The world's largest museum building, with more than 1.4 million objects covering all of Chinese civilisation. Lonely Planet calls it Beijing's best museum: go to the basement galleries for the 2,000-year-old jade burial suit of the Western Han king Liu Xiu, the rhino-shaped bronze zun and a 15th-century bronze acupuncture figure.
- Address
- 16 East Chang'an Avenue, east side of Tiananmen Square, Dongcheng District (enter by the North Gate)
- Hours
- Tue-Sun 09:00-17:00 (last entry 16:00); Jun 1-Oct 31 to 17:30 (last entry 16:30); closed Mon except national holidays (en.chnmuseum.cn)
- Best time to go
- Morning, Afternoon · About 3 h
- Price
- Free with reservation; some temporary exhibitions charge (en.chnmuseum.cn, 2026)
- Price level
- ¥
- Free entry
- Free for everyone
Booking: Free real-name reservation on en.chnmuseum.cn, up to 7 days ahead, released daily at 17:00; passport required
Details can change. Check hours and prices before you go.
Good to know
- Reserve free on the official site up to 7 days ahead; slots open daily at 17:00 and come in three time windows; one booking per account a week, up to 5 people (en.chnmuseum.cn, rules from Aug 1, 2025).
- Bring the passport you booked with and enter at the North Gate during your slot; late arrivals are turned away.
- You pass security twice, once for the Tiananmen zone and again for the museum (Lonely Planet).