Chinese Aviation Museum
Located in the scenic Datangshan Town, Changping District of Beijing, the Chinese Aviation Museum is Asia's largest museum displaying aircraft relics. It covers an area of more than 1,000 acres. The collection has in excess of 200 aircraft of over 100 types and more than 700 examples of weapons and equipment, such as surface to air missiles, antiaircraft artillery, air defense radar, aerial bombs, and aerial camera. In the Chinese Aviation Museum, you can get a good knowledge of the world's great aviation treasures ranging from precious to modern aircraft and equipment, such as the 99 Advanced Trainer Aircraft, Boston, IL-10, Yak -17 and F -12. You can also see original research materials and participate in many aviation activities in person.
Its mark which is up to 30 feet (9 meters) high is the first thing you will see when you walk into the Chinese Aviation Museum. It is a milky white pillar holding a white single-seat light fighter plane which appears to soar in flight. Not far from the mark stands a monument named "The Soul of Heaven", which is made of black granite collected from Mount Taishan.
The Chinese Aviation Museum is divided into three large exhibition areas: Cavern Exhibition Hall, Open-air Exhibition Area, and Integrated Hall.
Cavern Exhibition Hall
The Cavern Exhibition Hall is situated to the south of the mark with an area of 5 acres (2 hectares). In this hall the exhibits range from ancient manned flight inventions to modern high-speed high-altitude fighter planes, which form a magnificent illustration of its development history. These exhibits are placed on two sides in chronological order. The right side not only exhibits aircraft which are famous in Chinese aviation history, such as Fengru II, Leshiwen I and Lienin, but also displays a variety of models of aircraft manufactured by the former Soviet Union, the United States, France, Japan, Canada, Czech Republic, such as Japanese 99 advanced trainer aircraft, Soviet-built Wave -2, La -9, La-11, Yak -17, American-made P-51, L-5 aircraft. The left side is a series of modern aircraft produced by China. The rear of the hall exhibits radar, missiles, artilleries, etc.
Open-air Exhibition Area
As you walk to the north from the mark, you cannot miss the Open-air Exhibition Area. The Hero Avenue runs through the Open-air Exhibition Area, which divides the area into two parts.
There is an artificial lake on the left of the Hero Avenue. On the southern side of the lake planes which were used specially for great people are displayed, while on the northern side of the lake, bombers and special types of aircraft are displayed.
The right side of the Hero Avenue exhibits fighter planes, cargo-transport planes, surface to air missiles, antiaircraft artillery, radar and helicopters.
Integrated Hall
All the way down to the Hero Avenue, a sword sculpture will come into view. Behind the sculpture lies the Integrated Hall. In this hall it displays 28 practicalities of aircraft, over 550 models of various aircraft, missiles, antiaircraft artillery, radar etc, more than 200 pieces of small cultural relics, 20 audio and video demo tablets, 12 sand table scenes and 1850 pictures and photos. On the west side of the Integrated Hall lays a CS field camp, where you can have an unforgettable experience.
Attractive Activities
Films and videos covering aspects of aviation are played in the spherical auditorium. There are also many related activities, such as summer camps, winter camps and military training. It also holds other activity attractions, such as air-steam-gun firing, a boarding tour, flight simulation, Chairman Mao's special plane tour, parachuting, model aircraft performances, remote control airship performances etc.
How to get to Chinese Aviation Museum
Take subway Changping line to Shahe Gaojiaoyuan Station. Get out from Exit B1. Then take bus 945 and get off at Hangkong Bowuguan Station. After that, walk westward for 100 meters (109 yards) and then turn right, walk northeastward for 1km (0.62mi) to the museum.
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Admission Fee | * The entrance ticket is free of charge. Cavern Exhibition Hall: CNY 20 Integrated Hall: CNY 20 Chairman Mao's special plane tour: CNY 10 |
Opening Time | 09:00 - 17:00 for open area. *closed on Mondays, except public holidays. |
Unfortunately, I could not use Google maps to estimate travel time to get from our hotel to the museum. I would highly appreciate it if you could tell me approximately how log it taked to get from Xinnong Street to the museum.
Thank you very much.
Regards,Yuliya