Capital Museum, China

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Capital Museum, China

Reservation contact form

http://www.capitalmuseum.org.cn/en/reservation.htm

Introduction of Capital Museum, China


The former Capital Museum, which was located in the Confucius Temple, started its planning stage in 1953 and formally opened to the general public in 1981. As a major cultural construction project in Beijing in the "10th Five-Year Plan", the new Capital Museum, approved by Beijing Municipal Government in 1999, further approved by the State Council after being submitted by the National Development and Reform Commission in 2001, finally commenced its construction in December 2001.

Under the concern and guidance of Beijing Municipal Government, the museum finally makes its debut along the western extension of Chang'an Street, the very first street of China after four years of hard work. With its magnificent architecture, abundant exhibitions, advanced technology and complete functions, the large and modern Capital Museum, makes its contribution to the titles such as "famous historical and cultural city", "cultural center" and the "international metropolis" of Beijing and ranks among the first class museums both in China and internationally.

Classical Architecture

The architectural design concept of the Capital Museum is based on human and cultural heritage to serve the community and underlines the harmonious integration of past and present, history and modernism, art and nature. The construction of the Capital Museum itself is a piece of architectural artwork integrating both classical and modern beauty. It is of distinct national characteristics on one hand and obvious modern feeling on the other.

The massive roof and the gradient of the entrance square inherits the design from the Chinese traditional architectural style, and the long stone curtain wall stands for the city wall in ancient China. A piece of Danbi (a piece of massive stone carved with images like dragon, phoenix or cloud for Gods to walk on) is embedded on the ground in front of the north gate of the museum, whereas a decorative archway from the Ming Dynasty is set in the receptional hall in which shows "central axis" feature in Chinese architechture. The oval-shaped Bronze Exhibition Hall implies the unearthing of ancient relics by its slanting design in which extends from the ground to the exterior of the museum.

Large quantity of bronze, timbers and stones used presents an even deeper sense of historical profoundness. Stones used in the ground of the north square and the grand hall are all produced in Fangshan, where stones have constantly been supplied for construction of Beijing since ancient time. Elms, the most commonly seen trees in Beijing, are adopted as external decoration materials of the Rectangular Exhibition Hall; while bronze, decorated with texture style of the bronzes of the Western Zhou Dynasty unearthed in Beijing, is used to decorate the external facades of the Circular Exhibition Hall.

The concept of the architectural design of the Capital Museum is based on human and cultural heritage to serve the community and underlines the harmonious integration of past and present, history and modernism, art and nature. The construction of the Capital Museum itself is a piece of architectural artwork integrating both classical and modern beauty. It is of distinct Chinese architectural characteristics on one hand and a clear modern feeling on the other.

The massive roof and the gradient at the entrance square inherits the design from the Chinese traditional architectural style, and the stone-made exterior wall symbolizes the city walls in ancient China. A piece of Danbi (a piece of massive stone carved with images like dragon, phoenix or cloud for Gods to walk on) is embedded on the ground in front of the north gate of the museum, whereas a decorative archway from the Ming Dynasty is set in the receptional hall in which shows the "central axis" feature which is commonly seen in Chinese architecture. The oval-shaped Bronze Exhibition Hall implies the unearthing of ancient relics by its slanting design in which extends from the ground to the exterior of the museum.

A large quantity of bronze, timber and stones are used in the museum to present a deeper sense of historical profoundness. Stones being used on the ground outside the north entrance and the reception hall are all produced in Fangshan, which is the place where stones have constantly supplied for the construction of ancient Beijing city. The external decoration materials of the square exhibition hall was decorated with elms, the most commonly seen trees in the capital. Bronze with a texture style from the Western Zhou Dynasty is used to decorate the external facades of the circular exhibition Hall. The steel structured canopy roof and glass curtain wall expresses the dynamic time pace of Beijing, while the grand and transparent visual effect keeps abreast with modern architecture.

There are three independent constructions within the new museum: the rectangular exhibition hall, the circular exhibition hall and the quadrate office and scientific research building. The open space in between are the central hall and indoor bamboo courtyard. An environment of both human and natural sentiment is created by adopting natural light, blended with the decorative Chinese-style archway, bamboo courtyard and rippling water.




Prolific Exhibitions

Articles exhibited in the Capital Museum are mainly past years' collections and unearthed historical heritages of the Beijing area, combined with the latest research results concerning the history, cultural heritages, archeology and relevant subjects of Beijing. Modern exhibitions featured by Beijing characteristics are shaped successfully by studying the successful experiences from local and international museums.

The compilation of the exhibition outline was started in the millennium year, in which the construction works of the new Capital Museum initiated in the same year. Aiming to show the latest results commonly recognized by academic circles in the museum's exhibitions, the outline is guided by many academic authorities from institutions such as the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, Peking University, and Beijing Academy of Social Sciences etc.

The goal of the museum was to adopt new design concepts to break traditional dull exhibition patterns. Another goal is to introduce modern exhibition technologies and methods in order to create a different exhibition style so as to allow visitors to have an experiential visit process, as well as making the exhibitions more lively and interactive.

The positioning of the Capital Museum determines its exhibition items: permanent exhibitions, exhibitions of fine artistic collections and temporary exhibitions.

Permanent exhibitions include "Ancient Capital: Chapter on the History and Culture of Beijing", "Ancient Capital: Urban Construction" and "Stories of the Capital City - Old Beijing Folk-customs Exhibition". The permanent exhibitions shows the splendid and glorious culture of Beijing, which has constantly evolved and gradually formed its splendid development of the capital.

Exhibitions of fine artistic collection include "Exhibition of Ming-Qing Classical Paintings", "Selected works of Ancient Calligraphy", "Selected works of Ancient Buddhist Statues", "Selected works of Ancient Porcelain Art", "Selected works of Bronze Art in the Beijing Area", "Selected works of Ancient Jade Art" and "Selected works of Ancient Stationary and other Study Utensils". These exhibitions will allow visitors of the museum to deepen their understanding of the Chinese and Beijing culture. A total of 5,622 pieces of historical heritages are exhibited in all these exhibitions.

The temporary exhibitions serve as a stage to study and appreciate the exchange relations between cultures of Beijing and the other regions and that of China and the world.

Useful Information

The Capital Museum has opened to the public for free admission since March 28, 2008, in compliance with the Notice on Free Admission to National Museums and Memorials, jointly issued by the Publicity Department of CPC Central Committee, Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Culture, and State Administration of Cultural Heritage. As this policy implemented, we have received warm responses and support from the public. In order to meet visitorsí demand and provide safer and more valuable visiting experience, we shall modify the new regulation for free admission from June 1st, 2008 as follows:

1. Reservation Quota:
The quota increases to 4000 people per day;

2. Reservation Time: The 5-day in advance reservation is shortened to 3-day in advance;

3. Number of Tickets per Visitor: 5 tickets can be reserved per person per day;

4. Box office and Entrance:
(1) Individual visitors may collect tickets from the north box office and enter from the north entrance;
(2) Group and agent visitors may collect tickets from the east box office at basement level and enter from the east basement entrance;
(3) Visitors for the special exhibitions may purchase tickets directly from box office in the main lobby.
5. Ticket-collecting Time: 9:00-16:00 TuesdayñSunday
6. Note:
(1) For more information about the reservation and collecting tickets please log in our official website.
(2) The Capital Museum reserves the right of final interpretation of the above regulations.


Routes:
Subway: Muxidi Station, Line 1
Buses:
Bus No. 1, No. 4, No. 52 and No. 37 to the stop ìGonghuidalouî (Labor Union Building)
No. 937, No. 727, No. 717, No. 650, No. 708, No. 26, No. 319 to the stop Baiyun Rd.
Special Bus No. 1 to the stop ìMuxidiî
Number for telephone reservation: 63370491 63370492