National Museum of China, Beijing (must see)

Situated on the eastern flank of Beijing's Tiananmen Square, the National Museum of China serves as an educational institution dedicated to illuminating the rich tapestry of Chinese arts and history. Oversight of the museum falls under the purview of the Ministry of Culture of the People's Republic of China.

Dating back to its establishment in 2003, the museum was the result of a merger between two distinct institutions that had occupied the same architectural space since 1959: the Museum of the Chinese Revolution in the northern wing and the National Museum of Chinese History in the southern wing.

Spanning an expansive timeline from the Yuanmou Man of 1.7 million years ago to the culmination of the Qing Dynasty, the museum boasts an extensive permanent collection comprising 1,050,000 artifacts. Within this collection are numerous invaluable and singular items that are not replicated in any other museum in China or across the globe.

Prominent treasures within the confines of the National Museum of China encompass a diverse array of historical periods. These include the renowned "Simuwu Ding" from the Shang Dynasty (1600 BC - 1064 BC), holding the distinction of being the heaviest extant piece of ancient bronzeware at 833 kg. Additional remarkable pieces feature a square-shaped Shang Dynasty bronze "zun" adorned with intricately crafted sheep heads, an uncommonly inscribed bronze water pan from the Western Zhou Dynasty, a Qin Dynasty bronze tally embellished with gold inlay in the form of a tiger, opulent Han Dynasty jade burial attire adorned with golden thread, and an extensive compilation of Tang Dynasty tri-colored glazed sancai as well as Song Dynasty ceramics. Complementing these treasures is a notable numismatic collection that encompasses 15,000 coins generously contributed by Luo Bozhao.

Why You Should Visit:
The "Ancient China" exhibit on the lower floor could easily keep you busy for 2-3 hours and the quality of the works is at least comparable to the Chinese section at the Met in New York and Guimet in Paris. Additionally, you're able to see many outstanding visiting exhibitions from other parts of the world.

Tip:
Take a look at the several different sections in the information section before jumping in and decide what is most likely to appeal to you if you have only one day or a half day. Entrance is free but do take your passport/ID with you. Security is tight so expect checks both entering and leaving the museum.