10 Best museums in Beijing

Many of China's millenary traditions can be found in the historic center of Beijing, which consists of the Forbidden City, Tiananmen Square, Temple Park and the hutongs. In that 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, cannot 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 step inside this museum that features a large collection of historical and cultural artifacts related to this 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.

In the museum you will also find references to some of the city's historic palaces and temples and even the Beijing Silk Market building, because they were all 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.

Details of interest

• Price: the entrance fee is approximately €5 per person.
• Location: 28 Qinghua, Haidan, Beijing.
• Hours: daily from 8:30 am to 5 pm.

After enjoying the Beijing tour, I recommend you visit this museum that focuses on World War II and China's fight 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 in the country in terms of modern history.

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 exhibit features more than 2,000 objects, including photographs, documents and historical artifacts depicting the citizens' struggle against the Japanese invasion during the war.

It is divided into several sections, each focusing on a theme. The main exhibit includes a reenactment 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 there is an exhibit devoted to the history of China-Japan relations, which reflects Chinese idiosyncrasies as much as the Forbidden City, the Bell Tower or the Great Wall of China.

Details of interest

• Price: admission is free.
• Location: 9 Fuxing, Beijing.
• Hours: daily from 9:00 am to 4:30 pm.

Along with the Panda Garden tour, the Chinese Garden Museum, also known as the Zhang Family Garden, is a must-see. An open-air museum showcasing the history and evolution of the country's gardens over an area of 12 hectares, you can tour 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 featuring a variety of features and design elements that reflect traditional Chinese culture and aesthetics.

The exhibit also includes historical artifacts and artwork 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.
• Hours: daily from 9 am to 5 pm.

After booking your Beijing tour, I encourage you to delve into Beijing's history at the Capital Museum, an exhibit dedicated to preserving the history and culture of the city from its founding to the present day, as well as its relationship with the national government and the rest of the neighboring cities. It is housed in a historic building built during the Qing dynasty, which used to be the seat of the Beijing Supreme Court of Justice, so you will not only experience one of the best museums in Beijing, 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, artifacts from the Ming Dynasty, traditional art and crafts from the region, and a wide variety of photographs and historical documents that give an account of daily life in the past.

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

Details of interest

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

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 center 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 Beijing tours.

This museum houses a large collection of artifacts related to the life and legacy of Confucius, including historical relics, steles, paintings and sculptures. It also has a number of themed exhibits that showcase Confucius' influence on Chinese culture, as well as 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 the best temples in Beijing, this museum is ideal.

Details of interest

• Price: the entrance fee is approximately 5 € per person.
• Location: 13 Guozijian, Dongcheng, Beijing.
• Hours: daily from 8:30 am to 6 pm.

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

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, paleontology and anthropology. The museum is divided into several sections, each of which features themed exhibits in different areas of natural science.

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

Details of interest

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

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 over 100 thousand 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 Four Seasons masterpiece 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, it is an attraction in itself, with a modern and elegant design that combines traditional and contemporary elements of Chinese architecture. Although it is a bit far from the center of Beijing, you can get there by hop on-hop off bus.

Details of interest

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

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

The museum's exhibit is divided into several sections, each dedicated to a specific period in aviation history. Notable displays include World War II fighter aircraft, 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 civilian 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.

Details of interest

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

Founded in 1986, the Museum of the Central Academy of Fine Arts 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-story building is a perfect example of modern Chinese architecture, with a glass and steel facade. Inside, the art galleries stand out, but also the library, the conference room and a convention center 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 domestic 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: daily from 9 am to 5 pm.

If the term fits, the Ullens Museum of Contemporary Art is the most western of Beijing's art museums, not only for the style of its exhibits and the architecture of its building, but also for the layout of the exhibits, which are distributed as in 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. It now occupies a building that was formerly a military factory in the Cold War era and its exhibitions cover a wide range of disciplines, from painting and sculpture to film, photography and installation. Exhibitions by some of the world's leading contemporary artists, including Ai Weiwei, Xu Bing and Cai Guo-Qiang, have been presented there.

In addition to exhibitions, the museum also organizes educational programs for students and visitors of all ages. Programs 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.
• Hours: Tuesday to Sunday from 10 am to 5 pm.