Is there any other place in Beijing where you can come face to face with dinosaurs? Here at the National Natural History Museum of China, prepare to step back in time. This isn’t just any museum. It is China’s only national and comprehensive natural history museum.
The National Natural History Museum of China started as the Central Natural History Museum Preparatory Office in 1951. It was officially opened in 1959. Back then, it was the first large-scale natural history museum independently built by the new China. In 1962, it was renamed the Beijing Museum of Natural History. Only in January 2023 did it get its current name.
Despite its grand title, remember the National Natural History Museum of China is not a national museum in the strictest sense. The Beijing city government ratified the name change.
Inside these walls, over 370,000 items await. This includes the largest number of rare specimens among domestic natural history museums. You will find the Juramaia sinensis fossil. This is the earliest known placental mammal. Also, marvel at the Anchiornis huxleyi fossil, boasting its full body feather color. Do not miss the fully preserved fossil of Stegodon zdanskyi.
As you wander through the galleries in the Tian Jiabing Building, prepare for a journey through time. Start in the Mesozoic gallery. Greet the large Mamenchisaurus skeleton. See the Szechuanosaurus standing tall. The Yangchuanosaurus attacks a Tuojiangosaurus.
Don’t miss the feathered dinosaurs from Liaoning. Spot the Confuciusornis, Microraptor, and Anchiornis. Animatronic dinosaurs bring ancient life to life. Dinosaur eggs hint at generations past.
Move on to the Cenozoic gallery. Here, the Paraceratherium, Stegodon, and Megaloceros mounts impress. A woolly mammoth skull evokes the Ice Age. Spot the skeleton of an entelodont in a glass case. Skulls of Homotherium, Megaloceros, and Elasmotherium await you too.
Finally, explore early life on earth. An Anomalocaris sculpture dominates the scene. Trilobites and a Hallucigenia burst from the floor. Ammonites spiral in a helix shell. Fossils from the Cambrian explosion showcase the dawn of life.
The National Natural History Museum of China also contributes to scientific research. They have published many papers in international journals. The museum also promotes science through its exhibitions and activities. “Museum Night” and the “Little Commentator” program are iconic events. The museum is dedicated to promoting the harmonious coexistence of humanity and nature. It inspires respect for the environment and fosters a deeper understanding of our planet.