In this scorching summer, Beijing, a city of museums, offers a variety of options for parents and their children. Come and enjoy!

National Zoological Museum of China

The National Zoological Museum of China is an academic institute, a research institute, a specimen collection facility, and a place for science popularization. It consists of nine permanent exhibition areas, one mobile exhibition area, and one 4D cinema offering exhilarating experiences, with more than 6,800 animal specimens on display. It is an ideal destination for visitors to learn about zoological knowledge.

Opening hours: 9:00-17:00 (last entry at 16:30; closed on Mondays)

Beijing People's Art Theater Museum

Beijing People's Art Theater Museum is the first in China dedicated to the art of Chinese drama. Since its founding, the Beijing People's Art Theater has staged nearly 300 plays of various styles and genres, classical and modern, domestic and foreign. The museum hosts themed exhibitions, art lectures, and theatrical performances on a regular basis to present the captivating dramatic arts to audience.

Opening hours: 10:00-12:00 and 14:00-16:00 (last entry at 15:30; closed on Monday, Sundays, and statutory holidays)

Beijing Auto Museum

Beijing Auto Museum presents the century-long history of the global auto industry and the origin, development, and flourishment of the auto industry in China. Through various interactive facilities, the exhibitions allow visitors to immerse themselves in a multi-dimensional space to see, hear, touch, and interact with the exhibits.

Opening hours: From July 20 to August 31, 9:00-17:00 on Mondays, Wednesdays, Thursdays and Sundays, and 9:00-19:00 on Fridays and Saturdays (closed on Tuesdays)

China Puppet Art Theater Museum

The museum showcases the history of the China Puppet Art Theater and its collection of exquisite intangible cultural heritage puppets. Visitors can view manuscripts, design drawings of puppets, and samples of puppet costumes, as well as beautifully crafted puppets that have once graced the stage, such as Sun Wukong (Monkey King), Xiaolingdang (Little Bell), Dalin and Xiaolin (the Twins of Lin), Honghai'er (Red Boy in Journey to the West), and Lv Dongbin (one of the Eight Immortals, a group of legendary beings in the Chinese mythology).

Opening hours: 9:30-16:00

Are you ready? Follow this guide and embark on a summer museum tour with your children.

Sources: Official WeChat accounts of Beijing Municipal Bureau of Culture and Tourism and Beijing Municipal Cultural Heritage Bureau