National Museum of China Plaza

Address: 16 East Chang’an Avenue (Tiananmen), Dongcheng, Beijing, China

Website: http://en.chnmuseum.cn

Hours: Tue-Sun 9:00am-5:00pm, closed Mondays (exceptions on national holidays)

Admission: Free (timed reservation usually required)

The National Museum of China is a state-run museum located on the eastern side of Tiananmen Square in central Beijing. It houses extensive collections covering Chinese history and art and functions as a national cultural institution.

Exhibition spaces present a chronological sweep from prehistoric archaeology through imperial eras to modern and contemporary history, and the site hosts rotating special exhibitions and state-curated displays. Galleries are large and arranged to accommodate both permanent collections and temporary exhibitions.

The current institution formed from the merger of two earlier museums and was reorganised administratively in 2003; the site underwent a substantial renovation and reopened with expanded display space in 2011. The museum plays a leading role in national cultural programming and education.

Positioned on Tiananmen Square, the museum faces other central state monuments in Beijing and is within walking distance of many central government buildings and tourist sites.

• Location: Located on the eastern side of Tiananmen Square, the building is immediately adjacent to major political and historical sites in central Beijing.
• Renovation: The museum reopened after a major renovation in 2011, expanding exhibition space and modernising display facilities for its permanent and temporary exhibitions.

What to See#

• Historical exhibition halls: Originally two institutions-the Museum of the Chinese Revolution and the National Museum of Chinese History-whose buildings and collections were merged administratively in 2003 and now form the museum’s main exhibition halls.
• Permanent galleries and exhibition halls: Large permanent galleries that cover prehistoric archaeology, imperial history and modern revolutionary history, supplemented by rotating special exhibitions in multiple halls.

The National Museum of China sits on the eastern side of Tiananmen Square in central Beijing. Take Beijing Metro Line 1 to Tiananmen East station and walk about 3-5 minutes to the museum entrance on the square. It’s in the heart of Beijing and reachable by taxi or bus from other central locations.

• Reserve the free timed-entry ticket online in advance (you'll need passport/ID) and arrive at opening on a weekday to avoid long security queues and large tour groups.
• Enter from the Tiananmen Square side (main museum entrances face the square) and expect mandatory security and bag screening that can add time before you start.
• Plan 2-3 hours and pick either the ancient or the modern/revolutionary permanent galleries to focus on; many visitors rush and miss the smaller themed exhibition halls.