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The National Museum of China sits 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.

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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 theForbidden 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.

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The Museum of the Chinese Revolution grew out of the Preparatory Office of Central Revolution Museum that came into existence in March, 1950. The Preparatory Office was set in Circular City (Tuancheng) of Beihai Park at the beginning and moved to the Hall of Martial Valor of the Forbidden City before long. In October, 1958, a new building took shape to the east of Tiananmen Square. August, 1959 saw the completion of the building. August of the next year was the time when The Museum of the Chinese Revolution was presented and the Preparatory Office was eliminated. Its official opening was on July 1st, 1961.

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In September, 1969, The Museum of Chinese History and The Museum of the Chinese Revolution were combined as the Revolution and History Museum of China. Later they went back to their separate buildings in the early years of the 1980s. On February, 28, 2003, the museum was inaugurated.

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It was closed again for renovation and rebuilding in 2007 and reopened on March 1, 2011. The new one is two times larger than the previous one. The exhibition themed The Road to Rejuvenation once inaugurated in celebration of the 60th birthday of the PRC in 2009 is the first display in the new National Museum. The northern exhibition area was unveiled firstly to the public.

Source: travelchinaguide.com