Beijing Folklore Museum

The only state-run folklore museum in Beijing, the Beijing Folklore Museum is located on Waida Avenue, Chaoyangmen, Chaoyang District, Beijing. The site was once known as Dongyue Temple built in the 6th year (1319) of the Yuanyou Period in the Yuan Dynasty used for worshipping Emperor Dongyue, the God of Mount Tai. At the time, it was the largest Taoist temple for the Zhengyi School (a Taoist sect) in North China, and state and folk sacrificial rites were held to pray for a good harvest every year. After several renovations, the temple has been turned into a folklore museum and was first open to the public in 1999.

Covering an area of 60,000 square meters, the 2-story museum is set in a Ming and Qing style and is composed of 9 consecutive exhibit halls and 4 independent exhibit halls. It is famous for its statues of God, a total of 76 statues which construct an impressive and unique image of folk beliefs. A number of stone tablets of extremely high art and historical value can be seen, of which the most representative is the Taoist Stele written by famous calligrapher Zhao Meng of the Yuan Dynasty (1206-1368). Then there are 74 principle columns in the museum, all of which are carved with couplets on them. Numerous traditional exhibitions have been successfully held in the Beijing Folklore Museum since 1999, including ones titled the History of Beijing Dongyue Temple, the Old Lifestyle of Beijing, the 100-Year Folklore Costumes of China, and the Manners of Life and Cultural Relics.

These days, the Beijing Folklore Museum is a fantastic place where foreign and national visitors alike can learn more about the history of Beijing. Great times to visit are during iconic annual Chinese events—the Spring Festival, Dragon Boat Festival, Mid-Autumn Festival, and the Double Ninth Festival—during which a number of rich and colorful folklore activities are held, attracting thousands of visitors to celebrate the heritage of the country.

Address: No. 141, Waida Avenue, Chaoyangmen, Chaoyang District, Beijing
Hours: 9:00 am to 4:30 pm very day
Bus routes: 101, 109, 110, 112, 420, 750, 813, 846, and 858