In the slightly chilly early winter, why not explore some indoor spaces? These exhibition venues in Beijing not only have beautiful architecture, but also have many new exhibitions recently. They have a strong artistic atmosphere and are interesting enough to immerse yourself in for a whole day. Come and enjoy the feast for the eyes with your "partner".

China Millennium Monument

The China Millennium Monument is located on the extension of West Chang'anjie (Ave) in Beijing. It was built to welcome the new millennium of the 21st century. It consists of the main structure, bronze corridors, the Holy Fire Square, pedestrian bridges, the Century Hall, and the Art Hall. The exhibition "The Crowned jewel of Austro-hungarian Empire: Queen Elisabeth and the art of her ear" is currently on display.

The exhibition focuses on Empress Sisi, who was highly respected in the history of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, and revolves around her life and the art of her time. It is divided into four major units: "The Marriage of Two Great Art Collecting Families", "Makart, Munkacsy, and Benczur: The Masters Who Shaped the Art Scene of the Austro-Hungarian Empire in the 19th Century", "The Daily Life of the Empress", and "Immortal Fashion Symbols". The second half of the 19th century was an important period in Hungarian history and even art history. The "The Crowned jewel of Austro-hungarian Empire" exhibition is not only the largest and most systematic art exhibition on the theme of Empress Sisi in China, but also an excellent opportunity to gain a deeper understanding of the culture of the Austro-Hungarian Empire and the art traditions of Hungary.

Nearly 300 sets of precious exhibits are on display, including multiple oil portrait paintings of Empress Sisi, daily necessities, and historical photos. This is also the largest and most comprehensive art exhibition on the theme of Empress Sisi and the Austro-Hungarian Empire in China.

Exhibition time: November 17, 2024 - February 16, 2025

Opening hours: 9:00-17:00, ticket sales stop at 16:10. Closed on Mondays, except for holidays.

Address: No. 9 Jia, Fuxing Road, Haidian District, Beijing

Today Art Museum

Image source: RED @甚好

The Today Art Museum was founded in 2002. It is a private non-enterprise public welfare art museum that mainly collects, researches, and displays contemporary Chinese art works.

Currently, there are nearly 1,000 contemporary art works of various types in the collection. The museum's architectural design style is avant-garde, and its unique "之"-shaped ramp design makes it a gathering place for literary and artistic youth. The exhibition "Swiss Design Classics" is currently on display.

The Today Art Museum has partnered with the Swiss Embassy in China to launch a prelude activity for the 75th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Switzerland in 2025. More than 200 iconic Swiss design works comprehensively review the 400-year history of Swiss design. The exhibition is divided into six sections: original furniture, breakthrough inventions, tourism posters, single chairs, Max Bill exhibition, and the most beautiful books, presenting the sustained development of Swiss design, engineering, medicine, and other fields. Each work is a microcosm of Swiss design spirit, and the stories behind the works are explored.

Exhibition time: November 9, 2024 - January 12, 2025

Opening hours: Tuesday to Sunday, 10:00-18:00 (closed on Mondays)

Address: Building 4, Pingguo Community, No. 32 Baiziwan Road, Chaoyang, Beijing

Tsinghua University Art Museum

Image source: RED @我的小Free笔记

Image source: RED @我的小Free笔记

In 2016, this national first-class museum was officially opened to the public. The Tsinghua University Art Museum has a collection of over 20,000 items, covering six categories of art: calligraphy and painting, weaving and embroidery, ceramics, furniture, and bronze ware. "From the Seine River to Guanghua Road: The Modernization of Decoration" and "The Road to China Modern Art: Lin Fengmian and Wu Guanzhong Art Exhibition" are currently on display.

The five artists, Pang Xunqin, Lei Guoyuan, Zheng Ke, Wu Guanzhong, and Chang Shana, featured in the exhibition "From the Seine River to Guanghua Road: The Modernization of Decoration," either studied in France or lived and grew up there under the influence of the emerging modern ideas and artistic changes. From the Central Academy of Arts and Crafts to the Tsinghua University Academy of Fine Arts, the academic ideals and thoughts of the predecessors were passed on to the students through various forms such as writing, design, and teaching, and then further improved the quality of life of the general public, serving the needs of major national projects and the economy. This has formed a series of influential and inspiring excellent achievements passed down from generation to generation.

"The Road to China Modern Art: Lin Fengmian and Wu Guanzhong Art Exhibition" explores the path of modern Chinese art and responds to the call for social transformation over the past century, which is the mission of several generations of artists represented by Lin Fengmian and Wu Guanzhong. Their personalities, temperament, talents, and backgrounds are different, and the artistic exploration paths they choose also have their own focuses. However, they all share the same passion for free creation and jointly compose the brilliant chapter of modern Chinese art. The exhibition features more than 140 paintings by the two art masters, Lin and Wu, to present their exploration and development of the modernization of Chinese painting.

Opening hours: Tuesday to Sunday, 9:00-17:00, closed on Mondays

Address: No. 30 Shuangqing Road, Tsinghua University, Haidian District, Beijing

Beijing Minsheng Art Museum

Beijing Minsheng Art Museum is the largest private art museum in China, located in the Jiuxianqiao area not far from 798. The main structure of the exhibition hall is composed of irregular boxes, presenting both the three-dimensional abstract form of modern art and the free spirit of visual tension and rich imagination.

The interior of the art museum is based on pure white, with various box spaces, pure white stairs connecting the floors, and dreamy rainbow windows... every corner is very picturesque. "The Origin of Civilization: Early Chinese Civilization Exploration Exhibition" is currently on display.

The exhibition focuses on archaeological excavations and important discoveries in Chinese archaeology over the past century, covering 13 major archaeological sites, and bringing together more than 30 museums and cultural institutions from across the country to showcase over 400 heavyweight cultural relics and exhibits in an immersive exhibition. The exhibition traces the historical context of the origin, formation, and early development of Chinese civilization, witnessing the long process of Chinese civilization from its inception, development, to prosperity.

Visiting the exhibition is a one-stop journey through the early Chinese cultural sites such as Yangshao, Hongshan, Liangzhu, Erlitou, Yin Ruins, and Sanxingdui. The special theme of the thirteen early Chinese cultural sites is "Ancient Shu Shines". In addition to the well-lit cultural relics and mysterious sacrificial restoration sites, the most picturesque is undoubtedly the "Light and Shadow Sanxingdui".

Exhibition time: 2024.10.1-2025.3.31 (closed on Mondays, open on Mondays during holidays)

Opening hours: Tuesday to Sunday 10:00-18:00 (last entry at 17:30)

Address: C7, Hengtong International Innovation Park, No. 9 Jiuxianqiao Beilu(Rd), Chaoyang District, BeijingRed Brick Art Museum

The Red Brick Art Museum uses red bricks as its basic element, with green bricks and red tiles, winding vines, and a unique geometric beauty in the sunken multi-functional theater, sky courtyard, continuous arches, and gray maze. It can create various styles of photos, such as fashion, retro, romantic, and artistic.

"Zhang Peili: Rotation" is currently on display.

The artist Zhang Peili's solo exhibition "Zhang Peili" presents the artist's mechanical, video, and interactive installation works from large-scale works to individual objects created in recent years. From Zhang Peili's perspective, the new exhibition at the Red Brick Art Museum expresses inner emotions, is a dialogue between the artist and the outside world, and then makes a sound, emphasizing more of a relationship - "What is the relationship between people and people, and people and technology in today's society? Technology is invented by humans. It brings convenience but also confusion and contradictions. These new works aim to show the situation and contradictions of people and things."

Exhibition time: 2024.10.29-2025.3.2

Opening hours: Summer: May 1st-September 30th 10:00-18:00 (last entry at 17:30); Winter: October 1st-next year April 30th 10:00-17:30 (last entry at 17:00), closed on Mondays (except for holidays)

Address: 100 meters west of the intersection of Shunbai Lu(Rd) and Maquanying Xilu(Rd), Hegewzhuang Village, Cuigezhuang Township, Chaoyang, Beijing

Meet You Museum in the 798 Art District

The Meet You Museum Beijing 798 is located in the 798 Art District, with a building area of 5,500 square meters. It has three functional areas: the Digital Art Exhibition and Experience Center, the Cultural Relics and Artifacts Exhibition Center, and the Activity and Communication Center. It creates a high-quality artistic and cultural atmosphere and retains the Bauhaus style and industrial style of the building itself, becoming a new landmark of 798 culture and art.

"Meet Ancient Egypt: Mummy, Life and Death in Ancient Egypt" is currently on display.

The exhibition displays 123 sets of precious ancient Egyptian cultural relics, including two extremely valuable mummies and their coffins. All exhibits are from the University of Aberdeen Museum and Special Collections in the UK. This special exhibition is also the first exhibition of these cultural relics in Beijing. The exhibition is divided into four major units: "Beauty and Protection," "Gods and Humans," etc. The exhibits include mummy coffins, mummies, animal mummies, mummy wrappings, as well as precious cultural relics such as noble jewelry, statue sculptures, relief murals, Canopic jars, and cosmetics.

Exhibition time: Until February 16, 2025.

"Naked Flowers" (November 29, 2024-February 16, 2025) immersive light and shadow exhibition is about to be displayed.

To celebrate the 25th anniversary of Macao's return to China, the "Naked Flowers" immersive light and shadow exhibition uses 3D light carving technology and full sensory experiments to turn thousands of square meters of space into a secret realm of flowers, allowing visitors to appreciate the beautiful scenery of different seasons in autumn and winter! Blooming wildflowers in spring, the illusion of lotus ponds in summer, the maple leaf road in autumn, and the micro-flower language in winter...

Opening hours: Tuesday to Thursday: 10:00-18:30, Friday: 10:00-19:00, weekends and statutory holidays: 10:00-20:00, admission stops one hour before closing.

Address: E02-1, Ceramic Street, 798 Art District, Chaoyang District, Beijing.

What other recommendations do you have for winter outings besides indoor exhibitions?