Běijīng’s premier museum is housed in an immense 1950s building on the eastern side of Tiān’ānmén Sq, and is well worth visiting. The Ancient China exhibition on the basement floor is outstanding. You could easily spend a couple of hours in this exhibition alone. It contains dozens and dozens of stunning pieces, from prehistoric China through to the Qing Dynasty, all displayed beautifully in modern, spacious, low-lit exhibition halls.
Look out for the 2000-year-old jade burial suit, made for the clearly well-endowed Western Han Dynasty king Liu Xiu, and the life-sized bronze acupuncture statue, dating from the 15th century. The 2000-year-old rhino-shaped bronze zūn (wine vessel) is another stand-out piece. The Ancient Chinese Money exhibition on the top floor, and the Bronze Art and Buddhist Sculpture galleries, one floor below, are also worth seeing.
The museum, which is vast and energy-sapping, also has a ground-floor cafe (south end) and a teahouse (north end). Note, you must bring your passport along to gain museum entry.
