China Aerospace Museum

China Aerospace Museum

The China Aerospace Museum is a patriotic education base.

Since ancient times, humans have yearned to explore space and have made numerous attempts to do so. The development of modern aerospace technology has provided possible means for humanity to venture into space. Aerospace museums serve as excellent venues that use high-tech methods to showcase the history of human space exploration and promote science education.

The China Aerospace Museum is situated within the China Academy of Launch Vehicle Technology, over ten kilometers south of Tiananmen on Beijing’s central axis. The museum currently has an exhibition area of over 10,000 square meters.

The China Aerospace Museum is a specialized museum showcasing China's aerospace technology and achievements. It serves as a window for external promotion and display of China’s aerospace endeavors and has been designated successively as a “Central Government Agencies Ideological Education Base,” “National Science Education Base,” “Beijing Youth Science Education Base,” “Aerospace Spirit Education Base,” among others. It has also been repeatedly recognized as an advanced science education collective in Beijing.

The China Aerospace Museum has three floors of exhibition halls. The first and second floors are public exhibition areas, mainly divided into more than ten display zones including launch vehicles, manned spaceflight, artificial satellites, lunar exploration, rocket launch demonstrations, spacecraft, the image of China’s aerospace industry, comprehensive introductions to aerospace groups, ancient aerospace exploration, international cooperation and exchanges, and future aerospace prospects. These zones follow the development timeline of China’s aerospace industry and vividly present the past, present, and future of China’s space program through detailed and precious historical materials, as well as a wealth of physical objects and models using modern display techniques.

The China Aerospace Museum provides a platform for aerospace enthusiasts to focus on, understand, and love aerospace, thereby inspiring visitors—especially young people—to study aerospace science diligently and cultivate the determination to grow up, contribute to the nation, and serve their country.

The “Ancient Aerospace Exploration” section displays exquisitely crafted models of astronomical observation instruments such as the “Armillary Sphere,” “Degree Measuring Instrument,” and “Quadrant,” as well as ancient “rockets” like the “Divine Rocket Screen,” “Hive of Bees,” and “Fire Dragon Emerging from Water,” which played significant roles in ancient warfare. These exhibits highlight the achievements of ancient Chinese astronomical exploration and underscore the theme that China is the birthplace of rockets.

The main hall showcases actual and model examples of China’s independently developed “Long March” series of launch vehicles, which have sent both domestic and international satellites into space multiple times. The satellite area features ten types of satellites, including “Gan Yun-1,” “Dong Fang Hong-1,” and “Dong Fang Hong-2.” The western part of the hall displays a series of launch vehicle engines, the heart of the rockets. In addition, visitors can view the impressive returned re-entry capsules of recoverable satellites that have come back from space, and admire the spectacular simulated demonstration of the entire flight process of the famous “Long March 2” rocket launching the Ausatellite.

In the exhibition hall, the civilizations of ancient times and the glories of modernity shine side by side. At the end of the exhibition, the curators ingeniously simulate a wonderful lunar wonderland, which is captivating under colorful lights and stirs the imagination of visitors. Walking up the stairs leads to the second-floor exhibition hall.

The China Aerospace Museum displays the application and promotion of high-tech aerospace achievements, while the third-floor exhibition introduces various specialized technical systems. The museum also houses a fully equipped academic lecture hall that frequently hosts academic exchange activities.

[Location] No. 1 Nandahongmen, Fengtai District

[Transportation] Get off at Donggaodi Station via Bus 341 or 377, then walk 200 meters south to the China Academy of Launch Vehicle Technology

[Contact Number] 010-68384455, 010-68384456, 010-68384457

[Admission Fee] 30 RMB; 15 RMB (students)

[Opening Hours] 8:00–17:00 (closed on Saturdays and Sundays)