The dinosaur museum — China's oldest natural history museum (1951, as the Beijing Natural History Museum), raised to national status in 2023, opposite the Temple of Heaven's West Gate: Mamenchisaurus and Tsintaosaurus skeletons, the Chinese fossil record from Chengjiang to Jehol, and a 4D cinema. Free, but the strictest booking discipline in the district — real-name, three days ahead on the museum's site or WeChat, released daily at 11:00, no walk-ups, timed sessions you must not miss, and three no-shows in a month lock you out for 90 days. The official rules name passports and say foreign visitors collect their ticket at the window on the day.
ClosedMondays except public holidaysVerified · 2025-06Source ↗
ReservationRequired · Timed entry
IDReal-name entry; passport holders use the staffed window.Verified · 2025-06Details ↓Source ↗
LandmarkTianqiao, opposite the Temple of Heaven's West Gate
Address126 Tianqiao South St, DongchengVerified · 2026-09Source ↗Navigate ↗
EntranceLine 8 Tianqiao station, Exit C, 400 m south; the Temple of Heaven's West Gate is across Tianqiao South St
Last verified 2026-09-11
How to book
Individuals book 3 days ahead on nnhm.org.cn or the museum's WeChat official account, released daily at 11:00; real-name, one booking per person per day, first-time users register with a phone number; no on-site booking (official notice 18 Jun 2025)Verified · 2025-06Source ↗
ID details
Real-name entry; passport holders use the staffed window. Real-name; foreign and HK/Macau/Taiwan visitors bring the passport or permit used for booking and collect the ticket at the window (official: 外籍人士…携带护照…原件窗口取票)
Beat the crowds
Weekends and school holidays sell out at the 11:00 release; the 14:00-16:00 session on a weekday is the easiest to get and the emptiest inside. The dinosaur hall is the crush; the upper floors of plants and human origins are quiet.
Language
Bilingual labels in the main halls; the website has an English section; booking pages are Chinese.