The People's Revolution Military Museum

The People's Revolution Military Museum is located in the western part of central Beijing in the Haidian District. Admission fees to this museum as well as to 500 other public museums and memorial halls have been waived since March 1, 2008, when the central government launched a campaign aiming to promote high culture among the public.

The military museum complex comprises two four-story wings and one seven-story main building in the middle, and covers a total area of 60,000 square meters. It is almost impossible to travel through Beijing without spotting this huge building located just off the main avenue with the emblem of the Chinese People's Liberation Army, a golden star, on top and a missile in front.

Opened in 1960 and renovated in 2004, this is China's only comprehensive museum of military history. If you take an interest in the history of Chinese warfare, or Chinese history in general, this place is definitely worth a visit. But if you're bored by stately statues and countless black and white photos, most without English captions, this place might prove to be a bit too dry for your taste.

Some of the objects most likely to spark the interest of non-militarily inclined visitors include cars used by some of China's most notable statesmen in the 1960 and 70s. In addition, it is interesting to see, for example, the uniforms used by Chinese soldiers in the first half of the 20th century, which included kung fu shoes.

The central exhibition hall presents the final stages of the Chinese Civil War (1946–1950), also referred to as the Chinese Revolution, through displays of authentic objects and photographs showing some of the most famous Chinese and notable events in history.

The largest of the ten exhibition halls is the Hall of Weapons, which showcases Chinese and foreign weapons, including small arms, artillery, tanks, anti-airplane weaponry, jet fighters, rockets and rocket launchers and cruise missiles. The piece de resistance is undoubtedly the towering China-made missile standing in the middle of the hall. At the back, there is a gallery exhibiting Cheng Yunxian's plaster reproductions of sculptures of world leaders, historical figures and scientists.

It's hard to miss the impressive museum building. (Image: Radio86)According to Wikipedia, the other halls include the Hall of the Agrarian Revolutionary War (1927-1937), the Hall of the War to Resist Japanese Aggression (the 1937-1947 Second Sino-Japanese War), Hall of the War of Liberation of China (the 1945-1949 Chinese Civil War), Hall of Ancient Wars (conflicts dating back 4,000 years before the Qing dynasty), Hall of Modern Wars (1840-1949), Hall of National Defense and Army Building (since 1949), Hall of the War to Resist US Aggression and Aid Korea (Chinese involvement in the Korean War, 1951-1953), and the Hall of Presents (gifts from foreign states).

The east wing's Hall of National Defense and Army Building, which is dedicated to more novel military applications with scale models of fighter jets, helicopters, submarines and tanks as well as equipment from China's space program, is sure appeal to children and adults who are fascinated by modern gadgets.

The more than 5,000 objects and illustrations tracing the birth of modern China include an oil lamp used by Mao Zedong at Jinggang Mountain, one of the most important sites of the Communist Revolution, as well as photographs of the legendary chairman on some of the most momentous occasions in China's history. Other famous Chinese whose accomplishments are highlighted in the museum include Zhou Enlai, Zhu De and other veterans of the revolution.

Outside the building are exhibited reproductions of more weapons used by the People’s Liberation Army or captured from the enemy, as well as a naval ship.

In a nutshell, the exhibits trace China's history through recapitulations of conflicts the country has been involved in, with main focus on the era following the founding of the Chinese Communist Party in 1921 up till the establishment of the People's Republic of China in 1949. All in all, the museum has a collection of over 120,000 ancient, modern and contemporary military relics as well as over 45,000 historical photographs, 67,000 documents and more than 4,500 artworks.

China's space program is presented at the museum. (Image: Radio86)Despite the grand premises and detailed exhibits, the museum as a whole leaves a visitor feeling that it still lacks substance. Foreign tourists in particular may feel a bit disregarded due to the lack of English language information on the displays. This really is a shame, because at best, the museum could provide a vivid and unique learning experience, providing insight into the development of modern China. Right now, however, foreign tourists are left with the feeling that the museum only caters to nostalgia-hungry Chinese, which is why it has been deemed unnecessary to provide English explanations.

The military museum, along with other museums nationwide, has seen a huge surge in visitor volumes since the introduction of the free-admission policy. This has not been only positive, as there is often disorder in crowds. So, be prepared to spend some time queuing...

Due to the huge size of the museum, you should reserve a whole day for the visit. Also, it is helpful to bring a Chinese interpreter along in order to be able to fully appreciate the exhibits.

Address: No. 9, Fuxing Road, Haidian District, Beijing.
Opening hours: Tue-Sat 8:30 to 16: 30
Access: Subway line 1 (Military Museum), bus numbers 1, 4.