China Aviation Museum is located in Xiaotangshan Town, Changping District, Beijing. It is the first large-scale aviation museum open to the public in China, a national 4A-level tourist attraction, and one of the largest and most comprehensive aviation treasure troves in Asia. Focused on aviation relics, the museum integrates aviation science education, aviation history display, aviation culture exchange, and tourism leisure. It serves as an important window to understand the development history of Chinese aviation and world aviation technology. Covering an area of approximately 720,000 square meters with a building area of about 28,000 square meters, the museum has two large exhibition halls (Comprehensive Exhibition Hall and Cave Exhibition Hall), an outdoor exhibition area, an aviation martyrs' cemetery, etc. It houses over 150 aircraft of various types, more than 200 aviation engines, nearly 10,000 aviation relics such as missiles and radars, covering multiple categories from early aviation equipment to modern advanced aircraft.
Historical Culture
The history of China Aviation Museum dates back to 1986. To protect and display aviation historical heritage, its construction was approved by the Central Military Commission and officially opened to the public in 1989. Built on the site of an old Air Force airport, this place was once an important training and testing base for the Chinese Air Force, witnessing the early development of New China's aviation industry.
The aviation relics collected in the museum carry rich historical memories, including aircraft that participated in the aerial parade of the founding ceremony of New China, warplanes that made great contributions in the War to Resist U.S. Aggression and Aid Korea, the first domestically developed jet fighter J-5, the first supersonic fighter J-6, etc. These exhibits vividly demonstrate the development trajectory of Chinese aviation from scratch, from small to large, and from weak to strong. They also reflect the evolution of world aviation technology and have extremely high historical and scientific values.
Main Attractions
Comprehensive Exhibition Hall
With a construction area of approximately 6,000 square meters, the Comprehensive Exhibition Hall is one of the museum's core exhibition areas. Divided into multiple thematic zones, it systematically showcases the development history of China's aviation industry. The hall displays various aircraft models, aviation engines, aviation instruments and other cultural relics that were either imported in the early days or independently developed by China. Through graphic materials, physical exhibits and multimedia interactive devices, it provides detailed explanations on aviation principles, the development of the aviation industry, and the construction of the Air Force. Among them, physical exhibits such as the "Beijing-1" light transport aircraft and the "CJ-5" trainer aircraft are the highlights of the hall, intuitively presenting the initial achievements of New China's aviation industry.
Cave Exhibition Hall
The Cave Exhibition Hall is a large exhibition hall transformed from natural mountain caves. With a building area of about 20,000 square meters, it is currently the largest aviation treasure cave in Asia. The hall centrally displays many precious aircraft relics, including China's first domestically developed fighter J-5, the first twice-supersonic fighter J-7, the "H-6" bomber, the "Q-5" attack aircraft, etc., as well as some classic foreign aircraft models such as the "MiG-15" and "F-86". The cave also restores scenes such as aviation maintenance workshops and control towers, allowing visitors to more intuitively feel the historical aviation scenes.
Outdoor Exhibition Area
Covering an area of about 400,000 square meters, the Outdoor Exhibition Area displays large aviation equipment such as aircraft, missiles, and radars from different periods and types. Here are China's self-developed "Y-5" transport aircraft, "Z-5" helicopter, "HQ-2" surface-to-air missile, etc., as well as large bombers, fighters and other heavy equipment. Visitors can observe the appearance and structure of these equipment up close. Some aircraft even allow visitors to board the cockpits for experience, enhancing interactivity and fun. Modern equipment such as the "Sharp Sword" drone in the exhibition area also demonstrates the latest development achievements of Chinese aviation.
Aviation Martyrs' Cemetery
Located within the museum's campus, the Aviation Martyrs' Cemetery covers an area of about 15,000 square meters and was built to commemorate the martyrs who sacrificed in the development of the aviation cause. Inside the cemetery stand monuments, memorial walls, and statues of martyrs, burying hundreds of heroes and martyrs who sacrificed for China's aviation cause and national defense construction, including test pilots, pilots, and aviation researchers. This is an important place for patriotic education and remembering the martyrs, reflecting the selfless dedication spirit of Chinese aviation people.
Food
Museum Restaurant Snacks
There is a restaurant inside China Aviation Museum, offering various snacks such as Chinese fast food, hamburgers, sandwiches, hot drinks, etc., suitable for visitors to dine quickly. The restaurant's dishes are moderately priced, focusing on food safety and convenience, meeting the basic dietary needs of visitors, with an average per capita consumption of about 30-50 yuan. The restaurant environment is clean and tidy. Some seats offer a distant view of the aircraft exhibits in the outdoor exhibition area, allowing visitors to feel the aviation atmosphere while dining.
Local Farmhouse Cuisine in Xiaotangshan Town
The museum is located in Xiaotangshan Town, with many farmhouse restaurants nearby, about 2-3 kilometers away from the museum. These restaurants specialize in local farmhouse cuisine, such as free-range chicken stewed with mushrooms, cornmeal pancakes with small fish, deep-fried wild vegetables, etc. Most of the ingredients come from local farmers, fresh and natural. Among them, Xiaotangshan hot spring tofu is a specialty dish, made with local hot spring water, with a smooth taste and rich nutrition. The average per capita consumption is about 60-100 yuan, suitable for a post-tour meal.
Specialty Food in Changping Urban Area
About 10 kilometers away from the museum, Changping Urban Area offers more dining options, covering hot pots, barbecues, local cuisines, etc. For example, Changping lamb spine hot pot is a well-known local delicacy, made from high-quality lamb spines stewed with various spices, with tender meat and rich soup; there are also Changping strawberry products, such as strawberry jam and strawberry cakes, widely praised for the long history and excellent quality of local strawberry cultivation, with an average per capita consumption of about 80-150 yuan.
Tickets
Free admission, but some special exhibitions or experience projects may charge fees.
Search for the official WeChat public account "中国航空博物馆" to get the latest updates.
Opening Hours
China Aviation Museum is open from 9:00 to 17:00 (last entry at 16:00) from Tuesday to Sunday, closed on Monday (except for legal holidays). During summer (from May 1 to October 31), the opening hours may be appropriately extended to 17:30. Please check the official announcements of the museum for specific details. In case of special weather (such as heavy rain, strong wind) or equipment maintenance, some outdoor exhibition areas may be temporarily closed. It is recommended to check the official information before your visit.
Tour Route
Recommended one-day tour route: Arrive at the museum at 9:00 am. First visit the Comprehensive Exhibition Hall (about 1.5 hours) to systematically understand the development history of Chinese aviation; then go to the Cave Exhibition Hall (about 2 hours) to view various precious aircraft relics up close; have lunch at the museum restaurant (about 1 hour); go to the Outdoor Exhibition Area at 1:30 pm (about 2 hours) to visit large aviation equipment and experience some interactive projects; go to the Aviation Martyrs' Cemetery at 3:30 pm (about 1 hour) to remember the martyrs; shop for aviation-themed souvenirs at the gift shop at 4:30 pm and end your trip. If time permits, you can go to nearby farmhouse restaurants in the afternoon to taste local specialties.
Transportation
- Bus: Take bus routes 945 or 643 and get off at "Aviation Museum" station. It's about a 5-minute walk to the museum's main entrance.
- Subway: Take Subway Line 5 to "Tiantongyuan North Station" and transfer to bus 945, getting off at "Aviation Museum" station; or take Subway Line Changping to "Shahe Station" and transfer to a taxi for about 10 kilometers, with a fare of about 20 yuan.
- Self-driving: Starting from downtown Beijing, drive along the Beijing-Tibet Expressway (G6) and exit at "Xiaotangshan". Then drive east along Shunsha Road for about 3 kilometers to reach the museum's parking lot. The museum provides free parking for about 500 vehicles.
- Taxi/Ride-hailing: From the city center of Beijing (such as Tiananmen Square) to the museum, it's about a 40-kilometer drive, costing about 100-120 yuan and taking about 1 hour (off-peak hours).
Must-visit Attractions
- Cave Exhibition Hall: The largest aviation treasure cave in Asia, housing over 100 precious aircraft, including classic models independently developed by China such as the J-5 and J-7. It is the core area to understand the achievements of China's aviation industry.
- Outdoor Exhibition Area: A 400,000-square-meter open-air exhibition area displaying large equipment such as the "H-6" bomber and "Z-5" helicopter. Visitors can observe up close and experience the cockpits of some aircraft, suitable for parent-child interaction.
- Comprehensive Exhibition Hall: A 6,000-square-meter themed exhibition area that showcases aviation principles and history through physical objects, models, and multimedia. It is an important place to systematically learn about aviation knowledge.
Tour Tips
- Recommended visiting time: 4-6 hours. You can arrange a full-day trip to fully experience the content of each exhibition area.
- Best seasons for visiting: Spring and autumn (April-May, September-October), with suitable weather for visiting outdoor exhibition areas; pay attention to sun protection in summer and keep warm in winter.
- Items to bring: It is recommended to bring an ID card (for ticket collection), drinking water, a sun hat (in summer), and comfortable shoes (the exhibition area is large and requires a lot of walking).
- Guided tour service: The museum provides free audio guides (200 yuan deposit required), or you can book a manual guide (80 yuan per session for groups of less than 10 people), which helps to understand the history of the exhibits in depth.
- Avoid peak times: There are more visitors on weekends and legal holidays. It is recommended to visit on weekdays for a better experience.
Precautions
- Smoking and spitting are prohibited in the museum. Please take good care of the exhibits and public facilities, and must not climb or touch the cultural relics that are forbidden to be touched.
- Some aircraft in the outdoor exhibition area are precious cultural relics. Climbing and carving are prohibited. Please obey the management of the staff.
- The Aviation Martyrs' Cemetery is a solemn place. Please keep quiet when visiting, respect the martyrs, and refrain from playing or making noise.
- It is prohibited to bring flammable, explosive, controlled knives and other dangerous items into the museum. Security checks are required upon entry.
- The signal is weak in some areas of the museum. It is recommended to download an offline map in advance or keep in touch with fellow travelers to avoid getting separated.
- The outdoor temperature is relatively high in summer. Pay attention to preventing heatstroke and replenish water in a timely manner; it is cold outdoors in winter, so add clothing accordingly.