There are museums
and galleries of all sizes and interests
all over the city. Some are nearly miniscule
with few items exhibited and others are
so large it is rather overwhelming.
Many treasures have been
looted or destroyed over the turbulent
years of Chinese history, but many discoveries
in the last twenty five or so years have
added greatly to the government's treasures.
The museums may be tucked
away in nearly every historical venue
in Beijing. In recent years art galleries
have sprung up all over the city as the
population becomes more and more affluent
giving young Chinese artists the opportunity
to exhibit and sell their work.
For example in Beijing:
 The
Chinese Military Museum |
Lobby
Lounge |
Museum
of Chinese History |
| Capital
Museum |
Beijing
Museum of Ancient Architectures |
Millennium Temple |
| Lu
Xun Museum |
Beijing
Art Museum of Stone Carvings |
Pekin
Man Site & Museum |
| Song
Qing-Ling Museum |
Beijing
Postal Museum |
The
National Geological Museum of China |
| Beijing
Natural History Museum |
Clock
Museum |
Palace
Museum |
| Chinese
Military Museum |
Xu
Bei-hong Museum |
Arthur
M.Sackler Museum of Art and Archaeology |
| Beijing
Art Museum |
Great
Bell Temple |
Museum
of the Chinese Nationalities |
At present, there are over 1,394
museums nationwide, 70 percent of which
are comprehensive, historical and cultural.
The others are ad hoc museums with characteristics
of various trades, museums on science and
technology and museums specializing in economics.
Since 2001, the latter kinds of museums
have made up the largest proportion of the
museums in design or under construction.
More and more institutions of higher learning,
secondary schools, enterprises and individuals
are opening up museums.
There are a total of 118 museums
in Beijing at present, ranking first in
the country. Over two million items of cultural
relics and art works are collected in the
museums. In January 2001, Beijing began
to implement the first law on local museums
in China to encourage private individuals
to set up museums. By 2008, the municipal
government will have set up 30 large museums
with large investments, raising the number
of museums in Beijing to 150.
According to the plans of the
State Cultural Relics Bureau, by 2005, the
total number of museums nationwide will
reach 2,300.
