China's Datangshan Aviation Museum Closes for Major Relocation to Changchun
For years, the China Aviation Museum at Datangshan, on the northern outskirts of Beijing, ranked among the world’s greatest destinations for aviation enthusiasts. Home to hundreds of military and civil aircraft, it was a museum unlike any other, combining an extraordinary outdoor collection with a vast underground hangar carved into the side of a mountain. Sadly, however, visitors hoping to experience this remarkable museum will have to wait. The museum closed in late 2025, with its priceless collection now being relocated to a new site, meaning one of aviation’s great pilgrimage destinations is temporarily no more. One of the World’s Greatest Aviation Museums Opened in 1989 to mark the 40th anniversary of the People’s Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF), the China Aviation Museum quickly became the country’s national aviation museum and one of the largest collections of aircraft anywhere in the world. Located on the site of the former Shahezhen Air Base, around 40km (25 miles) north of central Beijing, the museum occupied more than 700,000 square metres and displayed well over 300 aircraft representing the history of Chinese military and civil aviation. Perhaps its most distinctive feature was the enormous underground exhibition hall. Originally constructed as a hardened aircraft shelter during the Cold War, this huge tunnel bored deep into Datangshan Mountain became home to dozens of historic aircraft, creating one of the most unique museum settings anywhere in the world. Outside, visitors could spend hours wandering among rows of fighters, bombers, transports and helicopters representing almost every type ever flown by the Chinese Air Force. A Treasure Trove for Airliner Enthusiasts Former Orbis DC-8 at Datangshan. Photo: Peter Garwood Although much of the museum focused on military aviation, Datangshan held an equally fascinating collection of classic airliners. Many had once flown with the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC), the state airline that eventually evolved into today’s Chinese airline industry. Others had been acquired from overseas operators or preserved because of their historical importance. Among the highlights were: Hawker Siddeley Trident British Aerospace BAe 146 Douglas DC-8 (formerly operated by ORBIS International) Airbus A310 Vickers Viscount Tupolev Tu-124 Ilyushin Il-18 (including Chairman Mao Zedong’s former VIP aircraft) Lisunov Li-2 Antonov An-24 Convair 240 For enthusiasts interested in classic jetliners, this was one of the few places in the world where British, Soviet, American and Chinese aircraft stood side by side. Alongside these were dozens of rare military aircraft, including early MiGs, indigenous Chinese fighters, experimental prototypes and aircraft captured or obtained from countries around the world. The collection also featured everything from a Lockheed F-104 Starfighter and Northrop F-5 to a Martin RB-57D Canberra and even a Lockheed D-21 reconnaissance drone. Why Has the Museum Closed? A line-up of Migs. Photo: allen In October 2025, the museum closed to visitors as preparations began to relocate the collection. Although no detailed official public announcement has been issued explaining the full plans, multiple aviation and travel sources report that much, if not all, of the collection is expected to move to a brand-new aviation museum in Changchun, in Jilin Province, northeastern China. The relocation is believed to be one of the largest museum moves ever undertaken in the aviation world. Moving more than 300 historic aircraft is an enormous logistical undertaking. Many of the exhibits are too large to transport by road without extensive dismantling, while others are unique or fragile museum pieces requiring specialist conservation work. When Will It Reopen? At the time of writing, the new museum has not yet opened. Reports from visitors and aviation museums monitoring the relocation suggest that the new facility is unlikely to welcome visitors before mid-2027 at the earliest. While work is believed to be progressing, no confirmed opening date has been announced publicly. This means anyone planning an aviation-focused trip to Beijing should be aware that Datangshan is currently unavailable, despite older travel guides and websites continuing to list normal opening hours. A Museum Worth Waiting For Curtiss-Wright C-46. Photo: Erwin Although its closure is disappointing, there is every reason to be optimistic. The Datangshan museum had become increasingly difficult to maintain, particularly its enormous outdoor displays, and relocating the collection offers the opportunity to conserve many historically important aircraft while presenting them in a more modern setting. For enthusiasts, the hope is that the new museum will preserve not only China’s remarkable military aviation heritage but also its unique collection of classic Western airliners—aircraft such as the Trident, BAe 146, DC-8, Airbus A310 and Vickers Viscount that are becoming increasingly rare elsewhere in the world. Until then, the China Aviation Museum remains one of aviation’s great “missing” museums. It may be closed, but its remarkable collection still promises to become one of the world’s essential destinations for aircraft enthusiasts once its new home finally opens its doors.