Beijing is home to many hidden gems exemplified by those lesser-known museums, each offering unique surprises. With fewer crowds and beautifully curated exhibits, they represent different cultural perspectives of the capital. Follow this guide to explore them one by one!
ChocChoco Chocolate Museum
Located at Beijing Fun, the museum was recently opened to the public. This chocolate-themed wonderland was created using nearly 50 tonnes of chocolate. In the chocolate artwork exhibition area, visitors can admire large chocolate creations such as the replicas of the Great Wall, the Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests, and the Beijing Central Axis. In the "House of Gold" area, "gold coins" totaling 13.3 cubic meters, valued at approximately 250 billion yuan, are either stacked up or scattered around, reminiscent of the Aztec tradition of calling cocoa beans "gold from trees". In the chocolate kitchen, visitors can watch master chocolatiers at work and create their own sweet treats. Each area offers an immersive "sweet" experience.
Opening Hours: 10:00–21:00
Address: No. 1, 1F, Building 5, Courtyard 2, Langfang Toutiao, Xicheng District
Gold-plated horse milk bowl presented by Mongolia to China
[Photo via CRI Online]
National Gifts and Artifacts Center
This is a national museum dedicated to collecting, displaying, and studying gifts received and presented by the Party and state leaders in diplomatic activities since the founding of the People's Republic of China in 1949. It houses over 680 representative gifts (including gift sets), from symbols marking the beginning of international friendships to those showcasing the major-country diplomacy with Chinese characteristics in the new era, offering a glimpse into the diversity of global cultures.
Opening Hours: 9:00–17:00 (last entry at 16:00), Tuesday to Sunday
Address: 1 Xixinglong Street, Dongcheng District
*Free admission with reservation required via the official WeChat account (中央礼品文物管理中心) or website of the center.
Beijing Eight Imperial Handicrafts Museum
The main building of the museum, Cheng'en Temple, is a historical architectural complex built in the Ming Dynasty. The museum houses hundreds of pieces and sets of fine articrafts, including those of the "Beijing Eight Imperial Handicrafts" (such as gold lacquer inlay, jingtailan, jade carving, and Beijing embroidery), along with ancient wood carvings, root carvings, and stone carvings.
Opening Hours: 09:00–16:00, Tuesday to Sunday
Address: 20 Moshikou Street, Shijingshan District
*Tickets must be purchased in advance through the official WeChat account of the museum (北京燕京八绝博物馆).
[Photo via the Shijingshan District People's Government]
China Quaternary Glacial Relics Exhibition Hall
This is a natural science museum built upon glacier relics. It uses multimedia facilities that combine light, sound, and motion to educate visitors about glaciers. It also features real specimens and models, such as the models of mighty mammoths and unique dinosaur fossils, allowing visitors to marvel at the distinctive prehistoric life.
Opening Hours: 08:30–17:00, Tuesday to Sunday
Address: Courtyard 28, Moshikou, Shijingshan District
*Present your personal identity document at the ticket collection machine at the museum's entrance for identity verification on the day of your visit, and then obtain a ticket for entry.
Sound Art Museum
This museum focuses on the exploration, collection, preservation, and dissemination of sounds. Here, you can listen to various sounds from old Beijing, including the canal boatmen's chants, and perceive plants' "breathing sounds" through sensors. You can also hear the underwater songs of Weddell seals through high-end audio-visual equipment.
Opening Hours: 10:00–18:00, Tuesday to Sunday
Address: Northeast corner of the intersection of Luyuan North Street and Xusong Road, Tongzhou District
*Tickets must be purchased through the official WeChat account of the museum (声音艺术博物馆).
(Source: Official WeChat account of the Beijing Municipal Bureau of Culture and Tourism)
