Museums in People's Republic of China
158 museums in People's Republic of China. Most visited: Forbidden City.
Top museums in People's Republic of China
Forbidden City
Historic house, palace or castle · 19,300,000 visitors a year
The Forbidden City is the imperial palace complex in the centre of the Imperial City in Beijing, China.
National Museum of China
8,610,092 visitors a year
Situated on the eastern edge of Tiananmen Square, the National Museum of China is a treasure trove of history and culture, inviting visitors to embark on a captivating journey through China's rich...
Shanghai Museum
2,070,270 visitors a year
The Shanghai Museum is a public municipal museum of ancient Chinese art, situated on People's Square in Shanghai's Huangpu District. It was founded in 1952.
Hubei Provincial Museum
1,992,512 visitors a year
The Hubei Provincial Museum is a first-class Chinese museum with a large collection of state-level historic and cultural relics. It is in the Wuchang District of Wuhan, near the west shore of East...
Hong Kong Science Museum
Science and technology museum · 1,124,887 visitors a year
A towering kinetic sculpture called the Energy Machine fills the atrium of the Hong Kong Science Museum (香港科學館), sending balls along tracks, loops and chimes through several storeys of the building....
UCCA Center for Contemporary Art
905,023 visitors a year
Occupying a converted 1950s factory hall in Beijing's 798 Art District, UCCA Center for Contemporary Art (尤伦斯当代艺术中心) is one of China's leading independent institutions for contemporary art. Belgian...
Hong Kong Museum of Art
Art museum · 619,810 visitors a year
Few art museums sit as close to the water as the Hong Kong Museum of Art (香港藝術館), whose galleries on the Tsim Sha Tsui waterfront look directly across Victoria Harbour to the Hong Kong Island...
Beijing Lu Xun Museum
The Beijing Lu Xun Museum (北京鲁迅博物馆) occupies the buildings that were the writer Lu Xun's home during his years in Beijing. Opened as a house museum in 1956, the former residence on Fucheng Gate...
Beijing Planning Exhibition Hall
A scale model of the entire Beijing metropolitan area is the centrepiece of the Beijing Planning Exhibition Hall (北京市规划展览馆), a museum devoted to urban planning in the Chinese capital. Multimedia...
Beijing Zoo
Zoo or aquarium
Founded in 1906 during the late Qing dynasty, Beijing Zoo is the oldest zoo in China and the oldest public park in the north of the country. It is protected as a Major Historical and Cultural Site at...
Capital Museum
Art museum
Porcelain, bronzes, jade and Buddhist statues from imperial China fill the Capital Museum (首都博物馆), Beijing's public municipal art museum in Xicheng District. The large collection also includes...
Changsha Jiandu Museum
Bamboo and wooden slips, known in Chinese as jiandu, are the sole focus of the Changsha Jiandu Museum (长沙简牍博物馆). These narrow strips of bamboo or wood served as a writing surface in ancient China,...
China Aerospace Museum
Transport museum
Carrier rockets, crewed spacecraft, satellites and Moon exploration apparatus fill the exhibition halls of the China Aerospace Museum (中华航天博物馆), which is devoted to the technologies of the Chinese...
China Agricultural Museum
As the only national agricultural museum in the People's Republic of China, the China Agricultural Museum is devoted to agriculture. It occupies the National Agricultural Exhibition Hall at No. 16,...
China Art Museum
Art museum
The China Art Museum occupies the China Pavilion, the building that represented the host country at Expo 2010 Shanghai, in the Pudong district. Also known as the Shanghai Art Museum, it is the city's...
China Film Archive
Music, film or theatre museum
Preserving China's existing films and restoring 'lost' ones is the founding purpose of the China Film Archive, established in Beijing in 1958. It is owned and operated by the Publicity Department of...
China National Silk Museum
Welcome to the China National Silk Museum, a treasure trove that celebrates the rich history and artistry of silk production. Nestled in the vibrant city of Hangzhou, this museum invites you to...
China Printing Museum
Science and technology museum
Described as the largest museum devoted to printing anywhere in the world, the China Printing Museum (中国印刷博物馆) traces the invention and evolution of printing in China. Its collections include...
China Railway Museum
Transport museum
Set inside the circular test track of the China National Railway Test Centre, the China Railway Museum (中国铁道博物馆) preserves locomotives that have run on the railways of the People's Republic of China....
Dr Sun Yat-sen Museum
Historic house, palace or castle
Kom Tong Hall, a declared monument at 7 Castle Road in Central, is home to the Dr Sun Yat-sen Museum, a biographical museum devoted to the influential Chinese revolutionary and statesman Sun Yat-sen....
Museums by city in People's Republic of China
China’s museum landscape stretches from the imperial landmarks of Beijing to major provincial collections in Xi’an, Wuhan, Nanjing, Chengdu, and Guangzhou. Visitors can move between palace architecture, archaeological finds, calligraphy, ceramics, revolutionary history, and contemporary art in a single trip. On Mooseum, these museums become easier to explore through digital tours and indoor maps, whether you are planning a visit to the Forbidden City or looking for regional collections beyond the capital.
Many of the country’s most rewarding museums are rooted in place. In Beijing, the National Museum of China and the Palace Museum connect visitors with dynastic history and state collections. Shanghai Museum is known for bronzes, painting, jade, and ceramics, while Hubei Provincial Museum in Wuhan gives strong context for the Chu culture and the Marquis Yi of Zeng. Mooseum helps visitors compare these very different institutions and navigate them with more confidence.
China also offers a wide range of specialized museums. Baoji Bronze Ware Museum in Shaanxi focuses on ritual bronzes and early Chinese civilization, while science and art museums in Hong Kong present a different urban museum culture shaped by international exchange. Contemporary spaces such as UCCA Center for Contemporary Art in Beijing add another layer to the experience. Across the country, Mooseum is a practical way to discover museums that match your route, interests, and available time.
Map of museums in People's Republic of China
Museums in People's Republic of China: questions
- How many museums are there in People's Republic of China?
- Mooseum lists 158 museums in People's Republic of China. Hong Kong has the most, with 29.
- Which cities in People's Republic of China have the most museums?
- Hong Kong (29), Beijing (27), Shanghai (13), Changsha (8) and Macau (7).
- What are the most visited museums in People's Republic of China?
- By annual visitors reported on Wikipedia: Forbidden City (19,300,000), National Museum of China (8,610,092) and Shanghai Museum (2,070,270).
- What kinds of museums are in People's Republic of China?
- Of the 82 whose type we know, the most common are art museums (22), natural history museums (11), science and technology museums (9) and zoos and aquariums (8).
- Imperial history and palace collections in Beijing, especially the Forbidden City and the National Museum of China
- Strong archaeological and bronze collections in Shaanxi, Henan, and Hubei, including Baoji Bronze Ware Museum and Hubei Provincial Museum
- Major art holdings in cities such as Shanghai and Hong Kong, covering ceramics, painting, calligraphy, ink art, and modern works
- Science and family-friendly museums in Hong Kong and other large cities, with hands-on exhibits and accessible displays
- Regional museums that reflect local cultures, from Chu heritage in Hubei to Silk Road and ancient capital history in western China
- Reserve ahead whenever possible. Many popular museums in China use timed-entry systems, real-name booking, and daily visitor limits, especially in Beijing and Shanghai.
- Bring your passport for ticket collection or entry verification. Some museums are free but still require advance registration and ID checks.
- Check closing days carefully. Many museums close on Mondays, and large sites such as the Forbidden City can require several hours to visit comfortably.
- Use metro networks in major cities for easier access, and avoid national holidays such as Golden Week if you prefer shorter queues and less crowded galleries.
From the blog
- The Most Visited Museums in the World and What Makes Them Special
Discover the most visited museums in the world, from the Louvre to the National Museum of China. Learn what draws millions of visitors each year and what makes each institution unique.
All museums in People's Republic of China
Every museum in People's Republic of China listed on Mooseum. Search by name or type.
| Name | Type | Website | Links | Stats |
|---|---|---|---|---|
— | www.bjqtm.com |  | — | |
Transport museum | airandspacemuseum.buaa.edu.cn | | — | |
— | www.automuseum.org.cn | | — | |
Beijing Lu Xun MuseumThe Beijing Lu Xun Museum (北京鲁迅博物馆) occupies the buildings that were the writer Lu Xun's home during his years in Beijing. Opened as a house museum in 1956, the former residence on Fucheng Gate... | — | www.luxunmuseum.com.cn | | — |
Beijing Planning Exhibition HallA scale model of the entire Beijing metropolitan area is the centrepiece of the Beijing Planning Exhibition Hall (北京市规划展览馆), a museum devoted to urban planning in the Chinese capital. Multimedia... | — | www.bjghzl.com.cn | | — |
Beijing Yuxiandu Imperial Cuisine MuseumWelcome to the Beijing Yuxiandu Imperial Cuisine Museum, an extraordinary destination where culinary history and cultural heritage intertwine. Nestled in the heart of the People’s Republic of China,... | — | — | — | |
Beijing ZooFounded in 1906 during the late Qing dynasty, Beijing Zoo is the oldest zoo in China and the oldest public park in the north of the country. It is protected as a Major Historical and Cultural Site at... | Zoo or aquarium | www.beijingzoo.com | | — |
Capital MuseumPorcelain, bronzes, jade and Buddhist statues from imperial China fill the Capital Museum (首都博物馆), Beijing's public municipal art museum in Xicheng District. The large collection also includes... | Art museum | www.capitalmuseum.org.cn | | — |
— | www.ccwenmiao.com | | — | |
Zoo or aquarium | www.cszoo.com.cn | | — | |
Changsha Jiandu MuseumBamboo and wooden slips, known in Chinese as jiandu, are the sole focus of the Changsha Jiandu Museum (长沙简牍博物馆). These narrow strips of bamboo or wood served as a writing surface in ancient China,... | — | www.chinajiandu.cn | | — |
— | www.csm.hn.cn | | — | |
Music, film or theatre museum | www.cdmuseum.com | | — | |
Zoo or aquarium | www.cdzoo.com.cn | | — | |
China Aerospace MuseumCarrier rockets, crewed spacecraft, satellites and Moon exploration apparatus fill the exhibition halls of the China Aerospace Museum (中华航天博物馆), which is devoted to the technologies of the Chinese... | Transport museum | www.casc-spacemuseum.com | | — |
China Agricultural MuseumAs the only national agricultural museum in the People's Republic of China, the China Agricultural Museum is devoted to agriculture. It occupies the National Agricultural Exhibition Hall at No. 16,... | — | www.zgnybwg.com.cn | | — |
China Art MuseumThe China Art Museum occupies the China Pavilion, the building that represented the host country at Expo 2010 Shanghai, in the Pudong district. Also known as the Shanghai Art Museum, it is the city's... | Art museum | www.artmuseumonline.org | | — |
China Film ArchivePreserving China's existing films and restoring 'lost' ones is the founding purpose of the China Film Archive, established in Beijing in 1958. It is owned and operated by the Publicity Department of... | Music, film or theatre museum | www.cfa.org.cn | | — |
Music, film or theatre museum | www.cnfm.org.cn | | — | |
China National Silk MuseumWelcome to the China National Silk Museum, a treasure trove that celebrates the rich history and artistry of silk production. Nestled in the vibrant city of Hangzhou, this museum invites you to... | — | www.chinasilkmuseum.com | | — |
— | www.teamuseum.cn | | — | |
China Printing MuseumDescribed as the largest museum devoted to printing anywhere in the world, the China Printing Museum (中国印刷博物馆) traces the invention and evolution of printing in China. Its collections include... | Science and technology museum | bwg.chinapublish.com.cn | | — |
China Railway MuseumSet inside the circular test track of the China National Railway Test Centre, the China Railway Museum (中国铁道博物馆) preserves locomotives that have run on the railways of the People's Republic of China.... | Transport museum | www.zhtb.cn | | — |
Science and technology museum | www.cstm.org.cn | | — | |
Transport museum | www.zghkbwg.mil.cn | | — |