Beijing: National Museum of China

The National Museum of China is located in the eastern side of Tian’anmen Square and the southern side of East Chang’an Street. It is a comprehensive museum of traditional Chinese culture and history which combines collection, research and exhibition together. Having a collection of over one million items, it is also one of the biggest museums in the world.

The building has a rectangular exterior and faces the Great Hall of the People. Twenty-four square pillars make up the magnificent west gate portico. With its classical color and imposing structure, the whole building is an important part of the panorama of Tian'anmen Square.

 In 2003, it is completed by the two museums: the Museum of Chinese History and the Museum of Chinese Revolution, which shared the same building complex. Now it is affiliated to the People's Republic of China Ministry of Culture. After the combination of the two museums, I had planed a Beijing Xian tour especially for China’s museums.

 The Museum of Chinese History displays three main periods of Chinese history. The most valuable items are the Simuwu Rectangle Ding (a kind of vessel) of the Shang Dynasty (cast over 3, 000 years ago and weighing 832. 84kg -- the heaviest ancient bronze ware in the world), the Shang Dynasty square bronze Zun (wine vessel) decorated with four sheep heads and the large inscribed Western Zhou Dynasty (11th century BC - 771BC) bronze Pan (water container).

After visiting the National Museum of China, I flied to my next Xian tour for the Shaanxi History Museum, which is also a good place for Chinese historical studies.