National Art Museum of China

National Art Museum of China

The National Art Museum of China is a base for patriotic education.

Located at No. 1 Wusi Street, Dongcheng District, Beijing. In June 1963, Chairman Mao Zedong inscribed the name “National Art Museum of China,” affirming its status as the national art museum and defining its institutional nature. The National Art Museum of China is a national fine arts museum focusing on the collection, research, and exhibition of works by modern and contemporary Chinese artists.

The museum currently has 20 exhibition halls, with a total exhibition area of 7,000 square meters and an overall display line length of 2,110 meters. Currently, there are 9 exhibition halls on the first floor, 3 small exhibition halls in the mezzanine between the first and second floors, totaling an exhibition area of 4,305 square meters and a display line length of 1,400 meters; the second floor has 5 exhibition halls with a total area of 1,500 square meters and a display line length of 429 meters; the third floor has 3 exhibition halls with a total area of 863 square meters and a display line length of 235 meters. The main building is designed in a classical Chinese style, featuring a grand yellow glazed tile roof and surrounded by corridors and pavilions, showcasing distinct traditional Chinese architectural characteristics. The main building has a construction area

of 22,379 square meters. Floors one to five house 20 exhibition halls, with a total exhibition area of 7,000 square meters and a total display line length of 2,110 meters. This includes 9 exhibition halls on the first floor and 3 small ones in the mezzanine between the first and second floors, totaling 4,305 square meters in exhibition space and 1,400 meters in display line length; 5 exhibition halls on the second floor with a combined area of 1,500 square meters and a display line length of 429 meters; and 3 exhibition halls on the third floor with a total area of 863 square meters and a display line length of 235 meters. A modern collection storage facility was built in 1995, covering an area of 4,100 square meters. The National Art Museum of China houses nearly 70,000 pieces of various types of artworks, primarily from the period around the founding of the People’s Republic of China, along with masterpieces from the early Republican era, the Qing Dynasty, and the late Ming Dynasty. The collection mainly consists of modern and contemporary fine art, including works by artists who had a significant impact on 20th-century traditional Chinese painting. There are 410 works by Qi Baishi alone, along with pieces by Ren Bonian, Wu Changshuo, Huang Binhong, Xu Beihong, Li Keran, Jiang Zhaohe, Situ Qiao, Wu Zuoren, Luo Gongliu, Wu Guanzhong, and others. It also includes a large number of representative works by renowned Chinese artists, award-winning pieces from major art exhibitions, as well as a rich variety of folk art. Collection categories include dozens of types such as paintings, sculptures, ceramics, and folk art. These comprise New Year paintings, paper-cuttings, toys, shadow puppets, colored clay sculptures, performance props, puppets, kites, folk paintings, embroidery, and other folk artworks. Among the collections, 117 pieces of European and American international artworks were donated by German collectors Ludwig and his wife, including four works by Picasso—this marked the first time China acquired a large collection of Western art. Additionally, there are hundreds of pieces of African wood carvings and other foreign artworks.

The collection also features works by painters who had a significant influence on 20th-century traditional Chinese painting, as well as their pieces. Qi Baishi alone has 410 works in the collection, along with those by Ren Bonian, Wu Changshuo, Huang Binhong, Xu Beihong, Li Keran, Jiang Zhaohe, Situ Qiao, Wu Zuoren, Luo Gongliu, and Wu Guanzhong. It also includes many representative works by famous Chinese artists, award-winning pieces from major exhibitions, and a diverse range of folk art. Categories in the collection include paintings, sculptures, ceramics, folk art, and more than ten other types. These include New Year paintings, paper cuttings, toys, shadow puppets, polychrome clay sculptures, theatrical props, puppets, kites, folk paintings, and embroidery. The museum’s holdings also include 117 pieces of Western and international art donated by the German collectors Ludwig and his wife, among which are four works by Picasso—this was the first major acquisition of Western art in China. In addition, there are hundreds of pieces of African wood carvings and other foreign artworks.

Over the past 40 years since its establishment, the museum has hosted over 3,100 various art exhibitions and showcases of works by renowned domestic and international artists, receiving millions of visitors. The National Art Museum of China has become an important artistic institution for providing aesthetic education to the public.

Address: No. 1 Wusi Street, Dongcheng District, Beijing

Type: Art Museum

Recommended visiting time: 1–2 hours

Phone: 010-64001476

Official Website: http://www.namoc.org/

Opening Hours:

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

Ticket Information:

Free admission. Free does not mean no ticket—tickets are obtained via on-site collection, online reservation, or group phone reservation.

Online Reservation: Visit http://ticket.namoc.org/. Each person may reserve no more than 3 free tickets per day. Present valid ID at the reservation window in the ticketing area of the National Art Museum of China to collect your free admission ticket.

Transportation:

Take bus routes 103 or 111 and get off at the Museum of Art stop; take routes 104, 108, 127, or 特11 and get off at the North Museum of Art stop.