Museum's past inspires showcase of the future

Institution focusing on natural history continues to evolve into a world-class site, Wang Qian reports.

The recently inaugurated National Natural History Museum of China in Beijing has inspired and motivated generations of young visitors over the past seven decades. Formerly known as the Beijing Museum of Natural History, the institution has developed from humble beginnings.

To mark its June 5 inauguration, the exhibition, Curator's Choice Collections — Preserving the Past for the Future, which opened concurrently at the museum, displays its history over the past 72 years.

The monthlong exhibition is divided into four sections: a decade in preparation (1951-61), the development of the Beijing Museum of Natural History (1962-2007), the museum's expansion period (2008-22) and a new start as the National Natural History Museum of China.