Although the China National Art Museum has been Beijing's most important exhibition venue for Chinese art since the late 19th century, it certainly does not represent all that the local art scene has to offer.

Besides the art museum, there are plenty of other places in the city for Chinese and foreign visitors to enjoy ancient or contemporary art shows.

The following is a list of major museums and galleries in Beijing where visual art exhibitions are often staged:

Palace Museum

Originally the royal palace of the Ming and Qing dynasties, the site was turned into a general museum in 1925. Now the nation's leading storehouse of ancient treasures, it boasts a huge collection of about 1 million precious relics, including large numbers of traditional Chinese paintings and calligraphy.

Place: North side of Tian'anmen Square

China National Art Museum

Opened in 1962, the art museum primarily focuses on collecting and exhibiting Chinese art since the late Qing Dynasty (1644-1911), especially art dating after the founding of the People's Republic of China in 1949. Important art exhibitions from abroad are also held here.

Place: 1 Wusi Dajie, Dongcheng District

National Museum of Chinese History

Established in 1912, the museum moved to its present site on the Tian'anmen Square in 1959. It primarily collects and exhibits relics since 1911. In recent years, the museum has taken an increasing interest in hosting exhibitions of Chinese art.

Place: East side of Tian'anmen Square

Poly Art Museum

Established by the China Poly Group in December 1998, it is the first art museum set up by a major State-owned enterprise in the country. With world-class facilities, the museum primarily collects and exhibits ancient Chinese bronzes, stone sculptures and paintings.

Place: Poly Plaza, 14 Dongzhimen Nandajie, Dongcheng District

China Millennium Monument Art Museum

Opened in December 2000 as part of the China Millennium Monument, the museum, with a floor space of 20,000 square metres, includes galleries of Chinese culture, Oriental art, Western art, modern art and digital art. It mainly collects and exhibits 20th century art. The museum is applauded for its modern, high-tech facilities and is suitable for exhibitions of contemporary art.

Place: 9A Fuxing Road, Haidian District

China Arts and Crafts Museum

Located on the fifth floor of the Parkson Shopping Centre at Fuxingmen, the museum displays its collection of arts and crafts as well as art pieces from home and abroad.

Place: Parkson Shopping Centre, Fuxingmenwai Dajie, Xicheng District

Xu Beihong Art Museum

The museum was opened in 1954 in memory of late master painter Xu Beihong (1895-1953). It usually displays the life and art of Xu. Exhibitions of Chinese ink paintings, oil paintings and drawings by other artists are also accepted.

Place: 53 Xinjiekou Beidajie, Xicheng District

Redgate Gallery

Founded in 1991 by Australian Brian Wallace, the gallery is well known for exhibiting works by outstanding contemporary Chinese artists, ranging from ink and oil paintings to collages and lithographs.

Recently, it moved from the China Grand Hotel to its current site.

Place: Levels 1 & 4, Dongbianmen Watchtower, Chongwenmen

CAFA Art Museum

Located on the old campus of the Central Academy of Fine Arts (CAFA) on Wangfujing street, the art museum was established in 1960. It collects and exhibits art works in all categories, mainly serving the teaching and research activities of the top Chinese art school.

Place: Xiaowei Hutong, Wangfujing, Dongcheng District

International Art Palace

Located on the first floor of the Crown Plaza Holiday Inn Hotel, the art gallery is one of the most active venues in Beijing for exhibitions of oil painting and sculpture by emerging artists.

Place: 48 Wangfujing Street, Dongcheng District

Contemporary Art Museum

Next to the China National Art Museum, the small museum located on the campus of the middle school attached to the Central Academy of Fine Arts is more like a gallery. It occasionally exhibits oil paintings, prints, ink paintings, calligraphy and watercolours.

Place: 123 Longfusi Street, Dongcheng District

CourtYard Gallery

Opened in May 1996 by American attorney Handel Lee, the gallery is located directly opposite to the East Gate of the Forbidden City in a traditional courtyard house. It concentrates on exhibiting cutting-edge Chinese contemporary art.

Place: 95 Donghuamen Dajie, Dongcheng District

( China Daily March 29, 2002)