Capital Museum

Unclaimed

My first stop for the day is the Beijing Capital Museum. This is one of the best museums you can visit here in Beijing. The place is pretty big and you will find that they is a good number of tourists that come here. There is a long queue at the entrance as everyone is required to go through security checks before entering. Lighters and Tripods and not permitted here, so you will have to dispose of any lighters that you may have, and also deposit your tripod to collect when you are done. Tickets here are free, and all you need to do is present your passport or ID at the ticket booth. There are a total of 4 floors of items and relics that you can look at. Most of the relics that they have here are in very good condition and are displayed very nicely for you to see. They have a section on buddha relics as well which I particularly enjoyed. but generally the whole museum is worth dedicating at least an hour to slowly appreciate.

Everything in China is huge and flashy. The Capital Museum is no exception. It is very modern and has a very diverse collection of artifacts. One day will not be enough to go around it, let alone to pay attention to the ancient artifacts on display.

The Capital Museum (Chinese: 首都博物馆) in Beijing, China, is a premier art museum. Established in 1981, the museum relocated to its current facility in 2006. This expansive building houses an impressive collection of ancient porcelain, bronze, calligraphy, painting, jade, sculpture, and Buddhist statues from imperial China and other Asian cultures. Initially, the museum's collection comprised 83,000 objects. Although it attracts fewer visitors than other prominent art institutions in Beijing, such as the Palace Museum in the Forbidden City, the National Museum of China, and the National Art Museum of China, it remains a leading cultural institution. Today, its collection boasts over 200,000 cultural relics. Only a small fraction is exhibited, with a significant percentage comprising artifacts unearthed in Beijing. The Capital Museum's striking architecture, led by Jean-Marie Duthilleul and Cui Kai, draws inspiration from ancient Chinese design. The stone exterior symbolizes the city walls and towers of ancient China. A danbi stone, embedded at the north entrance, features intricate carvings of dragons, phoenixes, and imperial artifacts. The reception hall showcases a decorative Ming Dynasty archway, highlighting the ancient architecture. The museum boasts proximity to subway and public transport, with complimentary admission for all. (Take the Line 1 subway from Tiananmen West station to Muxidi station (8 mins ride). A full day can be devoted to exploring the sophisticated art collections and artifacts on display. Regrettably, I was unable to complete my exploration of the museum few years ago due to other commitments; however, I intend to fulfill the tour at a future date.

Lots of cool exhibits and historical information on the capital. Wish there were more signs in English. Free entry!

The Capital Museum tells the history of Beijing from the past to the present. Especially the central axis of Beijing and the daily life of its residents.