National Museum of China
Situated on the eastern side of Tiananmen Square, the National Museum of China is the world's largest museum by floor area and one of the most visited globally. Its permanent exhibitions span the entire arc of Chinese history — from primitive societies to the modern era. The museum's collection includes iconic pieces like the Simuwu Ding, the heaviest bronze vessel ever discovered, and exquisite jade burial suits from the Han Dynasty.
1,050,000
Collection items
Visit Information
- Opening Hours
- 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM (Closed Mondays)
- Admission
- Free (Reservation required)
- Website
- Official Site
Must-See Highlights
- •Simuwu Ding (Houmuwu Ding)
- •Jade Burial Suit
- •Tang Tri-colored Glazed Pottery
Notable Artifacts at This Museum
Bronze
Simuwu Ding (Houmuwu Ding)
The heaviest piece of bronze work ever found in the ancient world — a monumental ritual vessel weighing 832.84 kg that required the coordinated effort of hundreds of craftsmen.
Jade
Jade Burial Suit of Prince Liu Sheng
An entire suit made of 2,498 jade tiles sewn together with 1,100 grams of gold wire — built to grant immortality to a Han prince.
Jade
Hongshan Culture C-Shaped Jade Dragon
Often called China's first dragon, this 26-cm C-shaped jade figure is the most iconic artifact of the Hongshan Culture and a symbol of the prehistoric origins of dragon worship.
Bronze
Owl-Shaped Zun of Lady Fuhao
A pair of owl-shaped bronze ritual wine vessels from the tomb of Lady Fuhao, the only archaeologically verified female military commander in Chinese history.
Ceramics
Tang Sancai Three-Color Glazed Camel with Musicians
A tomb figurine depicting a Bactrian camel carrying a musical troupe — a masterpiece of Tang funerary art that captures the cosmopolitan energy of Silk Road trade in a single object.
Bronze
Yuanmingyuan Zodiac Bronze Fountain Heads
Twelve bronze animal heads from the zodiac fountain of the Old Summer Palace (Yuanmingyuan) — looted during the 1860 Anglo-French sacking and now the world's most famous symbols of Chinese cultural heritage repatriation.