Peking University Geological Museum

Peking University Geological Museum

The Peking University Geological Museum (Geological Digital Museum of Peking University) is a multifunctional, modern national-level university geoscience museum that integrates science popularization, talent cultivation, specimen archiving, scientific research, and academic exchange. The museum consists of an exhibition hall and an archives section.

The exhibition hall section was established in 1909, making it the earliest geoscience specialty museum in China. With an exhibition area of 400 m², it showcases the essence of over 90 years of teaching specimens from the Department of Geology at Peking University as well as typical geoscience specimens from around the world. It serves as a base for quality education and science outreach for Peking University students.

The archives section is a new project supported by Peking University and the national “211 Project” of the Ministry of Education after 1996. It includes four standard geoscience specimen archives rooms, one research and teaching achievement exhibition hall, one information processing room, and four research studios, covering a total area of approximately 2,500 m². It is equipped with various modern geoscience specimen archiving and research facilities, as well as multimedia presentation systems for teaching activities and academic exchanges. It serves as a teaching and research practice base for cultivating geoscience talents at Peking University.

Brief History of the Peking University Geological Museum

The Peking University Geological Exhibition Hall has a long history. As early as 1909, when the Department of Geology was first established, it gradually built up its collections on the basis of specimens displayed in various discipline laboratories, eventually forming the Geological Exhibition Hall. By 1917, the collection had grown to include over a thousand specimens of paleontology, minerals, rocks, and structures.

In 1934, the exhibition hall was relocated from the Second Campus of Peking University on Jingshan East Street to the Geological Building on Shatan, featuring four exhibition rooms: Dynamic Geology, Paleontology and Stratigraphy, Rocks and Minerals, and Paleobotany, covering an area of nearly 300 square meters.

In 1952, during the restructuring of universities and departments, all exhibits were incorporated into the newly established Beijing Institute of Geology (now China University of Geosciences).

In 1955, when the Department of Geology at Peking University resumed student enrollment, the exhibition hall was also rebuilt in the Yan Garden. By 1972, the collection had grown to more than 3,000 specimens.

In 1991, with the completion of the new Geoscience Building, the Geological Exhibition Hall entered a new phase of development. It displays precious specimens collected by faculty and students of the Department of Geology over the decades, as well as specimens gifted by various parties. It also showcases some achievements in teaching and research by the department. We sincerely hope that with support from all sectors, the museum will continue to grow and improve, playing an active role in teaching and research, and becoming a showcase of the Department of Geology at Peking University.