
The 70th Anniversary Achievement Exhibition occupies the west side of Tiananmen Square, tracing China's development across politics, the economy, culture, science and technology. Through scale models, multimedia and interactive displays, it presents the country's historic leap from standing up, to growing prosperous, to growing strong.
Quick Answer
Is National Day 70th Anniversary Exhibition worth visiting?
An exhibition of the People's Republic's achievements across its first 70 years, on the west side of Tiananmen Square. Free, with advance reservation.
| Ticket | Free admission; advance reservation required |
|---|---|
| Hours | 9:00-17:00, closed Mondays |
| Recommended duration | 2-3 hours |
| Best time to visit | Year-round |
| How to get there | Metro Line 1 to Tiananmen West Station (Exit C), then about a 3-minute walk |
| English signage | Yes |
| Wheelchair accessible | Yes |
| Opened | 2019 |
| Location | West side of Tiananmen Square |
| Exhibition space | About 20,000 sq m |
| Exhibits | More than 3,000 items |
| Reservations | Via the official WeChat account |
| Guided tours | Free tours at set times |
The exhibition is divided into several galleries, with sections such as 'Preface', 'The East Stands Up', 'Reform and Opening-Up' and 'Toward Rejuvenation'. Through precious artifacts, archival documents and video footage, it presents the full sweep of the People's Republic's first 70-plus years.
Many of the artifacts and documents on display are shown publicly for the first time — among them precious founding-era documents, household goods from the early reform years and spacecraft models — letting visitors feel the changing times firsthand.
Entry requires advance reservation through the official WeChat account; daily numbers are capped, and around holidays you may need to book several days ahead. Free docent tours are available — following a guide gives the best experience.
Metro Line 1 to Tiananmen West Station, Exit C, then about 3 minutes along the walkway on the west side of the square
Follow the National Museum of China's official WeChat account, tap 'Visit Reservation' and choose the large-scale exhibition marking the 70th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China.
All ages — the interactive displays hold particular appeal for children.
No, food and drink are prohibited in the exhibition halls.
798 Art District
Contemporary art in a former East German-designed electronics factory. 200+ galleries, UCCA ¥100. Half day (3–5 hours). Open 24/7, galleries 10:00–18:00. Free district entry.
Badaling Great Wall
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Beihai Park
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Old Summer Palace (Yuanmingyuan)
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Beijing Botanical Garden
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Fragrant Hills Park
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Jingshan Park (Prospecting Mountain Park)
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Juyongguan Great Wall
Famed Juyong Pass of the Great Wall near Beijing, rebuilt in the Ming dynasty with 12 watchtowers; entry 45 yuan including the Yuan-era Cloud Platform, open 8:30-17:00.
Yonghe Temple (Lama Temple)
Beijing's largest Tibetan Buddhist monastery, once a living Buddha's residence — home to the Hall of the Wheel of Law and its five hundred arhats. Entry CNY 25.
Liulichang (Glazed Tile Factory)
Beijing's antique and calligraphy street with over 800 years of history, about 750 m long and home to Rongbaozhai (founded 1672); free to stroll, shops open 9:00-18:00.
798 Art District
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Mutianyu Great Wall
One of the best-preserved Great Wall sections near Beijing, about 5400 m with 22 watchtowers; entry 40-45 yuan, cable car 120 yuan, open 7:30-18:00, allow 3-5 hours.
Nanluoguxiang (South Luogu Alley)
Old Beijing's signature hutong — 800 years of history, now a lane of creative shops, snacks and cafes.
National Museum of China
The world's largest museum by floor area, with 48 galleries carrying 5,000 years of Chinese civilization.
Old Summer Palace Ruins Park
Ruins of the famed 'Garden of Gardens', burned by the Anglo-French forces in 1860 — a site that stands as a warning to later generations.
China Art Museum (Red Wall Museum)
China's top art museum, founded in 1962 with 100,000+ works in 21 galleries; free with reservation, 9:00-17:00 and closed Mondays, a 15-minute walk from Dongdan station.
Shichahai
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Summer Palace
Empress Dowager Cixi's summer palace in Beijing, about 290 hectares with Kunming Lake covering three quarters; entry 50-60 yuan, 728-metre Long Corridor, built in 1750, UNESCO-listed in 1998.
Working People's Cultural Palace (Imperial Ancestral Temple)
Site of the former Imperial Ancestral Temple southeast of the Forbidden City, with about 140,000 sqm of ancient cypress woods, many Ming-era trees; free with reservation, 6:00-20:00.
Temple of Heaven
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Tiananmen Square
The world's largest city square — 440,000 sq m, completed in 1959, free and open all day. The dawn flag-raising is a must-see; Metro Line 1 to Tiananmen East or West.
798 Art District (798 Art Zone)
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Beijing Ancient Architecture Museum
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Beijing Auto Museum
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Beijing Capital Museum
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Beijing Planetarium
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Beijing Police Museum
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Capital Museum
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CAFA Art Museum
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China Customs Museum
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China Railway Museum
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Military Museum of the Chinese People's Revolution
Beijing's massive free military museum — tanks, missiles, and Korean War exhibits told through a Chinese perspective, housed in a Stalinist architectural landmark. Allow 3–4 hours.
Museum of Chinese Gardens
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National Art Museum of China
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National Museum of China
China's premier national museum on Tiananmen Square — 1.2 million artifacts spanning 3 million years of Chinese history.
Palace Museum (Forbidden City)
The imperial palace of Ming and Qing Dynasty emperors for 500 years — 180-acre palace complex with 980 buildings and the definitive collection of imperial Chinese art, furniture, and ceramics.
Red Gate Gallery
China's first privately-run contemporary art gallery, operating since 1991 in a Ming-dynasty watchtower.
Today Art Museum
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UCCA Center for Contemporary Art
The anchor museum of Beijing's 798 Art District. World-class contemporary exhibitions. ¥100. The most internationally recognized contemporary art museum in China.