Beijing Museum of Natural History: An epic journey of life evolution spanning hundreds of millions of years

The predecessor of history, the preparation of the Central Museum of Natural History
The source of the Beijing Museum of Natural History can be traced back to the early fifties of the last century. After the founding of the People's Republic of China, popularizing scientific knowledge and improving national scientific literacy has become the need of the times. In 1951, under the joint promotion of the Ministry of Culture and the Chinese Academy of Sciences, the "Central Museum of Natural History Preparatory Office" was officially established, marking the beginning of the grand blueprint for New China to independently build a large-scale natural science museum. The Preparatory Office brought together a group of top scientists and scholars, who went to all parts of the country to start arduous and outstanding specimen collection and research work, laying a solid academic and collection foundation for the birth of the museum.

The birth of brilliance and the mission of the times - the opening of the palace of science
Official establishment (1958): After several years of careful preparation, in 1958, the museum in the Tianqiao area was completed and officially opened to the public the following year, named "Beijing Museum of Natural History". Its establishment has filled the gap in our country's large-scale natural history public cultural facilities.
Treasure collection: At the beginning of the establishment of the museum, it received strong support from various scientific research institutions, universities and even individual collectors across the country, and received and transferred a large number of extremely precious specimens, including complete dinosaur fossils such as Xu's Lufeng dragon and Jingyan Mamenxi dragon, which later became the treasure of the town hall, as well as a dazzling array of animal and plant specimens.
Keeping pace with the times: Over the past 60 years, the museum has undergone many renovations and expansions, from the initial taxonomic display to the modern exhibition system with "evolution" as the main line, integrating ecological scenes, multimedia interaction and thematic exploration.

> In-Depth Understanding: Explore More of China's Top Museums >> [Shanghai Museum of Natural History]

Natural creation - a magnificent epic of the evolution of life on Earth
The exhibition here is a magnificent history of life on Earth written with fossils and specimens.

Hall of Ancient Reptiles (Dinosaur Dynasty): Walk into this hall and be instantly conquered by a huge skeleton. The 26-meter-long Jingyan Mamenxi dragon occupies the center of vision with its amazing neck; the ferocious Yongchuan dragon bares its teeth and claws, reproducing the moment of predation; There is also China's earliest scientifically named dinosaur - Xu's Lufengsaurus. It is not only the kingdom of dinosaurs, but also reptiles such as pterosaurs and crocodiles on display, completely outlining the picture of the hegemony of the earth in the Mesozoic era.
Hall of Ancient Mammals (Elegy of the Behemoth): After the extinction of the dinosaurs, mammals entered the historical stage. The extremely complete huge skeleton of the Yellow River elephant (Shi's saber-toothed elephant) is displayed here, which can be called a miracle in the fossil world. In addition, fossils of giant beasts from the Ice Age, such as mammoths, woolly rhinoceroses, and three-toed horses, bring the audience into that cold and magnificent era, telling the story of the rise and fall of species and environmental changes.
Animal-Human Friend Hall (Colorful Living Life): From the mysterious deep sea to the vast grasslands, hundreds of lifelike animal specimens have been created to construct a miniature landscape of the world's major ecosystems. The majestic Siberian tiger, the cute giant panda, and the herds of antelopes not only show the beauty of biodiversity, but also reveal the infinite wisdom of life to adapt to the environment.
Plant World Hall and Origin Hall of Man: From the earliest ferns to flowery angiosperms, from ancient apes to modern Homo sapiens, these two exhibition halls continue the narrative of life evolution from the perspectives of plants and humans themselves, and answer the ultimate question of "where do we come from".

Scientific research ingenuity - the science and art behind specimens
The charm of the museum lies not only in the display, but also in the in-depth research and ingenious restoration skills behind it.

The scientific value of the treasure of the town hall: The fossils of Xu's Lufengsaurus are extremely well preserved, which is of key significance for the study of the morphology and evolution of early dinosaurs. The skeleton of the Yellow River elephant is intact even with the difficult-to-preserve hyoid bone, which is a rare treasure in the history of world paleontology. Behind each top specimen is the great effort of generations of scientists in field excavation, indoor restoration and research.
Lifelike ecological landscape: The museum has carefully crafted large ecological landscape boxes such as "Underwater World" and "Tropical Rainforest". Among them, the "Into the Human Body" exhibition hall intuitively presents complex physiological knowledge through giant mannequins and interactive facilities, and this ability to translate scientific knowledge artistically and scene-based is the core embodiment of the museum's educational function.
Interactive exploration space: The "exploration corner" specially set up for teenagers, the real fossil experience area that can be touched, and the wonderful "experimental fun" science popularization activities transform esoteric scientific principles into hands-on and interesting experiments, fully reflecting the ingenuity of the museum of "edutainment and education".

Visit Cheats:
> Must-see focus: the dinosaur skeleton group of the Paleoreptile Hall, the Yellow River elephant skeleton of the Paleomammal Hall.
> Best route: It is recommended to start from the paleontology exhibition hall on the first floor and visit in the order of life evolution, and finally to the "Aquatic Biology Museum" and "Dinosaur Park" on the basement floor.
> Parent-child tips: The "Dinosaur Park" on the basement floor has an electric restored dinosaur model, which is very popular with children; Check the official website in advance for special event times such as "Science Lecture Hall" or "Museum Night".
> Photography Note: Due to the need to protect specimens, some exhibition halls are dim in light, so please do not use flash. The dinosaur skeleton hall is spacious and suitable for capturing stunning panoramic views with a wide-angle lens.

Five must-do things to unlock a complete museum journey
1. Come face to face with prehistoric dragons
    Core: Standing under the extremely slender neck bone of the Mamen Xi Dragon, feel the absolute scale shock; Look at the ferocious Yongchuan dragon and imagine the thrill of Jurassic.
    Extension: In the "Dinosaur Park" on the basement floor, watch the restoration model of the active call, so that children can understand dinosaurs more intuitively.
2. Witness the "miracle of the fossil world"
    Focus: Take a closer look at the complete skeleton of the "Yellow River Elephant", learn the story of how it was discovered, excavated and framed, and experience the accident and preciousness of natural preservation.
3. Experience a scientist's exploration
    Interactive: In the "Exploration Corner" or a specific area, touch real fossils such as trilobites and dinosaur eggs; Participate in the "Experiment Fun" activity and complete simple and interesting science experiments under the guidance of teachers.
4. Cross the Earth's ecological corridor
    Route: Starting from the "Friends of Animals and Humans" hall, walk through the grassland, desert, forest, ocean and other ecological landscapes in turn, find the representative animal specimens hidden in them, and complete a global ecological overview.
5. Watch a 4D popular science movie
    Experience: In the popular science theater in the museum (tickets need to be purchased separately), choose a film related to paleontology or natural mysteries, and special effects such as vibration, water spray, and blowing will bring an immersive viewing experience and deepen your understanding of the exhibition content.

Suggested tour routes
Half-day "Core Essentials" tour (suitable for those with limited time):
Enter the museum at 9:00 a.m. → go straight to the "Paleoreptile Hall" (Dinosaur Hall, about 1 hour) on the first floor→ then visit the "Paleomammal Hall" on the same floor (Yellow River Elephants, etc., about 40 minutes) → go up to the second floor to visit the "Animal-Human Friends Hall" (about 50 minutes) → Return to the first floor or basement floor, choose to watch a 4D movie or take a quick look at the "Plant World" according to your interests→ End the visit around 12:30 noon.
IntoTravelChina tip: This tour focuses on the most stunning paleontological parts and is fast-paced. It is recommended to book tickets for free on the official website in advance (especially on holidays) and enter the museum as early as possible to avoid crowds.

One-day "in-depth exploration" joint tour (highly recommended, especially for parent-child families):
Morning (in-depth visit): Follow the half-day route above, but slow down and carefully watch the graphic descriptions and interactive installations in each exhibition hall.
Lunch: Have a quick meal in the museum or go to the nearby Tianqiao business district for a meal.
Afternoon (Interactive Experience & Extension): Visit the "Origin of Man Hall" → Focus on exploring the "Dinosaur Park", "Aquatic Biology Museum" and "Into the Human Body" exhibition halls on the basement floor → Take your children to the "Discovery Corner" for timed activities or hands-on experience projects → Pick up a dinosaur model or popular science book at the souvenir shop before leaving.
IntoTravelChina advantages: We can lock in the participation places of popular activities for you in advance, plan the most time-saving and labor-saving visit route, and provide relevant background knowledge guides, so that you and your children can enjoy your exploration journey as fulfilling and enjoyable.

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How to Get There: A Seamless Guide
The museum is located in the core area of the capital and is extremely well served by public transport.
Subway (most recommended): Take Beijing Metro Line 8 to "Tianqiao" Station, exit from Exit C, and walk for about 2 minutes to the main entrance of the museum. Travel tip: This is the quickest way to get stuck in traffic.
Bus: Get off at the "Skybridge" or "Temple of Heaven" station and walk to it.
By car: Navigate to the "Beijing Museum of Natural History". Travel tip: The museum's own parking space is very limited, and parking in the surrounding area is difficult and expensive, so it is strongly discouraged to drive.

Best time to visit
The Beijing Museum of Natural History is open all year round, and the indoor environment is not affected by the weather, but weekends, statutory holidays and winter and summer vacations are the absolute peak of passenger flow.
Year-round shoulder season: Tuesday to Friday is the best choice for visiting, with relatively few spectators, allowing you to enjoy the exhibits quietly and carefully, giving you the best experience.
Peak season tips: During the summer vacation (July-August), Golden Week and weekends, the venue will be very crowded, especially the dinosaur exhibition hall. If you can only go at this time, be sure to make a free appointment through the official website or WeChat official account many days in advance (usually 1-3 days in advance), and be prepared to queue.
Special event season: Pay attention to the museum's official website, on "May Day", "June 1st", National Day or specific theme days, special temporary exhibitions or popular science activities are often launched, with wonderful content.

Visiting Tips and Tricks
Tickets: Free reservation system is implemented. Visitors must make a real-name reservation through official channels (official website, WeChat public account) and enter the museum with their ID card or reservation code. Some special exhibitions and 4D cinemas require separate tickets.
Opening hours: Normally 9:00-17:00 (last admission at 16:00), closed on Mondays (except holidays).
Tour duration: It takes 2-3 hours to walk around and enjoy the flowers; It takes 5-6 hours or a whole day to visit and interact with each other.
Service facilities: The hotel has a bag storage area, a mother and baby room, a water dispenser and a rest area. Audio guides can be rented at the main lobby desk on the first floor.
Catering: There are simple drinks and snacks for sale in the museum, it is recommended to bring your own dry food or eat in the surrounding Tianqiao business district.

IntoTravelChina Service Suggestions:
We highly recommend using us to assist with ticket reservations, especially during peak seasons, where we can greatly increase the success rate of bookings. For parent-child families, we can help plan personalized visits that match the child's age and interests, and recommend supporting popular science books or peripheral activities to create a complete scientific enlightenment journey. >> [Click to contact IntoTravelChina Travel Consultant]

The story of the Beijing Museum of Natural History is a condensation of the billions of years of life on the earth, and a testimony to the never-ending spirit of scientific exploration of mankind. IntoTravelChina focuses on creating a deep, inspiring, and worry-free Chinese cultural travel experience. Our travel experts can help you:
Tailor-made itinerary: Design the perfect route to include the Natural History Museum and other scientific, educational and cultural attractions in Beijing based on your family structure, knowledge and interests.
One-stop service: Get all venue reservations, professional explanation services, and comfortable city transportation.
Exclusive experience: arrange in-depth explanations of key exhibits in the museum, connection with educational activities, and book list recommendations on related topics.

Let your trip to the Museum of Nature not only be a visit, but also a scientific enlightenment ceremony that stimulates curiosity and enlightens thinking.
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