its doors in September 2011. With an exhibition area of nearly 50,000 square meters and housing over 80 vintage cars from China and abroad, the auto museum is China's first government-funded public museum for automobiles, with its collection spread out over five floors. Although the exhibits are geared more toward casual car lovers and kids rather than die-hard enthusiasts, if you're a fan of cars, a visit to the Beijing Auto Museum is also a must.

The vehicle collection includes a replica of a three-wheeled 1885 Benz Motorwagen, a copy of the 1901 Duryea owned by Empress Dowager Cixi (1835-1908), a 1902 Oldsmobile Curved Dash, a ZIS-101 given to Chairman Mao by the Soviet Union, plus Hongqi limousines, Shanghai sedans, and Beijing Jeeps. There's also a crop of blue-chip classics such as a Ferrari Dino GT, a Jaguar XK120, a Lincoln V12 Phaeton and a Bugatti Type 38A.

Here you'll find a Lincoln KB-V12 Dual-cowl Phaeton, for example. Lincoln was Ford's luxury brand, used by U.S. presidents, among others. This model was built in 1932, one of only 28 units ever produced.

There's also a copy of the 1901 Duryea Runabout "L" (this one was actually made in 1903) given to the Empress Dowager Cixi for her 60th birthday by Yuan Shikai, who had bought the car in Hong Kong. It was Yuan, you may recall, who made a short-lived attempt to revive the Chinese monarchy in 1915, with himself as the "Great Emperor of China" before being widely denounced and dying the following year.

To get to the museum, take Line 9 to Fengtai Science Park station; use exit B and walk 200 meters north, then 300 meters east. Look for the old locomotive ticket office before you enter the building. Admission is RMB 30.