Discover the 6 Natural History Museums in Asia that you can't miss

If you're looking to explore Asia's natural history, these museums offer fascinating insights, from dinosaurs to the mysteries of the ocean. Here's key information about each one to help you plan your visit.

Tianjin Natural History Museum, Tianjin

Founded in 1914, this museum houses an impressive collection of over 380,000 specimens. Its current building, located in the Tianjin Cultural Center, opened in 2014 and occupies 12,000 square meters spread over three floors. During your visit, you can see several dinosaur skeletons, including a replica of a T-Rex. The permanent exhibitions guide you from the beginnings of life on Earth to the modern era, also exploring the ecology and diverse ecosystems of the planet.

China National Maritime Museum, Tianjin

Located in the Binhai New Area bay, this is the world's largest maritime museum. Its ocean-inspired architecture was designed by the Australian firm COX Architecture. The museum boasts 80,000 square meters of space, with five wings extending out onto the bay. Inside, six exhibition areas and 15 galleries explain China's maritime evolution through themes such as "the ancient ocean," "the ocean today," and "the age of the dragon."

Shanghai Natural History Museum, Shanghai

This museum was established in 1956 and moved to its current 40,000 m² building in Jing'an Sculpture Park in 2015. Its design is inspired by a snail shell. One of its centerpieces is a 140-million-year-old, four-story-tall dinosaur skeleton. Its collection includes around 240,000 items, featuring rare species such as a Yellow River mammoth, a Yangtze caiman, and a giant panda. In 2022, it opened China's first exhibition on the theme of deep-sea exploration.

National Museum of Nature and Science, Tokyo

Located in Tokyo's Ueno Park, this museum focuses on the natural history, wildlife, and scientific advancements of Japan and the world. Its exhibits range from global biodiversity to the age of dinosaurs. One of its unique attractions is the Theatre 360, a cinema with immersive 360-degree projections for which the museum has created seven original films. In 2022, it hosted the "Pokémon Fossil Museum" exhibition, which combined real dinosaur fossils with sculptures of purported Pokémon fossils.

Shandong Museum, Jinan

This museum allows you to explore the rich history, nature, and art of Shandong Province. It is housed in a modern 82,900 m² building that opened in 2010. The highlight of its vast collection is the skeleton of a Shantungosaurus, a dinosaur believed to have been approximately 15 meters long and to have 1,500 small teeth.

Taiwan National Center for Science Education, Taipei

Founded in 1956, this center moved to a 10-story building in 2003. Its aim is to make learning science fun through interactive, high-tech exhibits. It covers subjects such as natural sciences, earth sciences, and mathematics. In addition to its permanent and temporary galleries, the center features laboratories, theaters, and a robotics education center.