8 million
Annual Visitors
1.4 million objects
Collection
3–5 hours
Recommended Visit
Zhang Kai (1959) · Gerkan, Marg and Partners (expansion, 2011)
Architect
About National Museum of China
The National Museum of China flanks the eastern side of Tiananmen Square in Beijing, China. The museum's mission is to educate about the arts and history of China. It is directed by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism of the People's Republic of China.
It is one of the largest museums in the world. With 7.4 million visitors in 2019, the National Museum of China was the second-most visited art museum in the world, just after the Louvre.
The current museum was established in 2003 by the merging of the two separate museums that had occupied the same building since 1959: the Museum of the Chinese Revolution in the northern wing and the National Museum of Chinese History in the southern wing.
Its massive collection covers Chinese history from the Yuanmou Man 1.7 million years ago to the end of the Qing Dynasty, providing an unparalleled look into the continuous civilization of China.
Masterworks & Must-See Highlights
The works that define National Museum of China — and why they matter.
Simuwu Rectangular Ding
Shang Dynasty craftsmen · c. 1300 BCE
Ancient China Hall
At 832 kg, the largest and heaviest bronze ritual vessel ever discovered in China. Cast during the Shang Dynasty for a royal tomb, its massive scale and intricate taotie (monster mask) decoration represent the apex of early Chinese bronze work.
Jade Burial Suit of Prince Liu Sheng
Han Dynasty craftsmen · 113 BCE
Ancient China Hall
A funerary suit sewn from 2,498 jade tiles joined by gold wire, worn to preserve the body in death. A testament to the extraordinary wealth and jade-working skills of the Western Han dynasty.
Collections & Highlights
Frequently Asked Questions
A small ask before you go
You've just explored one of humanity's greatest collections of beauty. Art has the power to move us, inspire us, and change how we see the world. But millions of people will never see beauty like this — not because the art isn't there, but because they can't see at all.
Preventable blindness, caused by conditions like cataracts and trachoma, affects people of all ages across the world's poorest communities. A small gift — for the cost of a museum ticket — can provide a simple surgery to restore someone's sight and transform their life.