Beijing Planning Exhibition Hall

Beijing Planning Exhibition Hall

The Beijing Planning Exhibition Hall is a national AAAA-level tourist attraction, as well as a science education base and a patriotic education base.

The Beijing Planning Exhibition Hall is situated in the heart of Beijing, on the east side of Qianmen Street, close to attractions like Tiananmen Square and the Forbidden City. It is a museum dedicated to displaying the planning changes of Beijing from historical times to the present. Here, visitors can explore what Beijing’s urban districts used to look like and how they have evolved over the dynasties to reach their current state. The site also features massive miniature models of the Forbidden City and the overall layout of Beijing — definitely worth a visit to learn more.

The Beijing Planning Exhibition Hall has four floors divided into multiple exhibition halls. Visitors can explore each one floor by floor, and the entire visit usually takes about 1–2 hours.

The first floor is the museum lobby, where you’ll find a bronze sculpture depicting Beijing’s geographical features — surrounded by mountains on three sides and with plains resembling a bay. This sculpture is known as the “Beijing Bay” bronze statue. In addition to the open space with the sculpture, the first floor also houses temporary exhibition rooms that often host special exhibitions. If you’re lucky enough to catch one during your visit, be sure to check it out.

The second floor includes several exhibition halls: “Beijing – A World City,” “Beautiful Beijing,” “Beijing Land Use Planning,” and “Beijing District and County Planning.” These mainly showcase modern Beijing and its urban zoning. Each hall displays the functional distribution of Beijing’s urban areas as well as major scenic spots and architectural landmarks, providing insightful content for visitors.

The third floor is one of the most fascinating parts of the exhibition hall. It features major exhibits such as “The Evolution of Ancient Beijing,” “Protection of Beijing as a Historic and Cultural City,” “The Forbidden City Model,” “Sculptures of Beijing’s Urban Planners Through the Ages,” and the “Beijing Urban Planning Model.” Overall, this floor focuses more on the historical aspects of Beijing, allowing visitors to see what the city looked like in the past — making it highly worthwhile. Highlights include the Forbidden City model and the Beijing Urban Planning Model. The Forbidden City model is 9 meters long and about 5 meters wide, featuring a detailed miniature of every structure within the Forbidden City, intricate and impressive. The Beijing Urban Planning Model is even more spectacular, spanning over 300 square meters and replicating the entire architectural landscape of Beijing. Some sections are displayed under tempered glass, allowing visitors to stand above and look down — a fun way to locate familiar landmarks.

The fourth floor primarily features technology-based exhibitions. It includes a dynamic cinema and a multimedia cinema where you can watch films about Beijing (tickets cost around 10 RMB extra). There are also themed exhibitions on topics such as Beijing transportation and Olympic venues, all worth exploring.

Address: No. 20, Qianmen East Street, Dongcheng District, Beijing (east side of the old Beijing Railway Station)

Type: Exhibition

Rating: AAAA

Recommended visiting time: 1–2 hours

Phone: 010-67017074

Official website: http://www.bjghzl.com.cn/

Opening hours:

9:00–17:00 (last admission at 16:30), closed on Mondays.

Ticket information:

Door price: 30.0 RMB

Tickets: 30 RMB; Multimedia cinema: 10 RMB; Dynamic cinema: 10 RMB.