China Red Sandalwood Museum is located at No. 23 Jianguo Road, Chaoyang District, Beijing. As a national 4A-level tourist attraction, it is the first large-scale private museum in China specializing in the collection, research, exhibition of red sandalwood art, and appreciation of traditional Chinese classical furniture. The museum covers an area of 25,000 square meters, with a main building area of 9,569 square meters. Its design is grand yet exquisite in every detail, blending classic charm with modern elements, making it a perfectly magnificent handicraft in itself.
History and Culture
Red sandalwood has been recorded as a precious wood since the 3rd century AD. Skilled craftsmen spent decades creating "tribute-style" red sandalwood furniture, which became a treasure of Chinese culture. The China Red Sandalwood Museum was built by Ms. Chen Lihua with an investment of over 200 million yuan and opened on September 19, 1999, as a key project for Beijing to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China. Taking it as her mission to inherit and develop traditional red sandalwood craftsmanship, Ms. Chen Lihua purchased high-quality materials, invited renowned craftsmen, and used the collections of the Forbidden City as a model to create more than a thousand exquisite works. The establishment of the museum filled the gap in the field of special collection and exhibition of red sandalwood art and classical furniture in China's museum community.
Main Attractions
Central Hall
Entering the first floor of the museum, the Central Hall features a replica of the throne from the Forbidden City's Qianqing Palace. The throne is golden throughout, exuding nobility and showcasing the grandeur of the royal family.
Ming and Qing Furniture Exhibition Hall
The museum houses the Ming and Qing Furniture Exhibition Hall, displaying hundreds of Ming and Qing furniture pieces collected by Curator Chen Lihua over decades. These furniture items are dazzling, demonstrating exquisite craftsmanship and unique artistic charm.
Micro-scale Ancient Architectural Landscape Area
This area features numerous micro-scale Chinese ancient architectural landscapes, such as the Forbidden City corner tower made at a 1:5 scale, weighing 6 tons; the Qianqiu Pavilion and Wanchun Pavilion in the Forbidden City's Imperial Garden; the Longquan Temple Archway in Wutai Mountain, Shanxi, with 320 dragons in various postures; the antique Beijing Siheyuan (quadrangle courtyard); the Feiyun Tower in Shanxi rising into the sky; and large-scale models of old Beijing city gates. All these treasures are crafted from precious red sandalwood, perfectly presenting the details and charm of ancient architecture.
Screen Exhibition Hall
The second floor houses many precious screens with exquisite carvings, showcasing superb craftsmanship and extremely high artistic value.
"Qingming Shanghe Tu" Woodcarving Exhibition Area
One of the highlight exhibits on the third floor is the woodcarving of "Qingming Shanghe Tu" (Along the River During the Qingming Festival), measuring 32.4 meters in length and 1.77 meters in width. It reproduces the grand scene of the painting in woodcarving form, vividly presenting the social customs and life scenes of that era.
Tiananmen Prayer Hall Woodcarving Exhibition Area
In the center of the fifth floor is a micro-scale woodcarving of the Temple of Heaven's Prayer Hall, crafted with complex and meticulous techniques, allowing visitors to appreciate the charm of ancient architectural art.
Food
No featured food is mentioned to be served within the museum. The surrounding area of Gaobeidian is rich in food options, where visitors can taste traditional Beijing cuisine such as Beijing Roast Duck and Old Beijing Zha Jiang Mian (noodles with soybean paste), as well as various regional dishes like Sichuan, Cantonese, and Hunan cuisines, satisfying different taste preferences.
Tickets
The ticket price is 50 yuan per person.
You can search for the official WeChat public account "北京中国紫檀博物馆" to get the latest updates or purchase tickets online.
Opening Hours
The museum is open from 9:00 to 17:00 from Tuesday to Sunday, with ticket sales stopping at 16:30. It is closed on Mondays (opening hours may be adjusted for special occasions such as legal holidays, so it is recommended to check the official announcements in advance).
Visiting Route
Start the visit from the first floor: first admire the replica of the Forbidden City's Qianqing Palace throne in the Central Hall, then visit the Ming and Qing Furniture Exhibition Hall; proceed to the second floor to view precious screens and the multimedia exhibition hall; go to the third floor to focus on the micro-scale Siheyuan and the red sandalwood carving of "Qingming Shanghe Tu"; finally, visit the woodcarving of the Temple of Heaven's Prayer Hall on the fifth floor and take a break at the tea bar. This route allows a comprehensive appreciation of the museum's highlight exhibits, taking about 2 hours in total. Visitors can adjust the route according to their interests and time.
Transportation
- Bus: Check local bus routes and take buses to nearby stops, such as those near Gaobeidian Station of Batong Line.
- Subway: Take Subway Line Batong to Gaobeidian Station, then walk west for 5-6 minutes to reach the museum.
- Self-driving: Navigate to the museum. There are parking lots around, and parking fees are charged according to local standards.
Must-visit Attractions
- Micro-scale Ancient Architectural Landscapes: Such as the Forbidden City corner tower, Qianqiu Pavilion, and Wanchun Pavilion, carefully crafted in proportion with traditional mortise-tenon techniques, perfectly presenting ancient architectural details and showcasing superb carving skills and profound cultural heritage.
- Ming and Qing Furniture Exhibition: Hundreds of Ming and Qing furniture pieces, made of precious materials, with exquisite craftsmanship and beautiful designs, representing the outstanding art of Chinese classical furniture and allowing visitors to feel the superb level and unique charm of ancient furniture making.
- "Qingming Shanghe Tu" Woodcarving: A giant woodcarving measuring 32.4 meters in length and 1.77 meters in width, vividly reproducing the urban landscape and life scenes of the Northern Song Dynasty with delicate carvings and lifelike figures, making it a rare art treasure.
Visiting Tips
- The recommended visiting time is 2-3 hours. Plan the visiting route reasonably according to personal interests and time arrangements.
- Consider renting a guide device or following a tour group to better understand the historical and cultural background and artistic value of the exhibits.
- Pay attention to the visiting order in the museum and do not touch the exhibits.
Notes
- Abide by the museum's opening hours and plan the itinerary in advance to avoid missing the visiting time.
- Please do not make loud noises or chase and play in the museum to maintain a quiet visiting environment.
- Carrying flammable, explosive, and other dangerous items into the museum is prohibited.
- Photography and video recording are not allowed in the museum without permission. If photography is permitted, please do not use flash to avoid damaging the exhibits.