Beijing Museum of Natural History

As someone who really loves nature and finds science fascinating, this museum was such a peaceful and inspiring stop during my time in Beijing. I didn’t know exactly what to expect, but once I walked in, I was completely drawn in. Giant dinosaur skeletons welcomed me right at the entrance, and from there it just kept getting better. The museum takes you on a journey through the history of life—from prehistoric ocean creatures all the way to mammals and early humans. There was something about seeing those massive fossils and carefully arranged dioramas that just made you pause and think about how far life has come. It wasn’t just about looking at bones—it was about imagining what the Earth used to be like. One of my favorite parts was the ancient mammals section. Seeing things like saber-toothed cats and mammoths up close was surreal. I also loved the plant life exhibit—it sounds simple, but they did a really good job showing how even plants evolved and adapted over time. It’s a bit quieter than some of the big tourist spots, which I actually liked—it gave me space to take my time, walk through slowly, and just be present. A few exhibits didn’t have full English translations, but it honestly didn’t matter too much. The visuals and overall vibe of the place carried it. Tips if you go: – It’s free, but you need to book a time slot online in advance. – Definitely take your time—it’s not a huge museum, but there’s a lot to take in. – It’s a great break if you want something more calm and reflective during your trip. – Right by the Temple of Heaven, so it’s easy to add to your day. This museum reminded me why I love learning about the natural world—it connects you to something bigger. I left feeling more grounded and more curious, which to me is the best kind of museum experience.

Note google map is NOT accurate in China. You can easily buy tickets at the counter. Elderly above 60 is free. 2 level museum that seems very basic. Not wow standard. Place to just explore for a short time. Toilets available.

Exciting in some ways, and disappointing in other ways! Admission is free, and the building is pretty easy to find. It's about a ten minute walk from 珠市口 subway station (line 7). There is very little English signage, but I used my google translate app's camera function to get a rough translation. The aquarium is amazingly pathetic and sad, don't bother going downstairs to see it unless you want to feel pity for some fish. However, the other exhibits, particularly the human origins exhibit, were really cool!!!

The museum is mainly directed at school age children in my opinion, with the displays being brief and easy to grasp, but of course the adults can still find a lot to see and enjoy here. The entry is free, which is really a great benefit. On the downside the museum was pretty crowded.

Well worth a visit. Queue is terrible like any other parts of Beijing, but the price to enter is pretty reasonable. Exhibitions are good.

Great place to go if you have children or like dinosaurs but wasn't the best natural history museum i i have been too. Also worth noting there was not much english signage anywhere so it can be hard to understand what your looking at.

for a dinosaur geek, have to say this museum was old, dirty and not as nice compared to Shanghai’s natural history museum. The dinosaur replica looks very fake.

The museum is a decent, but its exhibits feel limited. If odd looking animatronic dinosaurs are your thing, than pay this place a visit. There are a good number of dinosaur skeletons on display, but it’s too obvious they’re replicas. Don’t be fooled by the cafeteria sign; there’s no food down there, just an empty, sketchy open area where parents and kids sit on the floor and doze off. In fact, there isn’t any proper food in the museum- only a few snacks- so make sure you plan ahead. What I do like though is the inclusion of an aquarium in the basement. It might take a bit of navigating to find, but it is quite large and definitely worth a look.