Capital Museum, Beijing

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This excellent museum first opened in 1981 while the unusual shaped buildings was built in the late 1990s, influenced by the design from ancient Chinese architecture. The Bronze Exhibition Hall, which has an oval-shape, was also meant to symbolise the unearthing of ancient relics by its slanting design in which extends from the ground to the exterior of the museum. Exhibit galleries include Ancient Capital - the history and culture of Beijing; Cultural relics of Peking; Ancient Porcelain; Ancient Buddhist Art; and Beijing Folk Customs.

Open: 9am-4pm Tue-Sun. Admission: Free

This museum is now housed in a modern large rectangular building with extraordinary interior spaces. The titles for most of the exhibits start with the words, "Selected works of . . ." You can view bronzes, jade, calligraphy, porcelain, Ming-Qing classical painting and more. As you would expect there are a number of halls featuring ancient Beijing. I especially liked the exhibition of cultural relics of Peking Opera. There is good lighting and a reasonable amount of explanation in English.
There is a digital multimedia hall and a digital movie hall that shows a film on "Splendid Beijing" every hour. I skipped this movie.
Also, there is a tea house, cafe, restaurant, bookstore and a bunch of shops.

The entrance cost was 30 RMB. It is open 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM Tuesday through Sunday. I did not find it crowded during my wintertime visit during Spring Festival. Overall it made for a pleasant and stimulating escape from the weather and the crowded streets.

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The plan for the Capital Museum, located in the Confucius Temple, was prepared in 1953. The museum formally opened in 1981.
As a major cultural construction project in Beijing in the “10th Five-Year Plan”, the new Capital Museum, approved by Beijing Municipal Government in 1999, further approved by the State Council after being submitted by the National Development and Reform Commission in 2001, finally commenced its construction in December 2001.
Under the concern and guidance of Beijing Municipal Government, after four years of hard work, the museum finally makes its debut along the western extension of Chang’an Street, the First Street of China. With its magnificent architecture, abundant exhibitions, advanced technology and complete functions, the Capital Museum, large and modern, makes its contribution to the titles such as “famous historical and cultural city”, “cultural center” and “international metropolis” of Beijing and ranks among the first class museums both at home and abroad.

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The museum has an incredible amount of bronze ware from all ages.

Open: 9am-4pm Tue-Sun. Admission: Free

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Just some photos from the interesting Folk Customs exhibition located on the top floor.

Open: 9am-4pm Tue-Sun. Admission: Free

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Just some photos from the Buddhist Art exhibition.

Open: 9am-4pm Tue-Sun. Admission: Free