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National Museum Expansion Begins in Early September

The National Museum of China located on the eastern side of the Tian’anmen Square is to expand 70 metres to the east and its area will also grow to 150,000 square metres, according to People’s Daily.

The dismantling of the museum will begin in early September and the project is to last 85 days. Once the dismantling work is finished, construction on the new museum will unfold.

According to sources, the project will be carried out behind the eastern, southern and northern exterior walls of the original building so that it won’t affect the environment of Tian’anmen Square and neighbouring areas.

The 34.8-metre-high building will have four stories aboveground and two underground.

Existing buildings will be retained despite the museum’s eastward expansion. The project is expected to be completed by the end of 2007 and to be put to use before the 2008 Beijing Olympics.