Tank Museum 坦克博物馆
昌平区阳坊镇
Part of A Better Guide to Běijīng’s coverage of Běijīng Suburbs and Beyond
This is the land-based equivalent of the China Aviation Museum but on a far less grand scale reminiscent of several decades ago — rather forlorn and forgotten, and in dilapidated buildings on an army base.
A few peeling rooms have Chinese-only displays on the history of tank warfare, beginning with its use by the British in World War One. The collection of foreign and Chinese tanks, armoured personnel carriers, and self-propelled guns is mostly outside at the rear, including one machine painted in a curious bright blue.
The more significant of these do have their details displayed in English, with a surprising concentration on technical details rather than political rhetoric. Amongst the foreign vehicles there’s a predictable concentration on Russian imports, but German and British vehicles from World War Two as well, and an American tank captured from Nationalist forces.
The museum does not have its own website, but at the time of writing there are many images here: www.bbker.com/D178917.html.
▶ Tǎnkè Bówùguǎn, in Yángfāng Town, Chāngpíng, 45km NW,
gps 40º09’70”N, 116º07’55”E, t 6675 9904, 8.30am–4pm, Tues–Sun; closed 3rd day after national holiday. ¥18. m Huílóng Guān (Line 15) then b 887 to 坦克博物馆 . taxi Bā Dá Lǐng Expressway to Shāhé (沙河) then W along Shāyáng Lù (沙阳路).
There are small restaurants two or three stops back in Yángfāng Cūn or further back at the junction with the Bā Dá Lǐng Expressway (stop 沙河) on b 887 or 昌20. From there multiple versions of b 345, 670, and 919 can take you south to Déshèng Mén, and the 919 north to assorted Great Wall sites.
Next in Museums and Other Sights: Grand Epoch City
Previously: Jiāozhuānghù Tunnel Warfare Site
Main Index of A Better Guide to Beijing.
For discussion of China travel, see The Oriental-List.
