China is the home to 56 ethnic groups. Various ethnic groups present different kinds of living styles and customs, all contributing to China's vibrant culture. Surrounded by the North 3^rd Ring Road, Jingchang Highway, North 4^th Ring Road and Beichen Road in Beijing, Chinese Ethnic Culture Park, also known as China Nationalities Museum, has a large ethnic culture base combining an introduction to culture, singing and dancing performances, traditional housing and art and craft while providing the opportunity to experience ethnic flavored cooking of 56 ethnic groups.

The park has already completed displays for over 40 ethnic groups. A large number of ethnic culture relics and articles from daily use are exhibited in order to reflect authentic living conditions of each ethnic group. For example, the building of Han People, the largest ethnic group at home and abroad, is a cave-house composed of three courtyards. It is a typical Han cave found within Mizhi County of Shaanxi Province in Qing Dynasty (1644-1911). Zang Museum exhibits typical houses of the Khamba area, a display of Sutra Chanting Hall of the Jokhang Temple, daily-use articles of Zang People and many beautiful Tibetan pictures. You can also watch Tibetan-style singing and dancing performances drink buttered tea and sew Pulu (a handmade woolen product used for making clothes and carpet and often present at ceremonies). 

There are many attractive scenic spots in the park. The big banyan tree symbolizes the 56 ethnic groups banding together. The Ethnic Bridge which connects the north and south park adopts the architectural styles of Bai, Dong and Zang People. The Tenggeli Waterfall which falls from 161-feet high is the biggest man-made waterfall in China. Many typical ethnic architectural styles are available for viewing. Examples include the Tujia People's stilt-house, Mosuo People's wooden house, Hui People's cave house and Li People's ship-shaped house. Hundreds of young men from a range of ethnic groups gather together and proudly be the guide to introduce their own culture. The park also holds ethnic groups' festivals and invites visitors to join in. The Water-Splashing Festival of the Dai People, the Mongolian's Nadam Fair, the Lisu People's Knife-Pole Festival, Miao People's Sister Festival and Yugur's Harvest Festival win much applause from visitors.

A brook murmurs through little bridges, flowers bloom in the sun, birds sing on the trees while rice and wheat send out fresh fragrance. Strolling in the park you can feel the strong flavor of the Chinese ethnic groups. It is really a good place to refresh your mind and relax.

 Selected Serial Ethnic Minority Culture Exibitions:
Qiang Minority: traditional residence, Qionglong (watch tower residence);
Tu Minority: items in daily use exhibition, photos, and water mill imitation
Wa Monirity: wodden drum house
Miao Minority:  traditional residence, Nuo Opera Hall
Dai Minority: traditional residence exhibition, Manfeilong Stupa, Vietnamnese temple Hinayana Buddism culture display, Water-splashing Dragon Pavilion, Telephone Well
Sala Minority: old Islamic Xuanli Tower, Liba residential house made of wood, earth and stone
Bai Minority: Bai traditional courtyard made of three rooms and a screan wall, new wedding room for the new couple, Tie-tyeing work house and room for the senior 
Naxi Minority: Dongba Palace reconstitute, Naxi square street
Tujia Minority: hand-waving hall, Tujia Hualou - suspending wooden building with 9 pillars and exquisite wood carvings on pillars, beams, windows, doors, etc. 

 Recent Performance Table (June - August, 2010)

Performance	Time	Place
National Flag Running-up Ceremony/Welcoming Singing and Dancing	08:40-08:50	Rongshu Square
Stunt Performance - Climb Knife Pole	10:00-10:30/15:00-15:30 (stop on Wednesday)	Miao Museum
Naka's Blessing/Water-Splashing Carnival	10:50-11:30	Dai Museum
Dai's Water Splashing Festival	14:30-15:00	Dai Museum
Ethnic Groups Performance Party	16:40-17:00/16:50-17:10	Naxi Museum/Zang Museum
Ethnic Groups Dancing Together	15:20-16:00	Santa Square

 Distribution and hours of ethnic groups

Location	Hours	Location	Hours
South      Park
Zang Museum	09:10-09:30;12:10-12:30;  16:30-16:50	Wa Museum	09:30-10:00; 15:30-16:00
Qiang Museum	09:40-10:00;12:40-13:00;  13:40-14:00(close on Tuesday)	Miao Museum	10:00-10:30; 15:00-15:30
Tu Museum	10:10-10:30; 13:10-13:30;  14:10-14:30 (close on Monday)	Dai Museum	10:50-11:30; 14:30-15:00; 16:10-16:30
North      Park
Naxi Museum	10:30-10:50; 13:20-13:40; 16:20-16:40 (close on Monday)	Bai Museum	10:00-10:20; 12:40-13:00; 14:00-14:20
Tujia Museum	11:00-11:20; 13:10-13:30; 14:10-14:30 (close on Tuesday)	Mongolian Museum	10:00-10:20; 13:40-14:00; 14:40-15:00

Exhibition Opening Hours: 09:00-11:30, 12:30-17:00
Tour Guide and Ethnic Dress Rent: 09:00-17:00

Water-Splashing Tip: Water-Splashing Festival is held from April to October, every year. Please respect Dai People's Custom by waiting for Dai People to splash the first bowl of water before you splash or touch the water. Please buy the water basin in the shops and splash water in the specified place.

 Travel Tips:

Admission Fee:	CNY 90 (Through Ticket); CNY60 (South Park), CNY60 (North Park)
Opening Hours:	08:30–19:00 (summer); 09:00-17:00 (winter) Notes: South Park is open from April to November only.
Subway:	Subway Line 8: get off at Olympic Sports Center Station and get out of the station from Exit D (southwest exit); or get off at Beitucheng Station and get out of the station from Exit B (northeast exit). Subway Line 10: get off at Beitucheng Station and get out of the station from Exit B (northeast exit).
Bus Route:	Bus 839 and get off at Min Zu Yuan Lu; Bus 114, 55 at Min Zu Yuan Xi Lu; Bus 407 at Zhong Hua Min Zu Yuan  Beijing Bus / Subway Search

 Recommended Tours including the visit to Chinese Ethnic Culture Park:
Beijing One Day Tour: Panda House - Summer Palace - Yuanmingyuan - Peking University - Chinese Ethnic Culture Park
Beijing Bike Tour: to Olympic Forest Park, China Nationalities Museum and more
More Beijing City Tours