National Natural History Museum of China

The National Natural History Museum of China, formerly known as the Beijing Museum of Natural History, is the nation’s leading institution dedicated to the collection, research, and exhibition of natural specimens. Located in Beijing’s Dongcheng District, the museum spans over 23,000 square meters and houses more than 370,000 items, including rare fossils and specimens. Its permanent exhibitions follow the evolutionary trend of organisms, highlighting biodiversity and the relationship between organisms and their environment. The museum also offers various educational programs and hosts temporary exhibitions annually.

Planning your visit

The National Natural History Museum of China, in Beijing's Dongcheng District near the Temple of Heaven, is the country's principal natural history collection — over 370,000 specimens across more than 23,000 square metres, with permanent exhibitions arranged along evolutionary lines from the origins of life through invertebrates, dinosaurs, mammals and human origins.

The palaeontology holdings are the strength. China has produced some of the most important fossil discoveries of recent decades, particularly the feathered dinosaurs from Liaoning that transformed understanding of the dinosaur-bird transition, and Chinese museums hold that material. Mounted skeletons of Asian dinosaur species unfamiliar to Western visitors fill the main halls.

It is popular with school groups and families, so weekdays during term time and weekends are busy. Advance reservation is required, and slots for the dinosaur-focused sections go quickly.

Bookable options include entry tickets with guidebooks, and combined tickets covering the museum with the associated Dino Park attraction. English labelling is limited, so a guidebook or audio guide adds real value. Given the Temple of Heaven sits nearby, combining the two makes a practical day in the southern part of central Beijing. Current availability is shown below.