At The National Art Museum in Beijing, China, the permanent collection showcases a wide range of Chinese and international fine art. Visitors can explore superb examples of traditional Chinese painting techniques alongside oil paintings, prints, sculpture, lacquer work, and pieces rendered in watercolor and waterpowder. Notable works on display include Liang Dong’s Snow on Tianshan Mountain and Ma Changli’s Flying Apsaras — Dunhuang Mogao Grotto No. 275 (Northern Liang). The museum’s fine art holdings also encompass caricature and New Year paintings, a distinctive branch of Chinese folk art originally created as decorative items to celebrate the Lunar New Year.
In addition to paintings, the museum offers extensive exhibits of folk culture and applied arts. Displays include folk costumes, pottery, porcelain, toys and kites, many treated as works of art in their own right. Examples range from the paper Crane and Deer in the Spring by Fei Baoling to the silk Colored Butterfly Seeking Flower by an unknown artist and the paper Happiness is in Front of Eyes by an anonymous maker. The collection spans both ancient and contemporary puppetry, featuring items such as a Ming dynasty puppet titled Fairy alongside more modern clown and stylized human figures.
Carved masks form another significant part of the museum’s collection, representing deities and characters from Chinese tradition and performance. Among them are masks of the Chick God and Ox God, legendary heroes, military generals and religious figures — all reflecting the varied regional styles and ritual meanings found across China. These objects illuminate the country’s rich narrative and ritual traditions as well as the craftsmanship behind ritual and theatrical arts.
Practical visitor information: the museum is closed on Mondays. Admission is free, but daily attendance is limited — a maximum of 4,000 tickets are issued each day. Planning a visit in advance is recommended to ensure entry and to allow time to fully appreciate the depth and diversity of the collections.