Dongcheng District (part 2)

Day Five

Had an early breakfast in the hotel, after which checked out from the hotel and deposited my luggage at the counter. Took subway at about 8.20 am to Tian'anmen East station.

National Museum of China (中国国家博物馆)

Located on the eastern side of Tiananmen Square, the National Museum of China has a total construction area of about 200,000 square meters, a collection of more than 1.4 million items, and 48 exhibition halls (photo below). It is currently the museum with largest single building area in the world.
Museum History

The building was completed in 1959 as one of the Ten Great Buildings in China to mark the celebration of the Nation's ten-year anniversary. Two separate museums used to occupy this building, namely the "Museum of the Chinese Revolution" and the "Nation Museum of Chinese History". They were merged in 2003 to form the current "National Museum of China".

Entrance Ticket

Among the many attractions in Beijing, the most challenging is to get tickets to its two museums, namely the National Museum of China and the Palace Museum. Tried to use the Museum's official WeChat Mini Program to reserve the ticket but failed. Therefore, I took another option to purchase ticket through an authorized organizer to their special exhibition at CNY 138. This e-ticket allowed me to visit the museum anytime and had access to all the galleries including the special exhibition (left photo below).

Alternatively, visitor can reserve one of its guided tours through the Museum's official WeChat Mini Program starting from CNY 150 per adult and this also allows museum-goer to visit anytime and gain access to all galleries including the guided tour.



✍ Update:
Visitors now able to reserve online for free admission through their official website: https://pcticket.chnmuseum.cn/museum-en/#/personal/index

Security Screenings

Prior entering Tian'anmen from either "Tian'anmendong" or "Tian'anmenxi" subway stations, all visitors are required to go through security checks (right photo below). This is the tightest checks because all bags are required to be opened for physical checks even after the x-ray machines.

A second security screening awaits the visitors at the museum entrance gate. This time my power bank was checked for its capacity by the security staff. Also, I had to take a sip to prove that the water in the bottle was fit for drinking.

Museum Layout and Exhibitions

The museum has six levels consisting of one basement and four floors above ground, and separated by North and South Area. Did not visit all the exhibitions as I am not keen on those related to contemporary writer or artist, fine arts or communist party, but selected only those that I was interested in. Following were the list of exhibitions at the time of my visit.


Floor	Name of Exhibition	Location	Exhibited Since
B1	Ancient China	N20 to N25 S15 to S20	Permanent
1st	Art Gallery	West Hall	ongoing
2nd	Dehua White Porcelain	N1 to N2	26 Aug 2023
	Exhibition of Selected Works from 7th China Image Contest	N3	20 Jan 2024
	A New Year Guarded by the Dragon: Exhibition for the Chinese New Year	N4	06 Feb 2024
	The Road of Rejuvenation	N5 to N7	Permanent
	Painting a New Chapter: Academic Invitational Exhibition of Chinese Painting	S1 -S2	31 Jan 2024
	Legacy from the Prince of Qiyang: Cultural Relics of Li Wenzhong's Clan	S3	25 Jan 2024
	Prehistoric Lower Yangtze	S4	07 Nov 2023
	The Road of Rejuvenation: New Era	S5	Permanent
	Standing Tall in the East: Exhibition of Classic Art Works from the Collection	Central Hall 1	09 Aug 2019
3rd	Wang Meng: 70 years of Literary Creation	N8	21 Dec 2023
	National Heroes: Museum Collection of Wax Figures	N9	09 Jan 2024
	An Exhibition of Furniture by Wu Bingliang	N10	28 Sep 2023
	Ancient Chinese Food Culture	N11	28 Dec 2021
	The Road of Rejuvenation	N12 to N15	Permanent
	Magnificence and Grandeur: Immersive Experience of Grotto Art	North Foyer	09 Dec 2023
	Our Common Home: A Miracle of Nature	S6 to S7	16 Nov 2023
	Artworks Donated by Liang Shixiong	S8 to S9	12 Dec 2023
	The Road of Rejuvenation: New Era	S10	Permanent
4th	The Digital World of Rhino-shaped Vessel	N16	30 May 2023
	Ancient Chinese Porcelains	N17	18 Jan 2023
	Ancient Chinese Culture: Costume and Adornment	N18	06 Feb 2021
	Ancient Chinese Jades	N19	18 Aug 2023
	Ancient Chinese Currency	S11	09 Feb 2021
	Traditional Chinese Landscape Paintings of Ming and Qing Dynasty	S12	03 Mar 2023
	Ancient Chinese Buddhist Sculptures	S13	18 Jul 2023
	Mirrors of Eternity: A Cultural Exhibition of Ancient Chinese Bronze Mirrors	S14	24 Nov 2020
	The Power of Science and Technology	Central Hall 2	26 Sep 2021

Art Gallery

Located on the first floor at the west hall, this was the level I entered after passing through the security checks. It is a grand lobby with two floors of high ceiling and has many sculptures and paintings displayed (left photo below). One contemporary sculpture that caught my attention was the "Return of Torghuts from Russia to China in 1771" (right photo below).

Ancient China (古代中国)

Besides "The Road of Rejuvenation", the "Ancient China" is one of the two permanent exhibitions in the museum (left photo below). This is the most popular exhibition in the entire museum because many national treasures are displayed. For the ease of categorization, the museum grouped the Chinese history into eight periods starting from prehistoric times to the Qing dynasty. On display are priceless objects that present a comprehensive review of the nation's political, economic, cultural and social development as well as China's foreign relations during different historical periods (right photo below).
The exhibition occupied the entire basement and is so huge that visitors may take two to three hours just to explore its entire collections. Following are the highlights on some of its 'National Importance' relics.


Pottery Jar with Stork Catching Fish and Stone Axe Design (鹳鱼石斧图彩陶缸)	Eagle-shaped Pottery Vessel (陶鹰鼎)	C-shaped jade dragon (红山文化玉龙)
Period: Yangshao Culture (5000–3000 BC) Material: Pottery Clay Dimensions: 47-cm tall x 32.7-cm wide Significance: One of the most impressive items among all Yangshao pottery unearthed to date. Painted design of this pottery jar is colourful and complex in composition. ⛔ Forbidden to be Exhibited Abroad	Period: Yangshao Culture (5000–3000 BC) Material: Pottery Clay Dimensions: 35.8-cm tall x 23.3-cm wide Significance: The overall structure is simple, smooth and clean without any decoration. The eagle's eyes are wide open and its beak is hooked. ⛔ Forbidden to be Exhibited Abroad	Period: Hongshan Culture (4700–2900 BC) Material: Jade Dimensions: 26-cm tall Significance: Carved from dark green Xiuyan jade where the body is smooth and clean. Vivid in shape and exquisitely carved, it has reputation as "China's No. 1 Dragon". ⛔ Forbidden to be Exhibited Abroad
Houmuwu ding (后母戊鼎)	Zilong Bronze ding (子龙鼎)	Four-goat Square zun (四羊方尊)
Period: Shang (1600–1046 BC) Material: Bronze Dimensions: 133-cm tall x 110-cm wide Significance: Heaviest piece of bronzeware to survive from anywhere in ancient world. The only one of its kind and is a representative work of Shang bronzeware. The ding is named for the inscription which reads "Queen Mother Wu" (后母戊). ⛔ Forbidden to be Exhibited Abroad	Period: Late Shang (1400–1046 BC) Material: Bronze Dimensions: 103-cm tall x 80-cm wide Significance: It is the largest round bronze tripod from the Shang Dynasty that has been discovered, and it is also the earliest bronze with the inscription "dragon". ⛔ Forbidden to be Exhibited Abroad	Period: Late Shang (1400–1046 BC) Material: Bronze Dimensions: 58.3-cm tall, weighs 34.5-kg Significance: The biggest square zun from the Shang dynasty. Its bottom is supported by ring feet (圈足支座) and the middle part was skillfully engraved with four goats with big curly horns. ⛔ Forbidden to be Exhibited Abroad
Li Bronze gui (利簋)	Da Yu ding (大盂鼎)	Guoji Zibai pan (虢季子白盘)
Period: Western Zhou (1046–772 BC) Material: Bronze Dimensions: 28-cm tall x 22-cm wide Significance: It is one of the earliest Zhou bronze vessels to be discovered. The Li gui is inscribed with thirty-two characters commemorating King Wu of Zhou's conquest of Shang. It has two bird-shaped handles and is covered with a high-relief taotie motif similar to earlier Shang ritual objects. ⛔ Forbidden to be Exhibited Abroad	Period: Western Zhou (1046–772 BC) Material: Bronze Dimensions: 101.9-cm tall x 77.8-cm wide Significance: Together with the 'Mao Gong Ding' (毛公鼎) in Taipei Palace Museum and 'Da Ke Ding' (大克鼎) in Shanghai Museum, it is considered one of the 3 most important bronze vessels from ancient China. The tripod features 291 Chinese characters on the moral rationale for the fall of Shang dynasty and the rise of the Western Zhou. ⛔ Forbidden to be Exhibited Abroad	Period: Western Zhou (1046–772 BC) Material: Bronze Dimensions: 137.2-cm x 86.5cm x 39.5-cm Significance: It is the largest known bronze plate in the world. It enjoys the reputation of the best bronzeware of the Western Zhou dynasty along with San Family Plate and Mao Gong ding. ⛔ Forbidden to be Exhibited Abroad
Bronze bingjian (青铜冰鉴)	Jade Shroud Sewn with Gold Threads (金缕玉衣)	Bronze Rhino-shaped zun (错金银云纹犀尊)
Period: Warring States (403 – 221 BC) Material: Bronze Dimensions: 76-cm x 76-cm x 63.2-cm Significance: It was used to cool wine where the bronze utensil combined a covered 'fou' (wine vessel) inside and a square 'jian' (ice basin) outside. The space between the two vessels was used to place ice cubes. This is the oldest 'refrigerator' in the world !	Period: Western Han (202 BC – 8 AD) Material: Jade and Gold Dimensions: 175-cm long Significance: This burial suit belongs to Prince 'Liu Xiu', who died in 55 BC. It comprises 2,567 grams of gold thread and 1,203 pieces of jade. Although the garment was previously damaged by fire during looting, its colors have become even more vibrant.	Period: Western Han (202 BC – 8 AD) Material: Bronze Dimensions: 57.8-cm x 34.4-cm Significance: The whole object is decorated with inlaid gold and silver cloud patterns, which are exquisite and gorgeous. Although it is a national treasure with practical use, it is full of vitality. It is an exceptional artifact among the bronze wares of the Han Dynasty.
Bronze Cowrie Container (诅盟场面贮贝器)	Celadon Chamber Pot ("赤乌十四年" 款青釉虎子)	Phoenix Crown for Empress Xiaodun (孝端皇后九龙九凤冠)
Period: Western Han (202 BC – 8 AD) Material: Bronze Dimensions: 53-cm x 32-cm Significance: When it was unearthed, there were more than 300 shells stored in the vessel, and 127 three-dimensional figures were cast in the round on the cover. Focusing on the activities of the figures on the stilt-style building, it showed the ceremonial scene of the Dian king killing and cursing allies. ⛔ Forbidden to be Exhibited Abroad	Period: Three Kingdom, Wu State (251 AD) Material: Clay Dimensions: 15.7-cm x 20.9-cm Significance: The belly of this vessel is engraved with the inscriptions "Made by Yuan Yi, the Master of Kuaiji in the 14th year of Chiwu" and "Zhiyi", which clearly indicate the reign of Emperor Wu and the name of the porcelain maker. ⛔ Forbidden to be Exhibited Abroad	Period: Ming (1573 - 1620) Material: Various precious stones Dimensions: 48.5-cm x 23.7-cm Significance: The hat is made of lacquered bamboo and silk fabric. The front is decorated with nine golden dragons holding beads in its mouth. There are eight jade-green golden phoenixes underneath and one phoenix at the back, making a total of nine dragons and nine phoenixes. ⛔ Forbidden to be Exhibited Abroad

Note:

The tag " ⛔ Forbidden to be Exhibited Abroad " is a list tabulated by "State Administration of Cultural Heritage" of China since 2003 that prohibited cultural relics from being taken abroad for exhibition. These items are among the most important excavated treasures in China, and have a particular historical, cultural or artistic significance.

Prehistoric Lower Yangtze (远古江南·海陆山河)

An archaeological exhibition celebrating the 50th anniversary of the discovery of Hemudu culture (河姆渡文化) in Ningbo of Zhejiang province (left photo below). The exhibition is divided into three parts. The first part provides an overview of the origin of the name "Hemudu" and significant milestones in its excavation and preservation. The second part offers a comprehensive portrayal of Hemudu people's lives through artifacts like pottery, stones, bones, antlers, ivory and wooden tools (right photo below). The last part highlights recent findings at the Jingtoushan site, whose discovery further advanced the history of Hemudu culture by more than 1,000 years.

Standing Tall in the East: Exhibition of Classic Art Works from the Collection (屹立东方)

The "Standing Tall in the East" exhibition is located in the central hall on the first floor of the museum (left photo below). In addition to selected famous oil paintings, there are also some precious cultural relics from the founding ceremony of the People's Republic of China, such as the old speaker used by Chairman Mao to announce the founding of the republic on October 01, 1949 and the old lantern that hung on Tian'anmen Tower (right photo below).

Dehua White Porcelain (德化白瓷展)

Dehua Porcelain kilns in Dehua County of Fujian province rose and reached maturity in the Tang and Song dynasties, before further flourishing in the Yuan and Ming dynasties. The exhibition is divided into two sections, namely "Outshining White Elegance" and "Competing Variety of Techniques" (left photo below). Renowned masterpieces of various style of Guanyin sculptures, from Weilin Kilns site and from shipwreck are displayed (right photo below).


On display are also modern and contemporary porcelain works of western aesthetic appeal (left photo below) and reflecting the superb porcelain-making techniques such as the 'stack of papers' made of porcelain (right photo below).

A New Year Guarded by the Dragon: Exhibition for the Chinese New Year (龙肇新元: 甲辰龙年新春文化展)

The museum curated a selection of over 200 cultural relics from its collection for this exhibition (left photo below). It offers a comprehensive exploration of the Chinese nation's totem and symbol "Dragon" from the perspectives of festival traditions, ritual systems, history, culture and art. One display that impressed me was the dragon throne and screen from Qing dynasty (right photo below).

The Digital World of Rhino-shaped Vessel (数说犀尊)

The gallery gathers a variety of technologies, such as 5G, high-definition 3D scanning, so that visitors can enjoy the exhibition in a more interactive and engaging way (left photo below). While appreciating history, visitors can also experience the infinite possibilities that modern technology brings to the museum (right photo below).

Ancient Chinese Culture: Costume and Adornment (中国古代服饰文化)

A total of nearly 130 pieces or sets of traditional costumes and adornments are showcased in this exhibition which caters the audience a visual and knowledge feast (left photo below). The exhibition not only vividly depicts the aesthetic orientation and typical scenes of ancient China costume, but also illustrates the evolving development of the Chinese costume through the changing dynasties with an in-depth elaboration on its social and cultural connotations, starting from the Han dynasty (right photo below).


The display then proceeded to the Tang dynasty (left photo below) and followed by the Song and Yuan dynasties (right photo below).
The costumes then evolved to its own unique style during Ming dynasty (left photo below) and finally to Qing dynasty (right photo below).

The Power of Science and Technology (科技的力量)

This exhibition is divided into four sections, namely "Searching for truth", "Creating from nature", "Learning from the West" and "Marching toward Rejuvenation" (left photo below). A total of more than 400 cultural relics and 50 models are exhibited across the exhibition, supplemented by pictures, charts, digital images and interactive displays, outlining the basic historical lineage of the development of China's science, technology and industry from ancient times to the present day, and focusing on displaying the development characteristics and outstanding achievements of different periods (right photo below).
One engaging exhibit was the description of an ancient mathematical quiz from "The Mathematical Classic of Sun Zi"《孙子算经》written between 3rd to 5th centuries (photo below). Following is the 'ancient question' which is now a common quiz among present-day upper primary school children:



Question: In a cage with rabbits and chickens, there are 35 heads and 94 feet. How many rabbits and chickens are there? Answer: 23 chickens and 12 rabbits Solution: Using modern formula, two linear equations can be formed: x+y=35 and 2x+4y=94 where x is chicken and y is rabbit. However it took me several minutes to understand the logic behind the ancient solving method described in the text.

Simple Lunch

Decided to have a simple lunch at the cafeteria located on the fourth floor (left photo below). Got myself a "cheese and ham sandwich" at CNY 25 (right photo below). This reminded me of having similar meal in "The British Museum" back in 2010.

Mirrors of Eternity: A Cultural Exhibition of Ancient Chinese Bronze Mirrors (镜里千秋: 中国古代铜镜文化)

More than 260 exhibits were selected from thousands of bronze mirrors, related accessories and pottery casting models in the museum's collection (left photo below). This exhibition connects the entire development of ancient Chinese bronze mirrors and systematically demonstrates their historical, aesthetic, technological and cultural value (right photo below).

Ancient Chinese Currency (中国古代钱币展)

This exhibition selects more than 1,800 treasures from the museum's collection of more than 200,000 Chinese currency artifacts, supplemented by more than 200 other types of cultural relics and divided into three sections (left photo below). The exhibition presents the historical evolution of ancient Chinese currency in a comprehensive and three-dimensional way while reflecting its rich connotations related to ancient Chinese politics, economics, military affairs, art, science and technology (right photo below).

Ancient Chinese Buddhist Sculptures (中国古代佛造像)

The museum presents the exhibition "Ancient Chinese Buddhist Sculpture" with 265 exquisite Buddhist statues from its collection, aiming to outline the complete development of the Buddhist sculpture art in ancient China (left photo below). The exhibition systematically displays the splendid shapes and rich connotations of Buddhist statues from different regions and facilitate the creative transformation and innovation development of China's fine traditional culture (right photo below).
Among the many sculptures, the painted wooden statues gave me the deepest impression where they were delicately carved and elegantly modeled, such as the seated Bodhisattva from Ming dynasty (left photo below) and seated Bodhisattva Avalokiteshvara from Song dynasty (right photo below).

Traditional Chinese Landscape Paintings of Ming and Qing Dynasty: Traveling Through Mountains and Waters
(中国古代书画展: 明清绘画中的山水行旅)

This exhibition is a selection of more than 50 exquisite 'shan shui' (mountains and waters) works from the museum's collection spanning from the 15th century through the 19th century (left photo below). The paintings are able to demonstrate the intrinsic links within the evolution of classical Chinese art, while also reflecting the diversity of political, economic, social and cultural life during different historical periods (right photo below).

Inheriting the Tradition with Craftsmanship: An Exhibition of Furniture (澄古匠心: 伍炳亮家具艺术展)

The exhibition aims to visually showcase the artistic features and cultural significance of traditional Chinese furniture, allowing visitors to appreciate the Chinese craftsmanship of emulating nature, upholding fundamental principles while breaking new ground, and vividly expressing elegant artistic concept with simple designs (left photo below). More than 90 pieces or sets of exquisite furniture are selected and organized into four sections "Far-reaching Specialization", "Adhering to Tradition", "Discerning the Subtleties", and "Acknowledging the Past to Illuminate the Present" (right photo below).

Our Common Home: A Miracle of Nature (共同家园:大自然的奇迹)

This unique event is a testament to China's dedication to preserving its natural wildlife and highlights the significant strides the country has made in animal conservation over recent years. The exhibition is a joint initiative by the "National Museum of China" and the "National Natural History Museum of China", marking a pioneering venture focused on natural ecology at this esteemed venue (left photo below). With over 600 animal specimens, most of which are from the extensive collection of the Natural History Museum, the exhibition offers a rare glimpse into the diverse wildlife that inhabits China's vast landscapes and other parts of the world (right GIF clip below).

Ancient Chinese Food Culture (中国古代饮食文化展)

The exhibition features more than 240 selected cultural relics (left photo below). From different perspectives such as ingredients, utensils, techniques and etiquette, it presents a comprehensive overview of the historical changes of the ancient Chinese food culture, portrays the daily life of ancient Chinese working people and expresses the Chinese nation's longing for a beautiful life with ample food and clothing (right photo below).
One fascinating exhibit is the chart on the list of crops introduced into China over a period of 2,000 years. Based on the name given to some of the vegetables or fruits, interestingly the period they were introduced can be determined approximately. As a rough guide, any foreign items brought in from Han to Tang Dynasties tend to have the name "胡" while items introduced during Ming Dynasty tend to have the name "番". Items imported during late Ming to Qing Dynasties would have "洋". However there are exceptions where item can be named based the location of its source, such as "西" or "海".

Crop	Place of Origin	Time Introduced	Crop	Place of Origin	Time Introduced
Cucumber 黃瓜 (胡瓜) 🥒	India	Western Han Dynasty (202 BC - 8 BC)	Spinach 菠菜 🥬	Nepal	Western Han Dynasty (202 BC - 8 BC)
Dayuan Grape 大宛葡萄 🍇	Uzbekistan	Western Han Dynasty (202 BC - 8 BC)	Garlic 大蒜 (胡蒜) 🧄	Central Asia	Eastern Han Dynasty (25 - 220 AD)
Walnut 核桃 (胡桃) 🌰	Persia	Eastern Han Dynasty (25 - 220 AD)	Eggplant 茄子 🍆	India & Thailand	Jin Dynasty (265 - 420 AD)
Lettuce 萵苣 / 生菜 🥬	Mediterranean Coast	Tang Dynasty (618 - 907 AD)	Watermelon 西瓜 🍉	Africa	Five Dynasties (907 - 960 AD)
Carrot 胡萝卜 🥕	Northern Europe	Yuan Dynasty (1271 - 1368 AD)	Corn 玉米 (番麦) 🌽	America	Ming Dynasty (1368 - 1644 AD)
Sweet Potato 白薯 (番薯)  🍠	America	Ming Dynasty (1368 - 1644 AD)	Tomato 西紅柿 (番茄) 🍅	America	Late Ming Dynasty (1583 - 1644 AD)
Peanut 花生 (番豆) 🥜	Brazil	Late Ming Dynasty (1583 - 1644 AD)	Pineapple 菠萝 / 凤梨 🍍	Brazil	Late Ming Dynasty (1583 - 1644 AD)
Chili 辣椒 (番椒) 🌶️	America	Late Ming Dynasty (1583 - 1644 AD)	Potato 马铃薯 (洋芋) 🥔	South America	Late Ming Dynasty (1583 - 1644 AD)
European Apple 欧洲苹果 🍎	Europe	Qing Dynasty (1644 - 1911 AD)	Common Pear 洋梨 🍐	United Kingdom	Qing Dynasty (1644 - 1911 AD)

Role Models of China: Wax Figures from the National Museum of China Collection (馆藏英模蜡像展)

This exhibition takes wax figures, a super-realistic sculpture art, as the carrier, and carefully selects 30 works of Chinese role model (left photo below). Among them, there are revolutionary pioneers, model workers, literary and artistic masters, leading scientists and outstanding public servants. From the many figures, I could only recognize several familiar ones:


• Lu Xun (鲁迅) (1881 - 1936)
  
  
  
  Lu Xun was a writer, literary critic, lecturer, and state servant (right photo below). He was a leading figure of modern Chinese literature. In the 1930s, he became the titular head of the League of Left-Wing Writers in Shanghai during republican-era China. His original name was Zhou Zhangshou (周樟寿).
  
  


• Qian Sanqiang (钱三强) (1913 - 1992) and Qian Xuesen (钱学森) (1911 - 2009)
  
  
  
  Qian Sanqiang was a nuclear physicist and among the leading scientists of the "Two Bombs, One Satellite" program (right figure in the left photo below). Due to his central role in the development of China's nuclear industry and nuclear weapons program, he is referred to as the "Father of China's atomic bomb".
  
  Qian Xuesen was an aerospace engineer and cyberneticist who made significant contributions to the field of aerodynamics and established engineering cybernetics (left figure in the left photo below). He held technical leading positions in the development of China's rockets, missiles and spacecraft.


• Nie Er (聂耳) (1912 - 1935)
  
  
  
  Nie Er was a composer and a pioneer in China's new music movement (right photo below). His best known work is the "March of the Volunteers" which is the national anthem of People's Republic of China. Another famous music piece is the "Dance of the Golden Snake"《金蛇狂舞》which can be heard not only in China but also among many overseas Chinese communities, including Singapore, during Chinese New Year period.
  
  
  

  🛫 Travel Trivia

  The "March of the Volunteers"《义勇军进行曲》was composed as a theme song for the movie "Children of Troubled Times"《风云儿女》in 1935. It soon became popular and a patriotic song during the Japanese invasion in the Second World War. In 1949, the song was adopted as the provisional anthem for the People's Republic of China and only confirmed to be the official national anthem in 1982. The military rhythmic of the "March of the Volunteers" is similar to the French national anthem "La Marseillaise". While most national anthems have uplifting tone, however there are exceptions. Generally, countries that underwent revolutions before independence tend to have military rhythmic national anthem, while the national anthem for countries with a monarch, such as Japan and the United Kingdoms, tend to be solemn and in slower tempo.



• Hua Luogeng (华罗庚) (1910 - 1985)
  
  
  
  Hua Luogeng was a famous Chinese mathematician, an academician of China Academy of Sciences and the founder and pioneer of many fields in new China's mathematics research (left photo below). He wrote more than 200 thesis and monographs, many of which have become classic documents of immortal value. He is well known as the "Einstein of China".


• Yuan Longping (袁隆平) (1930 - 2021)
  
  
  
  Yuan Longping was a Chinese agronomist and inventor, and known for developing the first hybrid rice varieties in the 1970s (right photo below). Due to the great success of hybrid rice, he has won eight international awards, including the only National Special Invention Award and the UNESCO "Science Award", and is known as the "Father of Hybrid Rice" internationally.
  
  

Immersive Experience of Grotto Art (华彩万象——石窟艺术沉浸体验)

Spanning approximately 1,500 square meters, a large digital installation was set up in this exhibition space with artificial petals of giant blooming lotus flowers used as the core to showcase the striking artworks of the grottoes of Kizil, Dunhuang Mogao, Maiji Mountain, Yungang, and Longmen (left photo below). This was the last exhibition I visited. After scanning the digital admission code, I was given a physical ticket as a souvenir (right photo below).


The artists working on the exhibition have employed digital drawing, 3D mapping, and AI algorithm technology to create giant digital installations and allow visitors to engage all their senses while wandering around the exhibition space. Following is the photo compilation on some of the scenes during the show (GIF clip below).

My After Thoughts

My thoughts were this National Museum of China is a 'super' museum with many different theme exhibitions under one roof. Definitely a must visit for 'museum enthusiasts'. However one must be selective on the exhibitions as it is not possible to walk through all the displays within a day.

🎫 National Museum of China (中国国家博物馆)
Website:	https://en.chnmuseum.cn/
Access:	Tian'anmen East Station of Line 1, Exit C or D.
Opening Hours:	0900 to 1700 hours (last admission at 1600 hours). Closed on Mondays.
Admission:	online reservation required for free admission.

Left the museum at about 16.45 pm when the closure annoucement was made. As all visitors will have to leave the museum from the exit facing the Tian'anmen Square, therefore this gave me a chance to explore the massive square without having to go through another security screening.

Tiananmen Square (天安门广场)

Tiananmen Square is the world's largest public square with the length of 765-meters by 282-meters and is located on the Beijing Central Axis.

Together with other buildings as part of the Beijing Central Axis, the Tiananmen Square complex was listed as World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 2024.

Former Layout

The square used to be an enclosed narrow street flanked by walls on both sides that stretched from Zhengyang Gate (正阳门) to Tiananmen (天安门). In early 1950s, the square was expanded to its current size where the walls were demolished together with the 'Gate of China' (中华门). The former location of this 'Gate of China' was close to the current Mausoleum of Mao Zedong. A mural in one of Beijing's subway stations illustrated the layout of the imperial city before the expansion (left photo below).

Tiananmen Gate (天安门)

Probably the most famous structure in the square is the Tiananmen Gate (right photo below). Literally means 'Gate of Heavenly Peace', it is an important building that is featured in the national emblem of the People's Republic. Daily flag raising and lowering ceremonies are held in the Tiananmen Square and the flag pole is located directly opposite the Tiananmen Gate.

Monument to the People's Heroes (人民英雄纪念碑)

This monument is located north of the mausoleum and measured at a height of about 37.94-meters (left photo below). It was completed in 1958 and has 8 bas-relieves carved out of white marble with each covering a revolutionary event of modern Chinese history from 1839 to the 1949 (right GIF clip below).

Mausoleum of Mao Zedong (毛主席纪念堂)

Completed in 1977, the Mausoleum of Mao Zedong is the final resting place for the 'First Chairman of the People's Republic' (left photo below). The embalmed body of Chairman Mao is preserved in a glass case with dim lighting and guarded by military honor guards. The memorial hall is open to the public every day except Mondays.

Zhengyang Gate (正阳门) and Archery Tower (箭楼)

Zhengyang Gate and Archery Tower (right photo below) mark the south end of Tiananmen Square and were once connected to each other via a semi-circular brick wall, and commoners could only pass through via two smaller gates located at each side of the wall. This semi-circular wall was demolished in 1915 because it obstructed the traffic at Zhengyang Gate.

Qianmen Street Area (前门大街)

The colloquial name of Zhengyang Gate is "Qianmen" and thus the avenue which proceeds south from it is known as "Qianmen Street". The Qianmen Street begins from the north, marked by a gateway (left photo below), and extends 845-meters to the south. It has been a bustling commercial area for 500 years and the area is home to 50 courtyards and hutongs listed as state-level heritage sites, as well as 80 famed shops that have been operating for over a century (right photo below).
Famous Shops along Qianmen Street

Situated at No. 18 of the pedestrian street, the Madame Tussauds Beijing (北京杜莎夫人蜡像馆) is the third branch in China opened in 2014 (left photo below). In this attraction, close to half of the figures are Chinese stars, including Jackie Chan (成龙) and Guan Xiaotong (关晓彤) (right photo below).



One famous restaurant is the "Quanjude" (全聚德) which was established in 1864 and this branch is the origin store of Quanjude (left photo below). Another restaurant "Duyichu" (都一处) which is well-known for its steamed dumplings (烧麦) is also located along Qianmen street (right photo below).

Dashilan Street (大栅栏)

Local Beijing residents pronounced it as 'Dashila-er' (大石腊儿). Literally means "Great Fence", this street is located west of Qianmen Street (left photo below). It was so named because of the barriers were once erected at both ends of the street to close the street during a curfew in the Ming Dynasty. Now this 270-meters long and 9-meters wide street has the most 'China Time-honored Brands' in Beijing and famous shops (right GIF clip below).

Luzhu Huoshao (卤煮火烧)

"Luzhu Huoshao" is one of the most well-known traditional Beijing street foods. Long considered a luxury, the cuisine is especially prevalent in Beijing. The main ingredients are pork, pork lung, pork intestines, pork liver, tofu, and some may add fermented bean curd or chives sauce (left photo below). It is served with "Huoshao" (火烧) which is a type of bing bread. Ordered a bowl of "Luzhu Huoshao" at CNY 35 from one of the stalls along Dashilan Street (right photo below).
Pork offal usually has a strong odor, but the "Luzhu Huoshao" I bought lacked this offensive taste or smell.

Xianyukou Delicacy Street (鲜鱼口美食街)

Located east of Qianmen Street, Xianyukou is an old Beijing commercial street of 225-meters long and has a history of more than 570 years (left photo below). After renovation, the street was reopened in 2011 where many 'China Time-honored Brands', restuarants and eateries are located there (right photo below).

Took subway from Qianmen station located next to the archway at its north entrance.

Hefu-Noodle (和府捞面)

Since there were several hours before flight departure, made up my mind to have my second dinner to last me through till the flight meal. Had this meal in Hefu-Noodle again. Ordered a bowl of "Pork Bone Soup Noodles (Pork Cartilage) " (猪骨汤猪软骨面) (left photo below) and got myself a cup of warm tea from its self-service counter (right photo below).


Total cost was CNY 35 and the taste of its herbal broth was appetizing.

🍔 Hefu-Noodle • Ginza Mall store (和府捞面 • 银座店)
Address:	Floor B1, No. 10F-G, Ginza Department Store, No. 48 Dongzhimenwai Street, Dongcheng District
Access:	Dongzhimen Subway Station of Line 2 and 13
Operating Hours:	1100 hours to 2200 hours; daily

Chunxiu United Market (春秀合生鲜汇)

Decided to visit this fresh market "Chunxiu United Market" located near to the hotel (left photo below). This market has over 30 stalls selling fresh produce, seasonings, cooked snacks and drinks, and convenient staple food kitchens. It was renovated and reopened in Sep 2022 and had become a popular instagramable place among young social media users. The market was bright and items were neatly arranged with price clearly stated (right photo below).
Fresh produce such as fruits and vegetables (left photo below) as well as seafood (right photo below) were still available at about 7.30pm that was near to their closing hour.
It looked more like a supermarket rather than a fresh market. Walkways are wide and barrier-free which is convenient to the elderly and customer on wheelchair. Opening hours of this market is daily from 0700 hours to 2000 hours.

Transport to Airport

Back to hotel to get my luggage and then booked a car from Didi App. Reached the Beijing Capital International Airport at about 9 pm. I was free to explore the airport following the flight and luggage checked in. Finally boarded the flight before mid-night after waited for more than a hour at the boarding gate.


Day Six

Singapore Airlines

The flight SQ 801 took off on time at 0005 hours. From the menu in the 'Singapore Airlines mobile App', there were two main courses available for selection (left photo below). Selected 'Pan Roasted Chicken with Mushroom Sauce' as my inflight supper meal (right photo below).


Glad that the flight landed safely on Singapore. With this, it ended my 6-days trip to Beijing.