The National Museum of China is located to the east of Tiananmen Square and south of Chang'an Street, opposite to the Great Hall of the People. Finished at the same time, The National Museum of China and The Great Hall of the People were both among the "Ten Great Constructions" completed for the 10th birthday of the PRC. It was built on the basis of the former Museum of Chinese History and the former Museum of Chinese Revolution, being the most inclusive museum of time-honored Chinese culture and history in the country. After four year's renovation and expansion, the new National Museum reopened in March, 2011 ranks among the largest modern museums in the world.The Museum of Chinese History developed from The National History Museum which was constructed in 1912 at the site of Beijing Guozijian originally. Later it moved to the Meridian Gate (Wumen) and the Upright Gate (Duanmen) of the Forbidden City. After the founding of the People Republic of China, the government decided to build a new museum to the east of Tiananmen Square in August, 1958. Thereby, a new structure named the Museum of Chinese History was born in the next September.
After renovation and expansion, this museum has in total 48 exhibition halls, ranging from 700 to 2,000 square meters. Ancient China and The Road to Rejuvenation are the main basic exhibitions to show nearly 3,000 historic materials from Yuanmou Man about 1,700,000 years ago to the abdication of the Qing Emperor in 1912 in ten exhibition halls, and modern and contemporary revolutionary relics since the First Opium War (or the First Anglo-Chinese War) in 1840 in nine exhibitions halls, mirroring more than 100 years development of China from 1840 to the founding of the PRC in 1949.
This museum houses the most cherished and topmost level cultural relics of the whole nation, which can be seen in history schoolbook. The oldest exhibit is the teeth of Yuanmou Man 1.7 million years ago. There are also the stone tools and ancient jade ritual objects of prehistoric times. Simuwu Rectangle Ding, whichis the top treasure of the museum is the biggest piece of bronze ware in China. It was discovered in the Yin Ruins Royal Tomb of the Shang Dynasty. The image in the emblem of the National Museum is Simuwu Ding. In addition, the 34.5kg bronze Four Ram Zun Vessel of the Shang Dynasty, the Tang Dynasty Tricolor Pottery with Musician and Dancing Figures on Camelback excavated in Xian in 1957 and the Jade Shroud Sewn with Gold Thread for the emperor and nobility of the Han Dynasty are also top treasures of the museum.
Opening Hours: 9:00 to 17:00 Closed on Monday (Tickets issued until 15:30; Last entry at 16:00)
Address: East of Tiananmen Square, No. 16, East Changan Avenue, Dongchang District, Beijing
Click for more: https://r.visitbeijing.com.cn/museum/407
