Pose next to some very alive-looking tigers, race a dinosaur on a bike, visit the aquarium and research the evolution of humans and plant and animal species.
Wander among dinosaurs in the atrium, see carefully preserved animal and plant specimens in the exhibit halls and visit the basement aquarium at Beijing’s Natural History Museum. The museum has around 200,000 items and about 5,000 specimens in its collection.
Enjoy the model replicas of various dinosaur species and skeletons of ancient reptiles. The rare Mamenchisaurus is perhaps the most remarkable. This long-necked, long-tailed creature was one of the largest sauropod dinosaurs in China. Hop on a bike see if you are faster than these creatures from Jurassic times.
Move further along the evolutionary scale and enter the Gallery of Ancient Mammals. Don’t miss the famous skeleton of the ancient elephant known as Stegodon zdanski, which used to roam China.
In the Plant Kingdom, you are taken on a journey from the evolution of algae into terrestrial tree and flower species. Push a button to see a flower sprout, grow and blossom. Explore the hidden world of insects or visit the aquarium to see the fish.
The zoology sections include many examples of taxidermy, offering opportunities to pose with your favorite wild animal. If you take an interest in human biology, find the hall with displays of cadavers and organs. Be warned these real-life examples may be a bit too graphic for some visitors.
Only a few exhibits include English signs, but many of the unusual specimens are fascinating even without explanation. Rent an audio guide in English if you want to be fully informed. The 4-D cinema shows educational films for children, but not usually in English, even though that is often no problem.
Located in the central Chongwen District, the Natural History Museum can be reached by taxi, subway or bus. The museum is free to enter, but you have to reserve tickets a day ahead. There is a fee to watch the 4-D movies. The museum is closed on Mondays.
