China Arts and Crafts Museum

China Arts and Crafts Museum

Ticket Reservation Address »

Chinese arts and crafts have a long and rich history, shining brilliantly throughout the course of human civilization as a treasured jewel in the world’s cultural and artistic heritage. Different periods and varieties embody profound historical and cultural significance, closely intertwined with their environments, modes of production, lifestyles, religious beliefs, and aesthetic values, forming a unique language of craftsmanship and artistry. Through various forms of expression, they showcase a rich tradition of arts and crafts culture and social history. Therefore, Chinese arts and crafts are both a material cultural form and a vessel of national spirit. Whether in their physical form or content, they carry multiple layers of cultural meaning and are an important part of the outstanding cultural and artistic heritage of the Chinese nation. In-depth study of Chinese arts and crafts culture holds profound and lasting significance.

China Arts and Crafts Museum

The China Arts and Crafts Museum is a national-level museum. It officially opened to the public in 1990, covering an area of 3,200 square meters and housing nearly a thousand contemporary masterpieces of arts and crafts. The exhibits include ivory carving, jade ware, wood carving, stone carving, ceramics, lacquerware, metalwork, gold and silver ornaments, lace embroidery, natural plant weaving, folk crafts, and more. Among them are timeless works by veteran arts and crafts artists, professors, and China’s Master Craftsmen, as well as top pieces from national arts and crafts exhibitions organized since the founding of the People’s Republic of China, and award-winning works that have received national treasures or gold awards over the years. It is the foremost institution preserving contemporary arts and crafts.

The China Arts and Crafts Museum brings together the finest of contemporary Chinese arts and crafts. It enjoys international renown for its vast collection of exquisitely crafted, miraculous works and distinctive national charm. In particular, four large jadeite masterpieces recognized as national treasures by the state are especially breathtaking for their precious materials, perfect designs, and exceptional craftsmanship. For example: the jade mountain “Daiyue Qiguan” weighs 368 kilograms; the screen “Sihai Tenghuan” is made by slicing a 74 cm long and 37 cm wide piece of jadeite into four 1.8 cm thick pieces, seamlessly joined and intricately carved all over; the flower basket “Qunfang Lan Sheng” features an ingenious chain-like design with exquisite craftsmanship; and the incense burner “Hanxiang Ju Rui” uses screw joints to connect its upper and lower parts perfectly, showcasing superior skill and is considered a masterpiece. These four works are also the only ones since the founding of the People’s Republic of China to have been awarded a commendation by the State Council. Other treasures include the one-ton “Juzhen Tu” jade mountain from Yangzhou, Jiangsu, and the white jade mountain “Daqian Foguo Tu” inscribed by Liu Haisu, representing the pinnacle of contemporary Chinese jade carving. Many of the museum’s treasures have been selected to represent China at international cultural exchange events organized by the government, such as “Chinese Culture Touring the United States” in 2000, the large-scale “Experiencing China” exhibition in Brazil in 2004, and the “Chinese Culture Exhibition” launched in South Africa in 2006. These exhibits caused great excitement locally and received high praise from international audiences.

Since the founding of the People’s Republic of China, the Party and the state have consistently placed great importance on and shown concern for the development of the arts and crafts industry. In 1997, the State Council issued the “Regulations on the Protection of Traditional Arts and Crafts,” which actively promoted the rescue, rational utilization, inheritance, and development of Chinese arts and crafts, ushering in another wave of growth for the sector.

As a first-class professional museum of Chinese arts and crafts, our museum continuously collects and displays new works, promotes emerging talents, explores, organizes, and studies valuable experiences in arts and crafts culture, publishes fine arts and crafts albums and professional journals, organizes domestic and international academic exchange activities, and develops various themed arts and crafts exhibitions. We aim to build a platform for domestic and international arts and crafts masters and artisans to showcase new works, share information, and promote national culture. We provide the public and arts and crafts enthusiasts with the best venue to learn about and appreciate traditional culture. We strive to make positive contributions to promoting international cultural exchange and advancing the cause of Chinese arts and crafts.

Address: No. 18, Anyuan Beili, Chaoyang District, Beijing (Temporary Office Area)

Phone: 010-66053476

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

Opening Hours:

9:00-17:00 (Last entry at 16:00); the new museum is under construction and currently not open to the public. Please call for specific details.