As the successor of the Museum of Chinese History and the Museum of the Chinese Revolution, the National Museum of China was founded on 28 February 2003. Falling under the auspices of the Ministry of Culture, it presents to the public Chinas long history and illustrious tradition.

Furthermore, the National Museum of China is active in the areas of scholarly research and collecting, archaeology and cultural exchange. By hosting historical permanent exhibitions as well as diverse art exhibitions and spezial shows, the museum brings the Chinese and international public closer to China's past and its development, as well as to the country's magnificent art and culture. At the same time, the museum also gives visitors insight into other cultures and their arts. Thanks to its extensive and profound work and research in the areas of archaeology, historical preservation and museology, the museum plays an important part in expanding the publics knowledge of artistic and cultural history and is a driving force behind the development of public museums in the country as a whole.

The National Museum of China has undergone a period of renovation since March 2007 that is due for completion in late 2010, allowing the museum to reopen in early 2011. The structural alterations will result in the museum commanding a total floor space of 195,000 O, with 65,000 O of that dedicated to exhibitions. The 48 exhibition halls, each covering between 800 and 2000 O of space, give the museum's vast collection of one million objects room to go on display. Space has been given to four international exhibition halls, dedicated to Asia, Africa, Europe and America respectively, which will house objects from the collection from the various continents and will document the diversity of world cultures.

In addition, all other museum sites are being modernised and the collection updated. In keeping with China's long, illustrious cultural history, the National Museum of China now aims to take its place among the most important museums in the world, as a modern and elegant institution, steeped in expertise.