10 Best museums in Beijing

Many of China's ancient traditions can be found in Beijing's historic centre, which consists of the Forbidden City, Tiananmen Square, Temple Park and the hutongs. In this tour you can also find interesting museums, which keep the historical heritage of the Chinese capital.

The National Art Museum, the Confucius Temple exhibition, the exhibits of the Chinese People's Resistance War Museum, the beautiful landscapes of the Chinese Garden Museum and the Capital Museum, which is one of the largest in the country and also one of the most complete, should not be missing in your list.

The Yuanmingyuan Museum, or colloquially known as the Old Summer Palace Museum, is located on the site of the Old Summer Palace, a palace and garden complex that was destroyed during the Second Opium War in 1860. The museum was established in 1988 and is dedicated to preserving the history and culture of this ancient building, which was part of the imperial buildings.

If you book the Summer Palace tour, you can enter the museum, which has a large collection of historical and cultural artefacts related to the palace complex, spanning from the Qing Dynasty to the present day. Permanent exhibits include porcelain, jade, bronze, ivory, carved wood and textiles, as well as a wide selection of paintings and calligraphy from China's past.

The museum also contains references to some of the city's historic palaces and temples and even the Beijing Silk Market building, all of which were built or modified in the architectural style of the Qing dynasty, one of the most prosperous in the country's history. Around the museum you will find some of the most beautiful gardens in the city and it is also very well connected due to its proximity to the Beijing Olympic Village.

Interesting details

• Price: The entrance fee is approximately €5 per person.
• Location: 28 Qinghua, Haidan, Beijing.
• Opening hours: daily from 8.30am to 5pm.

After enjoying your tour of Beijing, I recommend you visit this museum which focuses on the Second World War and China's struggle against the Japanese invasion. It offers a detailed overview of the history and events of that period and is considered one of the most important modern history museums in the country.

The museum is dedicated to the history of the Chinese People's Resistance War, which took place between 1937 and 1945 during World War II. The main exhibition features more than 2,000 objects, including photographs, documents and historical artefacts showing the struggle of the citizens against the Japanese invasion during the war.

It is divided into several sections, each focusing on a theme. The main exhibition includes a re-enactment of a battle, as well as exhibits on daily life during the war and the participation of women and children in the fighting. In addition, there is a section devoted to the Korean War and the Vietnam War, and an exhibition dedicated to the history of Sino-Japanese relations, which reflects Chinese idiosyncrasies as much as the Forbidden City, the Bell Tower or the Great Wall of China.

Interesting details

• Price: admission is free.
• Location: 9 Fuxing, Beijing.
• Opening hours: daily from 9am to 4.30pm.

Alongside the Panda Garden tour, the Chinese Garden Museum, also known as the Zhang Family Garden, is a must-see. An open-air museum that showcases the history and evolution of the country's gardens in a 12-hectare area, you can tour it on your own or with the assistance of a local guide.

It features a large collection of classical Chinese gardens representing different styles and historical periods. You can explore the museum through a tour that includes a total of six gardens, each with a variety of features and design elements that reflect traditional Chinese culture and aesthetics.

The exhibition also includes historical artefacts and works of art related to Chinese culture. In addition, workshops and interactive activities are available for visitors to participate and learn more about the culture and history of Chinese gardens. It is one of the best things to do in Beijing in March or during the spring months.

Details of interest

• Price: entrance fee is approximately €7 per person.
• Location: 25 Xiangshan Nan, Haidan, Beijing.
• Opening hours: daily from 9am to 5pm.

After booking your Beijing tour, I encourage you to delve into Beijing's history at the Capital Museum, an exhibition dedicated to preserving the city's history and culture from its founding to the present day, as well as its relationship with the national government and the rest of the neighbouring cities. Housed in a historic building built during the Qing dynasty, which used to be the seat of the Beijing Supreme Court of Justice, you'll not only experience one of Beijing's finest museums, but also the pristine architecture of China's imperial past.

The museum is divided into several sections, each presenting different aspects of Beijing's history and culture. Permanent exhibits include ancient maps of the city, artefacts from the Ming Dynasty, traditional art and crafts from the region, and a wide variety of photographs and historical documents depicting daily life in the past.

In addition to the permanent exhibitions, the museum also features temporary exhibitions that address specific themes of Beijing's history and culture, such as tea culture, traditional architecture and the routines of the citizens, especially during times of war or conflict.

Interesting details

• Price: admission is free.
• Location: 20 Dazhalan Xijie, Xicheng, Beijing.
• Opening hours: daily from 9am to 5pm.

The Confucius Temple Museum in Beijing is located on the site of the ancient Confucius Temple in Guozijian and was built in 1302 during the Yuan Dynasty. It was used as an educational centre until the early 20th century and is an example of Ancient Chinese architecture and part of the historical heritage, so it is often included in the best tours of Beijing.

This museum houses a large collection of artefacts related to the life and legacy of Confucius, including historical relics, steles, paintings and sculptures. It also has a number of themed exhibitions showing Confucius' influence on Chinese culture, thought and philosophy.

The museum is divided into several sections, such as the Hall of Literature, the Hall of Music, the Hall of Dance and the Hall of Fine Arts. There is also a room dedicated to the imperial examinations, which were an integral part of the education system in China for centuries and reflect the high standards the country promoted in the training of children. If you want to visit one of Beijing's finest temples, this museum is ideal.

Interesting details

• Price: entrance fee is approximately €5 per person.
• Location: 13 Guozijian, Dongcheng, Beijing.
• Opening hours: daily from 8.30am to 6pm.

This is one of China's leading natural science museums. It is located in the Xicheng district, close to Peking University and the Summer Palace, making it ideal for touring even if you are planning a short stay in Beijing.

The Natural History Museum was founded in 1951 and has expanded over the years to include more than 200,000 specimens in its collection, which covers fauna, flora, geology, palaeontology and anthropology. The museum is divided into several sections, each of which features themed exhibits in different areas of natural science.

The fauna section of the museum is particularly impressive, with a wide variety of stuffed animals, from birds and mammals to reptiles and fish. The palaeontology section is also very interesting, with fossils and dinosaur remains dating back millions of years, tracing the history of Planet Earth from its beginnings. There are also a variety of interactive and multimedia exhibits, which make the visit more attractive to visitors, especially children.

Interesting details

• Price: The entrance fee is approximately €5 per person.
• Location: 126 Tianqiao, Xicheng, Beijing.
• Opening hours: daily from 9am to 5pm.

If you want to visit one of the most important art exhibitions in China, you can't miss the National Art Museum, which was founded in 1963 as part of the historical reconstruction of the country's cultural legacy during Maoism, so it has not only had an artistic influence, but also a political one throughout its history.

The museum houses an extensive collection of more than 100,000 modern and contemporary Chinese works of art, dating from the 20th century to the present day. The collection includes paintings, sculptures, prints, photographs and other types of artistic achievements made not only by urban artists, but also by peasants. Among the most outstanding works are:

• An exact replica of the sculpture The Thinker by Auguste Rodin, which is displayed at the entrance of the museum.
• The masterpiece of the Four Seasons by artist Xu Beihong, which depicts four different scenes of life in China throughout the year.

The museum also presents temporary exhibitions and cultural activities throughout the year, making it an ideal place to visit with children. As for the building itself, it is an attraction in its own right, with a sleek modern design that combines traditional and contemporary elements of Chinese architecture. Although it is a bit far from the centre of Beijing, you can get there by hop-on-hop-off bus.

Interesting details

• Price: admission is free.
• Location: 1 Wusi Dajie, Beijing.
• Opening hours: daily from 9am to 5pm.

The Chinese Aviation Museum is one of the most eclectic museums in Beijing, with a collection of over 200 aircraft, including military aircraft, helicopters and rockets, dating from the 1910s to the present day, but also displays of weapons and other military items.

The museum's display is divided into several sections, each dedicated to a specific period of aviation history. Highlights include fighter aircraft from World War II, such as the famous Japanese Zero fighter, as well as Chinese military aircraft, such as the Chengdu J-7 fighter and the J-20 fifth-generation fighter, a powerhouse of its time.

It also has a section dedicated to the history of civil air transport in China, including commercial aircraft and exhibits on early Chinese flights and pilots, and on the influence aviation had in uniting a country that until the 1970s was essentially rural. In addition, the museum features flight simulators and other interactive equipment that allow you to experience the sensation of flying a plane.

Interesting details

• Price: admission is free.
• Location: 15 Airport Avenue, Chaoyang, Beijing.
• Opening hours: daily from 9am to 4pm.

The Museum of the Central Academy of Fine Arts, founded in 1986, is one of the most important art institutions in China and has a collection of more than 13,000 works of art, including paintings, sculptures, calligraphy and modern art. Most of the works are by Chinese artists, although there are also some works by international artists.

In addition, the museum's four-storey building is a perfect example of modern Chinese architecture, with a glass and steel façade. Inside, there are art galleries, but also a library, a conference room and a convention centre where, if you travel to Beijing during the summer, you can discover some of the best interactive workshops.

The museum has also hosted numerous art exhibitions, both national and international, and is home to some of China's most important art collections, including the Wang Xizhi calligraphy collection and the collection of works by Qi Baishi, a renowned Asian artist.

Details of interest

• Price: entrance fee is approximately €4 per person.
• Location: 8 Huajiadi Nan, Chaoyang, Beijing.
• Hours: 9am-5pm daily.

The Ullens Museum of Contemporary Art is the most Western of Beijing's art museums, not only in terms of the style of its exhibits and the architecture of its building, but also in terms of the layout of the exhibitions, which are arranged like the MoMA in New York or the Reina Sofia Museum in Madrid, in different thematic rooms that intermingle temporary and permanent exhibitions.

This museum was founded by Belgian collectors Guy and Myriam Ullens in 2007 and is one of the best things to do in Beijing. Now housed in a building that was formerly a Cold War-era military factory, its exhibitions cover a wide range of disciplines, from painting and sculpture to film, photography and installation. It has presented exhibitions by some of the world's leading contemporary artists, including Ai Weiwei, Xu Bing and Cai Guo-Qiang.

In addition to exhibitions, the museum also organises educational programmes for students and visitors of all ages. Programmes include workshops, guided tours, lectures and presentations. The building houses an art library, which contains a wide variety of publications related to contemporary art.

Details of interest

• Price: Admission is approximately €12 per person.
• Location: 798 Art District, 4 Jiuxianqiao, Chaoyang, Beijing.
• Opening hours: Tuesday to Sunday from 10am to 5pm.