Top 10 modern architecture marvels in Beijing (10)

NO.1 National Museum

Standing on the east side of Tian'anmen Square, the National Museum is one of the most historic buildings in the capital. The old buildings of the National Museum used to be divided into the National Museum of Chinese History and the National Museum of Chinese Revolutionary History, both of which were founded in 1959. After three years reconstruction, new National Museum opened in March 2011. The current museum nearly triples the size of the complex from 65,000 square meters to almost 200,000 square meters, and the number of exhibition rooms increase to 49. It has four floors above ground and two floors underground, housing an 800-seat theater, a 300-seat academic lecture hall and a 600 square-meter studio.

Travel tips:

Open Hours: 9:00 to 17:00 (closed on Monday)

Admission: free, reservations needed

Web: http://www.chnmuseum.cn/default.aspx (Chinese)

Getting there: Bus No. 1, 2, 10, 20, 37, 52, 59, 82, 99, 120, 126, 728 to Tian'anmen East Stop; No. 5, 17, 20, 22, 48, 59, 66, 69, 71, 82, 120, 126, 301, 626, 646, 690, 692 to Qianmen Stop; or take Subway Line 1 to Tian'anmen East Station, Line 2 to Qianmen Station.