The flavor of Beijing is embedded both in the comprehensive Capital Museum. China,  and the small museums in the hutongs such as Beijing Traditional Chinese Opera Museum, Dongsi Hutong Museum, and Memorial Museum of Lao she. They serve as windows for residents and tourists to experience the profound historical and cultural heritage of Beijing.

01 Capital Museum. China

On February 10th, the Capital Museum reopens after renovation.

Located in the Square Hall, the newly launched permanent exhibition is titled Eternal Witeness of Civilization: History of Beijing. Currently, eight sections are open, including Dawn of Civilization, The Beginning of Urban Construction,  Northern Stronghold: Qin-Han to Sui-Tang and Five Dynasties, Inception of the Capital, , Establishment of Dadu, Exemplar of a Capital City, Prosperity of the Capital, and Transformation of the Ancient Capital Republican Era.  

The architecture of the Capital Museum embodies both traditional and modern characteristics. The huge overhanging roof with wide eaves imitates the features of traditional Chinese architecture.  The long stonewall symbolizes ancient city walls; the sloped plaza echoes the style of ancient Gaotai buildings (which are built on a high platform). Outside the north entrance of the main hall, a Qing Dynasty danbei (pathway) is inlaid on the ground, and a Ming Dynasty archway in the hall represents the central axis of traditional architectural layouts. The bronze exhibition hall protruding from the outer wall is a  metaphor of the unearthing of ancient artifacts.

The interior comprises three independent buildings, separated by a central hall and indoor bamboo courtyard. The natural light, rustic Chinese  archway, sunken bamboo courtyard, and flowing water create an environment that combines cultural and natural ambiance.

The exhibition covers the Capital Museum's collection over the years and artifacts unearthed in the Beijing region, incorporating the latest research findings in Beijing's history, archaeology, cultural relics, and other related disciplines. Borrowing the successful experiences from domestic and international museums, the Capital Museum presents a modern exhibition with distinct Beijing characteristics.

Address: No. 16 Fuxingmenwai Dajie (St), Xicheng District, Beijing

02 The Beijing Traditional Chinese Opera Museum

The Beijing Opera Museum is located within the Huguang Guild Hall at Hufangqiao, Xicheng District. It officially opened on September 6, 1997, as Beijing's first museum on the theme of traditional Chinese opera and its 100th museum .

After a year and a half of renovations, this ancient building, renowned as the "Beijing’s No.1 Guild Hall," reopened with a range of brand-new exhibitions.

The exhibition Birthplace of Peking Opera showcases a collection of rare documents, artifacts, pictures and audio-visual materials, offering visitors a deeper insight into the origins of Peking Opera in Xicheng.

The Thirteen Masterss of the Tongzhi and Guangxu Reigns is a portrayal of thirteen representative performers of Peking Opera and Kunqu Opera in Beijing in the late Qing Dynasty, painted by the Qing artist Shen Rongpu. With a click on the portraits of the performers, the screen will present their biographies, and these actors will perform the classic excerpts in their representative plays with lifelike expressions, which represents their unparalleled charm.

On the occasion of the reopening of the Huguang Guild Hall, the museum offers an interactive experience for visitors through the use of innovative technology. The multimedia project "Peking Opera Goes Digital" provides a fascinating journey through the history of Peking Opera, allowing visitors to explore the inception and beauty of the traditional culture with ease. 

Through the use of innovative technology, the museum offers an interactive experience for visitors. Additionally, a digital map in the exhibition enables visitors to discover the locations of main opera troupes and famous actors' residences in Xicheng's Xuannan area, the birthplace of Peking Opera, providing a glimpse into the rich cultural heritage and resources of the area.

Reminder: Due to event and performance schedule, reservations for visits will be suspended from the afternoon of March 5th to March 9th.

Address: No. 3 Hufang Lu(Rd), Xicheng District, Beijing

03 The Dongsi Hutong Museum

The main building of the Dongsi Hutong Museum was constructed around 1940 and is a typical three-bay siheyuan(four-sided courtyard house), covering an area of 1,023 square meters. The overall architectural complex has largely preserved the complete structure of a traditional siheyuan. Here, visitors can not only appreciatethe authentic siheyuan architecture but also gain insight into hutong culture through exhibits imprinted by the lifestyle in hutong..

The museum includes five exhibition areas: the Dongsi Impression Zone, Impression of the Tiled House Zone, Cultural Exchange Zone, and Historical and Cultural Artefacts Zone. 

The Dongsi Impression Zone uses multimedia to restore the daily life of Dongsi, while also showcasing the changing scenes of the hutong in four seasons.

The Impression of the Tiled House Zone, with its focus on the core element of Beijing's siheyuan architecture - roof tiles., adopts  a combination of virtual and physical exhibitions to present the cultural development in space and time.

The Cultural Exploration Zone mainly exhibits time-honored brands, local snacks, Beijing dialects, and childhood memories in the hutongs.

The Cultural Exchange Zone plays a documentary on the renovation of the Dongsi Hutong Museum, allowing visitors to directly learn about the renovation and development of the architecture.

The Historical and Cultural Artifacts Zone displays the longstanding history and culture of the Dongsi area through old objects, representing the authentic life in Beijing in the past..

Address: No. 77 Dongsisitiao, Dongcheng District, Beijing

04 Memorial Museum of Lao she

It is said that Lao She was born in Beijing, grew up in Beijing, and wrote about Beijing throughout his life. Lao She is the cultural symbol of Beijing. Visiting the Lao She Memorial Hall provides an opportunity to better understand this "cultural symbol of Beijing".

The Lao She Memorial Hall is a typical siheyuan that served as Mr. Lao She’s home and workplace for 16 years, during which he wrote 24 literary works including Dragon Beard Ditch (Longxu Gou), Teahouse (Cha Guan), Square Pearl (Fang Zhenzhu), and Under the Red Flag (Zheng Hognqi Xia). 

The Lao She Memorial Hall features a ingenious traditional construction method with a pure wooden structure. The entire courtyard layout is compact. The main entrance faces east, with a gray-tiled gate tower and a black door.

Stepping across the threshold of the main gate, visitors will come upon a brick-made wall. In the courtyard, there is a fish pond where Lao She kept fish, and a bronze statue of Lao She erected in 2009.

The house includes a living room and an impressive exhibition of his works including those translated into foreign languages. But perhaps the most tangible example of how he lives on through his deeds is provided by the two persimmon trees planted by Lao She himself in the front yard, which bear plump and mellow fruits each autumn.

The courtyard was open to the public in 1999 on the author's 100th birthday, free of charge. The simplicity of the past was maintained in this quiet yet fascinating construction.

Passing through the second gate, visitors will be greeted by a small colorful wooden screen wall, now a rarity in Beijing. Behind wall lies the main building with three rooms, the central and west rooms serving as the living room,  and the east wing room as Lao She's wife Hu Jingqing's bedroom and studio. The west wing room was Lao She's bedroom and study, now open to visitors in its original state. 

The east and west wing rooms have been converted into commemorative exhibition spaces. The physical exhibits in the east wing and the "Getting Closer to Lao She" chronological exhibition in the west wing showcase Mr. Lao She's life and writing journey through a wealth of precious books, photos, manuscripts, and personal belongings.

Address: No. 19 Fengfu Hutong, Dengshikou Xijie(St West), Dongcheng District, Beijing