Learn from the past at Beijing's best history museums

The city's best museums for history buffs

Museums can be about many things – culture, science, machinery, tap water – you name it. The biggest and the best, however, are often dedicated to history, something that China sure has a lot of.

National Museum of China

Cramming the oft-quoted '5,000 years of Chinese history' under one roof is a tough task, but this remarkable museum on the eastern edge of Tiananmen Square does a fine job of it. With nearly 200,000sqm of exhibition space, it's the third largest in the world and the permanent home to over 1 million priceless relics.

Don't miss The supposedly 1.7 million-year-old remains of the prehistoric Yuanmou Man.

Estimated time Two-to-three hours.

English provisions Translated captions are excellent, with audio guide available.

Capital Museum

The Capital Museum tells the story of Beijing from when it was a few mere rice paddies right up until the founding of the People’s Republic, and tells it well. The chronological order of the artefacts on the first floor – laid out in a huge timeline – helps visitors understand the narrative of this great city we call home, while upstairs the 'Exhibition on Folk Customs' adds some colour, with lifelike figures set in traditional scenes adorned with bright, festive clothing.

Don't miss Climb to the top floor and walk down the spiral walkway to see jade, porcelain, traditional watercolours and calligraphy.

Estimated time One hour.

English provisions All exhibits have English labels, though descriptions are limited.

Museum of the War of Chinese People's Resistance Against Japanese Aggression

Located at the site of the 1937 Marco Polo Bridge Incident (the conflict that sparked the Second Sino-Japanese War), the Museum of the War of Chinese People's Resistance Against Japanese Aggression is a must-visit for those interested in the start of WW2 from the Chinese perspective. The tone of the museum is tasteful and respectful given the subject matter, and the artefacts and explanation boards are engaging and informative.

Don't miss The original script of Mao Zedong’s essay 'On a Protracted War'.

Estimated time Two-to-three hours.

English provisions Not comprehensive, but decent translations are present.

Military Museum of the Chinese People's Revolution

A trip here is surely a visit to one of the most grand museums in town – unsurprising, given that it's one of the Ten Great Buildings built in 1959 to commemorate the tenth anniversary of the PRC. Such architectural grandeur is matched by spectacular exhibits, with a cavernous atrium filled with aircraft dangling from the ceiling, flanked by missiles, engines, boats and artillery. The darkened basement houses twentieth-century tanks, heavy weaponry and more, from China, the US, Korea, the USSR and beyond, while the upper levels host temporary exhibitions on all things war, including history, relics and artworks.

Don't miss The burnt-out shell of a crashed war plane in the basement.

Estimated time One-and-a-half hours.

English provisions Only names of exhibits and models are in English.

Chinese Museum of Women & Children

Tucked away on the north side of Chang'an Avenue, the scale and style of this building are belied by its relatively discrete location. Six floors of modern, Zaha Hadid-esque curves cover a total of 35,000sqm of all things matriarchal.

There's a rewarding mix here of history and art – the impressive collection of paintings of and by women are worth the visit alone. The history sections are split into two halves: the ancient world and contemporary history. The first halves display Neolithic artefacts, while the second halves focus on the role of the Communists in ending various forms of oppression.

Don't miss The paper-cutting corner on the sixth floor, which also explores China's ethnic minorities.

Estimated time One hour and twenty minutes.

English provisions Translated captions, no audio guides.

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