China's first museum, Nantong Museum, was founded in 1905 by industrialist Zhang Jian. In 1912, the Historical Museum was built on the premises of the former Directorate of Education. By 1949, China had 21 museums.

In October 1949, the Ministry of Culture formed a Bureau for the Administration of Relics in charge of relics and museums. By 1997, China had 1,800 museums featuring different subjects: society, history, art, geology, folklore, science and technology, etc. Well-known museums include: the Palace Museum, Museum of Chinese History, Museum of Chinese Aeronautics, Museum of Chinese Geology, Museum of Chinese Agriculture, Chinese Museum of Science and Technology, Museum of Chinese Sports, Museum of Chinese Posts and Telecommunications, Museum of Chinese Stamps, Chinese Museum of Coal, Museum of Chinese Coins, Museum of Chinese Printing, Shanghai Museum, Nanjing Museum, Shaanxi Museum, Tibet Museum, Henan Museum, Liaoning Museum, Zhejiang Museum, Gansu Museum, Chongqing Museum, Yunnan Ethnic Museum, Shanghai Natural Museum, and Beijing Natural Museum.

In addition, China has also built nearly 300 museums related to its modern history, particularly the communist revolution. These include the Museum of Chinese Revolution, the Military Museum of the Chinese People's Revolution, the Opium War Museum, The Wuchang Museum of the 1911 Revolution, the Museum of the Huangpu Military Academy, the Museum of the First National Congress of the Chinese Communist Party, the Revolutionary Museum of Jinggangshan, the Revolutionary Museum of Yan'an, the Museum of Xibaipo, the Museum of Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression, the Museum of Liaoshen Battle, the Museum of Pingjin Battle, the Museum of Resisting the United States and Aiding Korea, and former residences of Sun Yat-sen, Mao Zedong, and Deng Xiaoping.

Aside from government-sponsored museums, there are industry-specific museums and private museums of collections of every sort. Regardless of sponsorship, museums are endeavoring to attract visitors through putting on knowledge-enriching exhibitions. Among the popularly acclaimed exhibitions are "Modern China", "Eradicating a Humiliation of 100 Years: An Exhibition on Hong Kong's Return to the Motherland" and "Exhibition on Chinese Students in France in the 1920s"held by the Museum of Chinese Revolution; "Chinese History", "Exhibition on Science and Technology of Ancient China" and "New Archeological Finds" held by the Museum of Chinese History; "Exhibition of Precious Gifts Given by International Friends" held by the Museum of International Friendship; and "Nomadic Tribes in Ancient China" held by the Inner Mongolian Museum.