Beijing Ancient Architecture Museum is situated in Beijing Xiannong Altar, which is the first theme museum of China collecting, researching and displaying China ancient architecture, arts and their development history. It is a historic site under the protection of Beijing Municipality. It lies on Dongjing Road, Xuanwu District, and is about 3 kilometers from Tiananmen Square.

Beijing Ancient Architecture Museum was built in 1420, the 18th year of Emperor Yongle’s reign in the Ming Dynasty, when the emperor moved the capital from Nanjing to Beijing. Most of the remaining buildings in the complex were built in 1522, the first year of Emperor Jiajing’s reign in the Ming Dynasty.

Beijing Ancient Architecture Museum exhibits lots of pictures, photos, material objects and elaborate models. It introduces Chinese ancient architecture development history from the preliminary status of hutch and mud house to the high rising circumvallation in the Ming and Qing Dynasties and the palace building in neat formation. Its exhibits are divided into two parts - ancient architectures and the development of ancient Chinese architecture. The first part consists of the ancient architecture of Xiannongtan. The building, also named Mountains and Rivers Shrine, was the place for the Ming and Qing emperors to offer sacrifices to deities such as Xiannong, Taisui, and the Gods of mountains and rivers.

The second part shows the evolution of ancient Chinese architecture with exhibits kept in Taisui Hall and Yu Hall. The museum keeps a model of the old city of Beijing (the largest sand table model in China), the ceiling of Longfu Temple in Beijing (the only survival of its kind) and a model of Hall of Prayer for Good Harvest in Temple of Heaven.

Add: No. 21, Dongjing Rd., Xuanwu District, Beijing (北京市宣武区东经路21号）

Source: china.org,cn