This Tuesday marks the 90th anniversary of the founding of the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA). The PLA consists of five professional service branches: the Ground Force, Navy, Air Force, Rocket Force, and the Strategic Support Force. The history of the PLA is also the history of Modern China. As the capital of China, Beijing houses a great amount of tourist attractions which are related to the PLA. Come to these classic places if you want to learn about the history of Modern China.
National Museum of China
Founded in 2003, the National Museum of China (NMC) 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.
In addition, an exhibition of the Artifacts Related to China’s Founding Fathers is currently being held at the museum. It will run until September 26. The artifacts include a total of 300-plus selected documents, objects, historical photos and works of fine art. It is a great chance to learn more about the modern China, so don’t miss it if time permits.
Address: Gallery N10, Gallery N 11, National Museum of China, 16 East Chang'an Avenue, Dongcheng District, Beijing.
Tel: (86)010-65116400
Museum of the War of the Chinese People’s Resistance Against Japanese Aggression
The Museum of the War of the Chinese People’s Resistance Against Japanese Aggression is the most comprehensive museum in China owning to the Sino-Japanese War. Located inside the Wanping Fortress near Lugou Bridge (Macro Polo Bridge) in Beijing's Fengtai District, where the war against Japanese aggression broke out, it introduces the history of the Chinese people’s resistance against Japanese aggression. It was opened on the 50th anniversary of the outbreak of Second Sino-Japanese War on 7 July 1987.
The Museum boasts 35,000 square meters and is divided up into 4 main halls, which shows the development of war from 1931 to 1945. The museum boasts more than 20,000 pieces of cultural relics, including more than 100 national first-level relics and more than 100 literary works of various kinds.
Address: 101 Inner Street of Wanping Fortress, Lugou Bridge, Fengtai District, Beijing
Tel: (86) 010-83893163
Military Museum of the Chinese People’s Revolution
Established in September 1958 and opened to the public in August 1960, the Military Museum of the Chinese People’s Revolution is a comprehensive state-level military museum in China. It covers a display area of nearly 60,000 square meters with 43 exhibition areas. The main building is 94.7 meters high with seven floors in the middle and four floors on both sides. The museum has collected over 340,000 cultural relics and other articles showcasing the history of the People's Liberation Army, and modern-day machinery.
Currently, an exhibition to celebrate the 90th anniversary of the establishment of the People's Liberation Army is on display. The exhibition features more than 1,300 photos as well as 2000 relics, 14 artworks, and multimedia presentations to show the landmark campaigns, events and achievements of the PLA.
Address: No. 9 Fuxing Road, Haidian District, Beijing.
Tel: (86)010-66866244
New Culture Movement Memorial of Beijing
The New Culture Movement Memorial of Beijing was originally part of Beijing University, known as Honglou (the Red Building). The four-storey red brick building dates back to 1918 and is particularly famous today because Li Dazhao, one of the founders of the Chinese Communist Party, and Mao Zedong both worked there. At the southeastern corner of the first floor of the building, two west-facing rooms have been designated ‘the Mao Zedong and Li Dazhao Memorial Rooms’.
Through displays, recovered scenes, journals, videos, it exhibits the history of New Cultural Movement in an all-round way. It is an excellent place for Chinese history buffs to explore the primary historical sources here. No admission fee is required but foreigners need to produce valid ID.
Address: No.29 Wusi Street, Dongcheng District, Beijing
Tel: 8610- 66128596
