For some people, the best way to get to know a place is to start with a visit to its museums.  They are good representative of the history of a city, and a good way to discover the cultural and historical highlights of a new place.

Today, Beijing's museums are an integral part of the city. They are witnesses to civilization and culture, and play a very important role in introducing the visitor to China.

Since the mid-1990s, the Beijing government has invested a lot of money into the refurbishment of Beijing's museums, as well as the building of new museums. Beijing's museums are now world class, and growing in number. Here's a selection: