[Photo via The Beijing News]

The National Zoological Museum of China, an affiliate of the Institute of Zoology of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, is a national-level academic institution integrating the functions of animal systems and evolution research, animal specimen collection, and popularization of scientific knowledge regarding animals. The museum consists of the Hall of Animals Specimens and the Exhibition Hall of Specimens.

The Hall of Animal Specimens is the oldest specimen collection institution in China. It was built and developed thanks to the efforts made by multiple generations of scientists over a period of nearly 100 years. The hall now houses more than 5.3 million specimens of different species, covering almost all the major taxa and typical species in China. The collections encompass specimens from all over China (including Taiwan Province) and more than 20 countries, including some rare ones given by foreign donors and acquired through exchanges.

The layout of the Exhibition Hall of Specimens is based on the Muséum national d'Histoire naturelle in France, with an architectural area of 7,500 square meters. Inside the hall are nine fixed exhibition areas, one mobile exhibition area, and one 4D cinema offering exhilarating experiences. The fixed exhibition areas feature themes like the diversity and evolution of animal species, invertebrates, and the history of the Institute of Zoology of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, with more than 5,000 specimens of rare animals on display.

Opening Hours

Tuesdays to Sundays: 09:00-16:00 (ticketing stops at 15:30)

Closed on Mondays

Ticket Price

CNY 40 per visitor's ticket

CNY 60 per full ticket (including a sightseeing tour in the museum and entry to the 4D cinema)

Telephone Number

+86-10-64807975

(Source: Official website of the Institute of Zoology of the Chinese Academy of Sciences)