National Museum of China, Beijing, China
Attendance 2016: 7,550,000
Founded in February 2003, the National Museum of China (NMC) is located at the east side of Tiananmen Square in Beijing, China. As an integrated national museum under the Ministry of Culture of China, The National Museum of China showcases collections of cultural relics and artworks, exhibitions, public education, history and art research and cultural communication. NMC plays an important role in displaying Chinese culture, cultivating national spirit; as such it is a world leader amongst museums in developing the field of cultural relics. It offers exhibitions of Ancient China and The Road to Rejuvenation on regular display and more than a dozen categories of display related to special exhibitions and international exchange exhibitions.
Louvre, Paris, France
Attendance 2016: 7,400,000
With an area of 72,735 square meters, the Louvre Museum is the world's largest museum and a historic monument in Paris, France. It is located on the right bank of the Seine in the city's 1st arrondissement (district or ward), housed in the Louvre Palace. The museum was originally built as a fortress in the late 12th century under Philip II. It opened on August 10, 1793 with an exhibition of 537 paintings, the majority of the works being royal and confiscated church property. Approximately 38,000 objects from prehistory to the 21st century are exhibited, which are divided among eight curatorial departments including Egyptian Antiquities, Near Eastern Antiquities, Greek, Etruscan and Roman Antiquities, Islamic Art, Sculpture, Decorative Arts, Paintings, Prints and Drawings.
British Museum, London, U.K.
Attendance 2016: 6,420,000
The British Museum is located in the Bloomsbury area of London. It first opened to the public on 15 January 1759, in Montagu House, on the site of the current building. It holds over 8 million permanent collections and is among the largest and most comprehensive in existence and originates from all continents, illustrating and documenting the story of human culture from its beginnings to the present.
