Discover a fascinating display of creatures ancient and modern, including impressive dinosaur skeletons and a selection of stuffed animals.
The Natural History Museum in central Beijing will bring you face to face with animals which wandered the Earth long before human civilisation.In the atrium, you’ll find skeletons and models of prehistoric dinosaurs, watched over by the portraits of renowned natural scientists such as Darwin and Linnaeus. There is also a clutch of dinosaur eggs, reminding us of the constant potential for life amid cataclysmic change. Keep an eye out for the Mamenchisaurus jingyanensis, an unusual sauropod dinosaur whose lengthy neck and tail made it one of the largest in China. For some interactive fun, jump on the bike nearby and see if you can beat its running speed.Visit the Gallery of Ancient Mammals to see further examples of historic animals. A superstar resident is the Stegodon zdanski, an ancient elephant native to China. Other more modern stuffed animals include polar bears, platypuses and a furtive-looking fox. Be sure to check out the Plant Kingdom, where you will be able to trace a tree’s evolution right back to its first incarnation as algae. Further on, you’ll find a small aquarium and a section dedicated to the secret lives of insects.There is an anatomy section in the basement, dedicated to the science of the human body. Whilst of interest to some, those of a delicate constitution may want to skip this section as it contains real human cadavers and sections of body parts.Very few signs are in English, but the exhibits speak for themselves, leaving you both intrigued and entertained. If you want to learn more about what’s on display, audio guides are available to rent.Although small, the Natural History Museum makes for a fascinating morning or afternoon out. Its central location in the Chongwen District makes it easy to reach by taxi, bus or subway. Tickets are free but remember to call ahead, as they need to be reserved the day before.
