The predecessor of the National Museum of China can be traced back to the preparatory office of the National History Museum established in 1912. In 2003, according to the decision of the central government, the Chinese History Museum and the Chinese Revolution Museum were merged into the National Museum of China. The new hall has a total area of 70,000 square meters, 42.5 meters high, with 5 floors above ground, 2 floors underground, and 48 exhibition halls in total. The construction area is nearly 200,000 square meters, making it the largest museum with a single building area in the world.

The National Museum of China has a collection of more than 1.4 million pieces, covering ancient and modern cultural relics, well-preserved ancient books, artworks and other categories. Among the 815,000 pieces (sets) of ancient cultural relics, 340,000 pieces (sets) of modern cultural relics, more than 240,000 pieces (books) of well-preserved ancient books, there are a total of nearly 6,000 first-grade cultural relics (sets). In recent years, especially since the 19th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, the National Museum of China has stepped up the collection of representative material evidence reflecting the revolutionary culture and contemporary advanced culture, and has publicly collected collections of cultural relics. On average, about 50 ancient cultural relics and more than 1,000 sets of contemporary cultural relics, real objects and artworks.

The National Museum of China exhibition includes three series, i.e. basic, themed, and temporary exhibitions, forming a three-dimensional exhibition system covering domain, basic, themed and temporary exhibitions. Among them, “Ancient China”, “the Road of Rejuvenation” and “the Road of Rejuvenation in the New Era” are the basic exhibitions. The National Museum is also the important site of promoting China’s excellent traditional culture, revolutionary culture, advanced socialist culture, and cultivating and practicing the core values of socialism.

Themed exhibitions are mainly based on the cultural relics in the collection, including more than ten themed exhibitions such as ancient Chinese bronzes, Buddha statues, jade, porcelain, national rituals, modern classic works of art, and African wood carvings. Temporary exhibitions include two categories: self-planned exhibitions and imported exchange exhibitions, covering historical culture, high-quality cultural relics, archaeological discoveries, classic art works, regional culture and international exchanges. More than 40 exhibitions are held annually.

How to visit: All visitors should make appointments with their real-name (by time slot). The total number of appointments is 30,000 per day, and the registration portal will be closed when this limit is reached.

Opening hours: Open at 9:00, entering is stopped at 16:00, visitors should leave at 16:30, and the Museum is closed at 17:00. The closing hour is extended to 9 p.m. on Saturday, and the Museum is closed every Monday.

Traffic:

Bus: Tiananmen East Station: 1, 2, 52, 82, 120, sightseeing line 2, tourist bus line 1, tourist bus line 2

Metro Line: Metro Line 1 Tiananmen East Station: Exit C and D

Tel: 010-65116400 (9:00-16:00)

Address: East of Tiananmen Square, 16 East Chang’an Street, Dongcheng District, Beijing