China National Film Museum Visitor Guide

Basic Information

• Opening hours: Tuesday to Thursday, Sunday 9:00–16:30 (last entry at 16:00); Friday, Saturday 9:00–20:30 (last entry at 20:00); closed on Monday (except public holidays).

• Address: No. 9 Nanying Road, Chaoyang District, Beijing.

• Tickets: Free entry, but reservations are required via the "China National Film Museum" WeChat account; visitors with movie tickets can enter directly.

Transportation

• Public transport: Take bus 116 to China National Film Museum Station, then walk for about 3 minutes; or take bus 403, 418, 516, or 851 to Nangao West Station, then walk for about 12 minutes.

• Self-driving: There is a parking lot opposite the museum, with plenty of free parking spaces.

Visitor Guide

• Fast-track route: Take photos in the central rotunda for 20 minutes and enjoy the stunning panoramic screen; go to the IMAX theater on the 4th floor to watch a movie; visit the "Hong Kong Film Exhibition" on the 3rd floor to see Wong Kar-wai's manuscripts and other exhibits; finally, go to the cultural and creative store on the 1st floor to get a stamp.

• In-depth route: Enter the museum at 9:00 and head straight to the "Film Technology Zone" on the 4th floor to experience dubbing, green screen, and other activities; have a "Havoc in Heaven" themed coffee at the 2nd floor café at noon; join a free guided tour at 14:00 to hear staff reveal the stories behind the special effects models.

Must-see Highlights

• Museum treasures: The 4th floor panoramic theater has a 360° immersive light and shadow show "Four Seasons of China" with stunning visuals; the IMAX GT laser theater is one of only three in Asia, offering an excellent viewing experience.

• Interactive experience zone: The green screen experience zone allows you to cosplay movie characters for free, such as astronauts from "The Wandering Earth"; the hand-drawn animation workshop is suitable for parent-child interaction, where you can create "flip animations" with an old-fashioned turntable machine; the dubbing room allows you to dub your favorite movie clips.

Dining and Rest

• Dining: There is a snack area on the 1st floor, offering coffee, desserts, burgers, and other food to recharge your energy.

• Rest: There are rest seats at the elevator on each floor and inside each theater, so visitors can rest at any time.