Behind the captivating facade of the Capital Museum (首都博物馆, Shǒudū Bówùguǎn; 16 Fuxingmenwai Dajie, 复兴门外大街16号) are some intriguing galleries that present a bite-sized overview of Beijing's history. Scale models, maps, multimedia displays and artifacts keep visitors engaged, and the English captions are helpful, though not always present.
The best displays are on the 2nd floor and 3rd floors. The 2nd floor stretches from the Paleolithic (Peking Man) to the Liao (916–1125) and Jin (1115–1234) dynasties, when Beijing was under the control of the peoples of the northern steppe. The 3rd floor covers the Yuan, Ming and Qing dynasties, followed by the Republican era and the Japanese invasion.
You'll need your passport for entry. English is mostly limited to captions, so pick up an audio guide. To get here, take line 1 to Muxidi. It's closed on Mondays.