Capital Museum - 首都博物館

The Capital Museum in photos

Presentation of the Capital Museum

Construction of the Capital Museum began in 1953, but it was not opened to the public until 1981. It was originally housed in the Temple of Confucius, but in order to accommodate a larger collection and provide better service to visitors, a new building was built in December 2001, with the opening scheduled for May 2006. It is now located in Xicheng District.

The new building was designed by architects Jean-Marie Duthilleul and Cui Kai. It is as worth a visit as the collection of over 200,000 pieces it houses. With an area of ​​63,000 square meters and 7 floors, it is the largest art museum in China. In addition to adding new cultural relics to an already rich and diverse collection, the Capital Museum conducts extensive research. It is divided into two main parts: the first is dedicated to the history of Beijing and displays objects symbolizing the city’s traditional culture, while the second part is full of magnificent paintings, bronzes, porcelain, calligraphy and jade. Some pieces date back to the Tang Dynasty.

Entrance to the Capital Museum is free, but you must book in advance on the website: http://www.capitalmuseum.org.cn/en/RESERVATION.htm. We recommend booking at least 24 hours in advance. Please note that the museum is closed on Mondays. The Capital Museum is therefore open from Tuesday to Sunday from 9am to 5pm. The last admissions are at 4pm.

To get to the Capital Museum, you can take the bus or the subway. You can of course also get there by car. Its magnificent treasures will certainly charm you, while the latest innovations in technology will make this visit a special and unique experience.