National Museum of China

The National Museum occupies the eastern side of Tiananmen Square in a building of nearly two hundred thousand square metres, formed in 2003 from the merger of two earlier museums and reopened in 2011 after a major reconstruction that made it one of the largest museum buildings anywhere. Its permanent exhibition of Ancient China runs through the dynasties with objects of exceptional quality: the Simuwu ding, a bronze ritual vessel of over eight hundred kilograms cast in the Shang dynasty, jade suits, Tang figures, and ceramics across the full range of Chinese production. Special exhibitions occupy multiple floors. Entry is free but requires booking with passport details several days ahead.

History

The building was finished in 1959 as one of the Ten Great Buildings for the tenth anniversary of the People's Republic, facing the Great Hall of the People across the square, with a front 313 metres long and ten square pillars at its centre. Two museums shared it, one of history and one of the revolution, and in 2003 they were merged into the National Museum of China; after four years of renovation designed by the German firm Gerkan, Marg and Partners it reopened on 17 March 2011 with nearly 200,000 square metres of floor space and more than a million objects (Wikipedia, National Museum of China).

What you'll find

• The Simuwu ding - the massive Shang bronze ritual vessel.
• The Ancient China galleries - the permanent chronological exhibition.
• The jade and ceramics - collections spanning several thousand years.
• The building - one of the largest museum structures in the world.

When to go

Year-round, since it is indoors; weekdays are far quieter than weekends and Chinese holidays. Booking opens a set number of days ahead and slots for popular periods disappear quickly. Security screening on entry is thorough.

Things to know

Free entry requires advance online registration with a passport, which foreign visitors often find difficult, and same-day entry is not possible. The museum is enormous and cannot be seen in one visit. English labelling is uneven.

Nearby

Tiananmen Square is directly west; the Forbidden City lies beyond it.

Key facts