The Exhibition Hall of Weapons Used by Chinese Militia sits in Jiaowangzhuang Village in Tongzhou District. Modern weapons as well as those used in the Sino-Japanese War (1937-1945), China's Revolutionary War (1945-1949), the Korean War (1950-1953) and the Sino-Vietnamese War (1979) are all exhibited. In addition, weapons from more than fifty countries are also housed, representing a total number of over 10,000 pieces. The exhibition hall consists of a main hall and a fieldwork artillery lot.
Most of the weapons are displayed in the two-storey main hall, whose roof is built with crenels like those used on the Great Wall. Entering the hall, visitors will find a copper relief showing Chairman Mao Zedong (the founder of the People's Republic of China) with the militiamen. More than 300 antiaircraft guns, mortars, anti-armor weapons, observation equipment (both in and out of commission) and ammunition are exhibited on the first floor.
On the second floor, weapons are displayed in chronological order. The Northern Expedition War (1926-1927) section boasts various swords, rifles, and guns of different calibers, among which the most eye-catching are two 2-meters-long guns named Jingall (Wall Gun). The Jingall is a type of shotgun unique to China and requires two soldiers in order to use it. The Sino-Japanese War section features weapons such as rifles made in Japan, and submachine guns made in America and Britain. Interestingly, there is a vivid model of tunnel warfare with shotguns and broadswords used at that time. Further on, visitors find China-made weaponry post 1949 and German-made box cannons. Over 5,000 pieces of small fire arms like handguns, muskets, submachine guns and light machine guns are housed in the small arms exhibition area. Visitors will find handcrafted special guns, guns designed specifically for collectors, and many Mauser pistols. The M1896 series shows the development of weapons in the early years of China.
Behind the main hall, twenty-seven cannons made in countries like China and Canada are displayed in the fieldwork artillery lot. A shrapnel cannon made by the Japanese in 1940 occupies the top of the lot. This cannon, with a caliber of 300 millimeters (11.8 inches) and a range of 2 kilometers (1.2 miles), has a three-tier round base and is easily moved.
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Admission Fee:
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CNY 30
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Opening Hours:
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08:00-16:00 (Closed on Mondays)
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Bus Route:
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388, 649, 675 to Jiaowangzhuang Village, then take a small bus to the Exhibition Hall of Weapons Used by Chinese Militia.
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Beijing Museums:
