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National Museum of China
Travel in Beijing

     National Museum of China
Located on the east side of Tian’an Men Square (tiān’ān mén guǎng chǎng 天安门广场), National Museum of China (zhōng guó guó jiā bó wù guǎn 中国国家博物馆) is the largest comprehensive history museum in China. It covers the area of 69000 square meters, with the length of 313 meters and the width of 149 meters. The predecessors of the National Museum are the Museum of Chinese History (zhōng guó lì shǐ bó wù guǎn 中国历史博物馆) and the Museum of Chinese Revolution (zhōng guó gé mìng bó wù guǎn 中国革命博物馆), which shared the same building complex and divided by the central hall.

National Museum of China is opposite to the Great Hall of the People (rén mín dà huì táng 人民大会堂). It is a four-storied building with two symmetrical wings. At the entrance place there are 24 pillars that make up the magnificent west gate portico that with Chinese characteristics. At the both end of the porch, there are buildings with columnar structure, which are high up to 39.83 meters. With its classical color and imposing structure, the whole building is an important part of the panorama of Tian’an Men Square.

National Museum of ChinaThe Museum of the Chinese Revolution had been open since 1960 and had its origins in the Office of the National Museum of the Revolution (guó lì gé mìng bó wù guǎn chóu bèi chù 国立革命博物馆筹备处), founded in 1950. The National Museum of Chinese History opened its doors in 1959 and had its origins in the Beijing National History Museum (běi jīng lì shǐ bó wù guǎn 北京历史博物馆), founded in 1949, and the prior Preliminary Office of the National History Museum (guó lì lì shǐ bó wù guǎn chóu bèi chù 国立历史博物馆筹备处) from 1912.

National Museum of China combines cultural relic collecting, archeology, researching, and exhibiting into one. It systematically collects the precious cultural relics which reflect the history of ancient, neoteric and modern China. Through display of both material and non-material collections and exhibits, it narrates the history created by the ancestors of the Chinese people. It has deepen people’s understanding of history and culture, and promoted the development of museum industry.

National Museum of ChinaThere are extremely rich collections in the National Museum of China. And the excellence of its exhibits and depth of its research are second to none. The Museum of Chinese History covers Chinese history from the Yuanmou Man (yuán móu rén 元谋人) of 1.7 million years ago to the end of the Qing Dynasty (qīng cháo 清朝). It is divided into three sections: the Primitive Society (yuán shǐ shè huì 原始社会), the Slavery Society (nú lì shè huì 奴隶社会), and the Feudal Society (fēng jiàn shè huì 封建社会). The Museum of the Chinese Revolution emphasizes the history of the past 150 years, in particular the history of the Communist Party of China (zhōng guó gong chǎn dǎng 中国共产党). Much of China's modern history is exhibited, including the founding of the Chinese Communist Party (1919-1921), the first two civil wars (1924-1927 and 1927-1937), the resistance war against Japanese aggression (1937-1945) and the liberation war (jiě fàng zhàn zhēng 解放战争) (1945-1949). The museum is frequently updated to reflect the developments of modern political history.

National Museum of China
Address: No. 16 Eastern Chang’an Street, Dongcheng District, Beijing  
Opening time: 8:30 a.m. -- 4:30 p.m. (Last Entry at 3:00 p.m.) for March 1 - June 30
                      8:00 a.m. -- 6:00 p.m. (Last Entry at 5:00 p.m.) for July 1 - Aug. 31
                      8:30 a.m. -- 4:30 p.m. (Last Entry at 3:00 p.m.) for Sept. 1 - Oct. 31
                      9:00 -- 16:00 (Last Entry at 15:00) for Nov. 1 - Feb. 29
Admission: RMB 30
Tel: 010-6512 8901
Traffic:
Bus: No.1、2、4、10、20、37、52、54、120、728、802
Subway: Line 1: get off at the Tian’an Men East Station (tiān ān mén dōng zhàn 天安门东站)
             Ring Line: Qian Men Station (qián mén zhàn 前门站)