Founded by and affiliated to the Institute of Vertebrate Paleontology and Paleoanthropology, the Paleozoological Museum of China is a natural science museum that is exclusively devoted to systematically popularizing knowledge of paleontology, paleoecology, paleoanthropology and the theory of evolution. It is also the largest specialized museum in Asia focus on the evolution of vertebrate animals.

The Museum is divided into two sub-museums: Museum of Vertebrate Paleontology and the Shu-hua Museum of Paleoanthropology. The former includes three exhibit halls: Fossil Fish and Amphibian Hall, Fossilized Reptile and Bird Hall, and Fossilized Mammal Hall; the latter Fossilized Hominid and Artifact Hall. The Museum's over 1,000 exhibit items represent a wide spectrum of vertebrate fossils from jawless 'fishes" to humans and their artifacts, spanning from Cambrian (530 million years ago) to Prehistoric time (10,000 years ago). Among the Museum's proud exhibit items are Latimeria, a "living fossil" lobe-finned fish and a gift from Africa; Mamenchisaurus, Asia's largest dinosaur thus known; Lufengosaurus huenei, the first dinosaur occurring in China; Caudipteryx, a dinosaur with real feathers; Confuciusornis, the earliest beaked bird ever found in the world; Stegodon zdanski, commonly known as "The Yellow River elephant" and has made into the elementary school's textbook in China; and the skull models of the mysterious "Peking Man".

The Museum also has extended educational programs for school children through "Young Darwin Club" and provides the participants with the opportunities to field excursions, fossil collecting and preparations, cast making as well as special workshops. The museum has also equipped with multimedia and interactive games for children and adults alike. It is a perfect place for families with school children to spend half a day in weekends and holidays for fun and at the same time learn the fascinating stories about the prehistoric life.

Museum Hours: 9:00 - 16:30, Tuesdays through Sundays, no admittance after 16:00

Admission Fees: 20 RMB/adult, half price for children above 1.2 m, and for students (graduate students excluded), military service people and seniors showing certificates; admission free for the disabled and children below 1.2 m.

Address: 142 Xizhimen Outer Avenue, Beijing

How to get there: take Subway Line 4 to Dongwuyuan (Beijing Zoo) Station, then walk 150 m west; or take Bus No. 104 (or, 105, 205, 360, 362, 534, 601, 634) to Baishiqiao Station, across the street by pedestrian bridge, and then talk 2 minutes east to arrive.

Ticket office: 86-10-88369210

Fax: 86-10-68337001

E-mail: pmc@ivpp.ac.cn