Visit to the National Museum of China

Number of days: 1 day
Time: February
Average cost: 20 yuan
With whom：a person
Tour kinds：Humanities, Free Travel
The author went to these places: Tiananmen Square National Museum Chairman Mao Memorial Hall The Central Academy of Drama
Updated: 2022.06.30

My first visit to the National Museum in Tiananmen Square was in October 1982. It was then called the Museum of the Chinese Revolution. It featured commemorative exhibitions for Mao, Zhou, Zhu, and Liu. I remember seeing a "big-character poster" urging Premier Zhou to rest and Zhu De's handwritten inscription, "Revolution to the End." These were later relocated to Chairman Mao's Memorial Hall. In 1983, it was renamed the Museum of Chinese History and the Museum of the Chinese Revolution. The main entrance, then open, faced Tiananmen Square. Once inside, it split down the middle: the north section housed the Museum of the Chinese Revolution, while the south section housed the Museum of Chinese History. I even visited a book exhibition in the fall of 1999. In 2003, it was renamed the "National Museum of China."

I'd long wanted to visit the National Museum again, so I booked tickets in advance through the official WeChat account for February 20th. Admission was free, but security was still very strict.

The National Museum is now enormous. If you're serious about it, you wouldn't be able to see it all in a day or two. It's broadly divided into historical relics, the ancient historical process, the Road to Rejuvenation exhibition, and the Road to Rejuvenation (New Era) exhibition.

I arrived at 10 a.m. and stayed until 3:30 p.m., barely stopping to explore. It was a quick glance, but I'd really like to take some time to really look at the ancient artifacts, each one in detail.

In the museum's lobby are some sculptures, all classic works. Some of the figures or events are very famous, and those who have experienced them will recognize them at a glance.

While visiting the exhibition commemorating the 70th anniversary of the founding of the Central Academy of Drama, I saw Kang's lyrics in "Fishing for Golden Toads," which were very novel. I've never heard a recording of them before, and I wonder if anyone will be able to restore them in the future. The lyrics are "Tell my son Zhang Yi to listen to your mother's teachings. I will explain everything to you in detail. Your father died tragically at an early age, leaving you and your children to suffer. I have remained a chaste mother and will not marry another man because you are young and I am middle-aged. I am afraid that a hundred years from now, I will be unable to see your deceased ancestors in the afterlife. My son! The crow has the intention to repay its parents, and the lamb has the grace to kneel and suckle its mother. I can compare my son to someone else. I am like Yang Xiang fighting the tiger, Wang Xiang lying on the ice, Meng Zong crying at the bamboo, and Lai Zi wearing a spotted coat. They are all filial people. What an unfilial son I am. "These filial sons didn't believe it at all, and then told their son about the unfilial man. Zhang Jibao of Qingfeng Pavilion was punished by thunder from heaven, and Han Xin quickly reported the Weiyang Palace to the netherworld. My son will pay his respects to mother today, and the gods will patrol in secret." With cultural relics as a reference, the museum displays the historical features from ancient times to the Ming and Qing Dynasties. These cultural relics are very shocking. Why shocking? In ancient times, mechanical equipment was very backward, and most of the work was done by hand. The hardworking, wise and intelligent ancients created one piece of exquisitely carved and beautiful art masterpiece after another. I specially looked at some cultural relics that I had heard about or remembered, and I was filled with endless admiration and sighs.

Visiting the basic display of the Road to Rejuvenation and the Road to Rejuvenation (New Era Section), even with a quick glance, one can still feel the earth-shaking changes that have taken place in the great China, especially since China entered the new era, which has seen a rapid leap forward. With the continuous improvement of science and technology, people's living standards have rapidly improved, people's basic living security has become better and better, and the scientific and technological levels in various fields of the country have become more and more developed. After the visit, I was very inspired, and I couldn't help but feel overwhelmed with emotion, and felt sincerely happy for the prosperity and strength of our great motherland.