China Customs Museum
China Customs Museum, explore the millennial epic of the national gate key, the "low-key national gate guardian" China Customs Museum is located on Jianguomen Inner Street, Dongcheng District, Beijing, adjacent to the Ancient Observatory and Chang'an Street, is a national industry museum with classical garden architecture as the carrier. It is not only a hall for the collection of customs cultural relics, but also a microcosm of China's thousand-year customs history - from the military defense of the Western Zhou Dynasty to the humiliation and struggle of the modern foreign customs, to the rise of the customs of New China, every step writes the vicissitudes and glory behind the national gate. The characteristics of no appointment and free opening make it an ideal place for tourists to deeply understand the history of Chinese trade and diplomacy.
🌟 Highlights: The key to the national gate through time and space
1. Ancient Pass: The historical echo of the yellow sand camel bell
Stepping into the second-floor exhibition hall, the imitation ancient city gate and the Great Wall relief instantly bring people back to the ancient pass. The Western Zhou "Guan" tile and the relics of the Han Hangu Pass tell the evolution of the checkpoint from military defense to tax and smuggling. The miniature model and documentary of the "Thirteen Lines" of the Qing Dynasty reproduce the prosperity of Guangzhou's one-port trade and the rise and fall of monopoly trade, and the scene of the Jiujiang Pass painted on the blue and white porcelain bowl of the Qianlong period is the finishing touch.
2. Modern Customs: The contradictory imprint of the foreign customs era
The "Customs Power Lost" exhibition area restores the historical scene of the British Hurd in charge of the Customs General Taxation Department for 50 years, and his office supplies, China's first set of dragon stamps, and the lighthouse map with "Qiong Customs 1893" engraved on it are lamentable. The wooden plaque of "Tianjin New Customs" inscribed by Li Hongzhang and the oil paintings of the seven foreign customs buildings are not only witnesses of humiliation, but also the enlightenment of the modern customs management system.
3. Customs of New China: Guardians of Science and Blood
The interactive exhibition of "Mirror of Time" compares the evolution of early unpacking inspection and modern single-soldier scanning equipment, showing the progress of science and technology. The smuggled treasures seized are shocking - 2-meter-long narwhal teeth, ivory carvings "Immortals Celebrating Birthday", Siberian tiger skins, etc., each of which is a medal of customs and crime fighting.
4. "Customs 902" boat: The legend of maritime anti-smuggling
The "Customs 902" boat in the underground exhibition hall has carried out more than 900 anti-smuggling missions and has become a treasure of the town after retirement. In the immersive scene, the ship seems to be riding the waves, with light and shadow and sea wave sound effects, recreating the magnificent epic of guarding the sea frontier.
❤ Practical information: Efficient travel guide
📍 Detailed address: No. 6 Jianguomen Inner Street, Dongcheng District, Beijing (near Jianguomen Subway Station)
🕙 Business hours: 9:00-17:00 (16:00 stop admission, closed on Mondays)
💰 Per capita consumption: free, no appointment required
⏳ Play time: 2-3 hours (including special exhibition hall)
🚉 Transportation strategy: Exit C of Jianguomen Station of Metro Line 1/2, walk about 5 minutes.
🗓 Tour route: First floor: New China Customs Exhibition Area (Science and Technology Interaction + Smuggled Goods Exhibition) → Second floor: Ancient Pass → Modern Customs (focus on Hurd cultural relics and foreign customs oil paintings) → Basement floor: "Customs 902" boat special exhibition hall → Exit Square: Customs General Administration Building and Ancient Observatory exterior check-in.
🖼 Surrounding tours: The intertwining of history and modernity
1️⃣ Ancient Observatory (3 minutes walk): Ming and Qing dynasties royal observatory, across the street from the museum.
- 2️⃣ Dongjiaomin Lane (10 minutes by bike): Modern embassy building complex, feel the historical afterglow of "semi-colonial".
- 3️⃣ Wangfujing Business District (2 subway stations): Visit old brands and trendy shops, one-stop to meet taste buds and shopping desires.
📝 Note tips:
❤️ Explanation service: Free explanation is provided at a fixed point every day (10:00/14:00), in-depth interpretation of the stormy story behind the cultural relics.
❤️ Photo suggestion: The second floor "Hangu Pass" city gate relief, the basement floor "902 boat" light and shadow area is extremely high.
-❤️ Best time: There are fewer tourists in the afternoon on weekdays, and you can stagger the peak to the opening or closing 1 hour before the weekend.