On this day 9 July 1912, the National Museum of History was born. This was the predecessor to what would become the penultimate museum of modern China – the National Museum of China.
If there’s one museum on the bucket list of all Chinese citizens1, it would be the National Museum of China (NCM). And with NCM among the top three things on the Chinese bucket list – besides the Forbidden City and flag raising ceremony at Tiananmen Square – are all within the radius of the NCM. Hence this is one of the most sought after ticket in your visit to Beijing.
National Museum of China 中国国家博物馆
Origins
The Preparatory Office of the National Museum of History was founded in 1912 by the Ministry of Education of the Republic of China. It was located at the Imperial College (Guozijian) in Beijing. The National Museum of History was officially established in 1920 at Duanmen and Wumen of the Forbidden City.
In 1958, the current location in east of Tiananmen was allocated for the museum, and became neighbour with the Museum of the Chinese Revolution in 1959. They merged to become the National Museum of China in 2003, and was renovated to its current size in 2010 in preparation for its centennial in 2012. 3
Architecture
German firm, Architekten von Gerkan, Marg und Partner, replaced an existing central core with a 260 m-long ‘Grand Forum’ (above, classified as the West Hall) spanning the building’s length to connect the north and south entrances with the western, Tiananmen-facing one. Maintaining the original structure’s rigid symmetry, monumental staircases flanking the main entrance now lead up to the Road of Rejuvenation gallery (essentially, the former Museum of the Chinese Revolution) to the north, and an administrative and library wing (closed to public) to the south. Three stacks of rectangular galleries devoted to temporary exhibitions form a new central core.
The extension’s new facade – separated from the 1959 entrance by a long, outdoor courtyard – was given slender pillars topped by modernised takes on traditional douggang brackets. Massive perforated bronze doors and coffered ceilings also reference historic Chinese architecture. Currently it serves as the exit of the Museum.
Galleries
As you enter the Museum from the north entrance (all the rest of the entrances are closed to public), you will come to the long West Hall that spans the whole length of the building. These days, the West Hall is used for temporary thematic exhibitions like the one for China’s space exploration in 2025. And then you make your way towards the Central Hall.
The Central Hall acts as the primary reception area for state visitors and the grand starting point for exploring over 1.4 million artefacts. When I was there it was showing the artefacts from the 1 Oct 1949 Founding Ceremony that included the giant red lanterns hanging in Tiananmen, the microphone used by Mao Zedong, and the first flag used for the flag raising. Right by the sides of the hall are the escalators going down to the basement for the Ancient China gallery.
The Ancient China gallery occupy the 396,000-square-foot basement level, alongside two theatres, a television studio, research areas, and parking. Below this, a sub-basement houses the museum’s 200,000-object collection that’s not on public view. (It’s this storage area that makes the museum the world’s biggest; by exhibition space, the Louvre and the Hermitage are larger.)
Other permanent galleries in the north section of the new central core include ancient food (N11) on the third floor, porcelain (N17) and jade (N19) on the fourth floor; on the south section are ancient coins (S11), calligraphy and paintings (S12), and buddhist sculptures (S13) on the fourth floor.
Collection
There’s a standing joke in the museum circles that when the National Museum of China “borrows” an item, it is never returned. The National Museum of China is an institution that collects and studies ancient and modern Chinese artefacts and historical science and related academic issues. It currently holds a collection of over 1.4 million items, including ancient artefacts, modern and contemporary artefacts, rare books and ancient texts, and artworks.
Among them, there are 815,000 pieces (sets) of ancient artefacts, 340,000 pieces (sets) of modern and contemporary artefacts, over 240,000 pieces (volumes) of rare books and ancient texts, and nearly 6,000 pieces (sets) of first-level cultural relics.6 But most of these are in the storeroom in the bunkers.
About 2,026 pieces of relics and artefacts are on display in the Ancient China gallery, including 521 first-class cultural relics of which 24 are forbidden to be exhibited outside of China. I managed to see 23 of them in all my visits, and last one7 is still elusive to me. And some are replicas as the originals are kept for maintenance or too fragile to be displayed all the time.
The numismatics gallery that showcases many ancient coins, some of which are non-sinitic. It includes a large number and complete range of categories, covering various time periods and types of currency, and most of the artifacts are in good condition.
There’s a strange exhibition that is a bit like Madam Tussaud but for Chinese heroes and role models. Thirty wax figures have been selected for this exhibition from over 200 waxworks housed in the NMC. They comprise revolutionary pioneers who dedicated their lives to China’s cause, model workers who contributed selflessly, literary and artistic giants who produced excellent works for the people, scientists who dedicated themselves to their motherland, public servants who always put the people in their hearts, and role models of the times who worked hard and assiduously.
Tips for Visit
The museum is one of the hardest to book in China, even when you try to use a travel agent. And the overall visitor experience is horrible, as the Ancient China gallery is constantly crowded and some of the star artefacts and relics like the Phoenix Coronet of Empress Xiaoduan has a ridiculous long queue that blocked the rest of the Ming dynasty relics.
Nevertheless, this museum has the most complete and important collection of relics and artefacts from all around China bar none, so there’s always something for everybody. Majority of the visitors are coming for the main attraction – the Ancient China gallery on the Basement floor. The rest of the museum is usually quite empty unless they are showcasing some star attractions like Sanxingdui relics or Egyptian artefacts on loan from other museums.
Plan your time in the galleries as the Museum is massive! Although the closing time says 5.30pm, they start chasing you out of the galleries at 5pm. If this is your first time to China and first time to the Museum, the Ancient China gallery is a must-see even though it is crowded. But if you have been there before, then I would suggest for you to go straight to the other galleries as the exhibits in the Ancient China gallery do not change. Skip the Road to Rejuvenation gallery (closed since Oct 2024)8 if you are not interested in modern China history from a particular viewpoint.
Controversies and Criticisms
The architects did an admirable job combining old and new. But like many museums in China, this one has a programming infrastructure that lags behind its architectural ambition, and neither seems to have been planned with the other in mind. Also, the museum has been criticised for glossing over the less glorious moments of Communist rule in its permanent exhibitions.
The museum (and particularly others in the second-tier cities in China) tend to present history in the official interpretation of the government. Controversial artefacts are seldom displayed, and even if they do slip the censorship, the exhibit is promptly revised. There’s no room for any discussion, you just have to accept their narrative. For me, I just look at the artefacts.9
All photos taken at National Museum of China between Aug 2019 to Nov 2025, Apr 2026 unless otherwise indicated.
About National Museum of China
Located on the eastern side of Tiananmen Square in Beijing, the National Museum of China is the largest museum in the world by single building area. It holds over 1.4 million artefacts, mapping the country’s sweeping history, fine arts, and cultural heritage from prehistoric times to the modern era.
Established in 2003 through the merger of the Museum of Chinese History and the Museum of the Chinese Revolution, the museum is China’s supreme repository of historical and cultural memory.
Key Highlights & Collections:
- Ancient China Exhibit: Spans from Palaeolithic to Qing dynasty, housing priceless treasures such as the Houmuwu Ding (the heaviest ancient bronze object ever found), the renowned jade burial suits of the Han Dynasty, and intricate imperial porcelain.
- The Road of Rejuvenation: A permanent exhibition focusing on China’s modern history, detailing the fall of the Qing Dynasty, the founding of the People’s Republic of China, and contemporary socialist development. (Closed since Oct 2024 for changing of content.)
- 48 Exhibition Halls: The massive 200,000 sqm facility features state-of-the-art galleries that also host rotating international and specialised exhibitions.
Admission: Entry is generally free, but booking a ticket in advance is strictly required.
Reservations: Visitors can reserve tickets up to 7 days ahead on the Official National Museum of China Website using their original identification (e.g., passport).
Opening Hours: Open daily from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM (closed on Mondays).
The best way to go to the museum is via subway as the whole area is restricted and no vehicle can stop around the vicinity. Entrance to the museum is from the North Wing along East Chang’a Street, and you will need a valid ticket and passport to get out of the subway station to join the queue to the museum.
National Museum of China
1 Tian’anmen East, Beijing, China
National Museum of China collection
National Treasure – Painted Pottery Jar with Stork, Fish and Stone Axe (Neolithic-Yangshao)
One of the earliest storytelling depicted on a pottery jar from 5000 years ago.
National Treasure – Jade Dragon (Neolithic – Hongshan)
This is the famous C-shaped jade dragon, a significant artefact from the Neolithic Hongshan culture.
National Treasure – Painted Pottery Basin with Dancing Figures (Neolithic)
I like to shake a leg / I like to nod my head / I like to make a snow…
National Treasure – Seal of Dian King (Western Han)
It was the fashion to bury the seal with the dead, and due to this custom that since the Han…
National Treasures – Two Glass Vessels of Li Jingxun (Sui Dynasty)
The owner was a pearl on the palms of her distinguished parents, and when her life was cut short, she…
National Treasure – Bronze Zun with Four Rams (Shang Dynasty)
Baa Baa Black Sheep have you any wool? Yes Sir, Yes Sir, Three bags full.
National Treasure – Bronze Cowrie Containers from Antiquity Yunnan (Western Han Dynasty)
Piggy bank from 2nd century BC, it was used by the Dian 滇 people to keep their precious cowrie shells.
Treasures – Rhinoceros-shaped Bronze Zun (Western Han Dynasty)
A wine jug reminding us the importance of conservation.
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Footnotes :
- For the record, I am not a Chinese citizen, although I am of Chinese ethnicity. I am Singaporean, of the Chinese ethnic stock, more specifically Teochew ethnicity. I served my country, Singapore, in the army, and I have never been a member of the Chinese Communist Party or any political party for that matter. 🙂 ↩︎
- Aric Chen (2012), “National Museum of China“. Architecture Record, accessed 29 Jun 2026 ↩︎
- National Museum of China, “History“, Official Website, accessed 28 Jun 2026 ↩︎
- “Fu Hao” Triple Bronze Yan (food container) “妇好”青铜三联甗
Bronze ware | Shang Dynasty (c. 16th-11th centuries BC), King Wu Ding’s reign | Unearthed from tomb of Fu Hao at Yinxu, Anyang, Henan Province, 1976 | National Museum of China collection. 青铜器｜商王武丁时期｜1976年河南安阳股墟妇好墓出土｜中国国家博物院藏
Bronze yan (甗) were mostly combined vessels consisting of an upper zeng (甑) and a lower li (鬬). The upper zeng held food, while the lower li held water, separated by a perforated suan (埻). A fire was lit under the li to boil the water, and the steam was used to cook the food, similar to a modern steamer. With the changing times and structural innovations, some steaming vessels also existed without a li-shaped lower part; broadly speaking, these vessels could also be called yan.
The Fu Hao bronze triple yan consists of two parts: the upper part has three zeng, and the lower part is a single, rectangular body, equivalent to the function of a modern stove. The lower part of the vessel could be used to hold a fire, fulfilling the function of a steaming vessel, hence the name triple yan. The triple yan could process several kinds of food simultaneously and is one of the earliest known bronze cooking vessels with multiple burners.
青铜甗多为上甑下鬲的联体器物，上部甑置食物，下部鬲盛水，中间以镂孔的算相隔。鬲下举火煮水，以蒸汽蒸炊食物，作用与现在的蒸锅相似。随时代变迁或构造革新，也有下部不做鬲形的蒸炊器具，宏观来看，这类器物也可称作甗。
妇好青铜三联甗由上下两部分组成，上部为3件甑，下部则为联体的长方形器身，相当于现在灶台的功能。整器的下部可以举火，也满足蒸炊器具的功能，故称为三联甗。三联甗可以同时加工数种食物，是今可见青铜器中较早的一灶数眼炊具。
Museum information card, Apr 2026 ↩︎ - 错金银云纹青铜犀尊 Rhinoceros-shaped Bronze Zun
Bronzeware | Western Han Dynasty (202 BC-8 AD) | Unearthed at Xingping, Shaanxi Province, 1963 | National Museum of China collection. 青铜器｜西汉（公元前202年一公元8年）｜1963年陕西兴平出土｜中国国家博物馆藏
This vessel is shaped like a rhinoceros, standing with its head held high. It has a stout body, short, thick legs, thick, wrinkled skin, sharp horns, and eyes inlaid with black glass beads. The vessel is hollow inside, used to hold wine. There is an oval mouth on the back with a lid. To the right of the mouth is a cylindrical spout. The entire vessel is decorated with fine, inlaid gold and silver cloud patterns.
This rhinoceros depicts the Sumatran rhinoceros, which lived in ancient China. In ancient times, China not only produced rhinoceroses but also had a large population. Rhinoceros bones have been found multiple times in Neolithic sites, and there are records of hunting rhinoceroses by burning forests in the oracle bone inscriptions of the Shang Dynasty. During the Spring and Autumn and Warring States periods, rhinoceros hide armor was a common piece of armor for warriors. Due to extensive hunting, rhinoceroses had become extinct in the Guanzhong region by the late Western Han Dynasty at the latest.
此尊呈犀牛形，犀牛昂首伫立，身体肥顾，四腿短粗，皮厚而多皱，两角尖锐，双眼镶嵌黑色料珠。尊腹中空，用来盛酒。尊背有椭圆形口，口上有盖。犀牛口右侧有一圆管状的“流”。通体饰细如游丝的错金银云纹。
此犀牛是古代生活在中国的苏门犀的形象。在古代，中国不仅产犀牛，而且数量很多。新石器吋代遗址中曾多次发现犀牛骨，殷商甲骨文中有焚林猎犀的记载，春秋战国时期用犀牛皮做成的犀甲是武士艳淡的裝备。由于大范围的捕杀，犀牛在关中一带最迟到西汉晚期已经绝迹。
Museum information card, Apr 2026 ↩︎ - National Museum of China, “中国国家博物馆藏品总目“, Official Website, accessed 28 Jun 2026 ↩︎
- The only item I have yet to see is the portable urinal from Three Kingdoms period. ↩︎
- https://www.chnmuseum.cn/portals/0/web/zt/fuxing/, accessed 30 Jun 2026 ↩︎
- Dong Sun-hwa (2022), “China’s state museum accused of distorting Korean history“. The Korean Times, Published Sep 14, 2022 4:06 pm KST, Updated Sep 15, 2022 8:49 am KST , accessed 29 Jun 2026
In a recent joint exhibition with the National Museum of Korea and Tokyo National Museum, the Korean side accused the Chinese side for distorting Korean history by excluding information about two ancient kingdoms ― Goguryeo (37 B.C.-A.D. 668) and Balhae (A.D. 698-926) ― from its chronology of ancient Korean history. ↩︎
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