The lines are long, the atmosphere hushed and reverent at the Mao Mausoleum. It’s too bad taking pictures isn’t allowed, as the sight of Chairman Mao’s perfectly preserved body in his crystal coffin evokes the strongest of reactions from locals and tourists alike.

Built in 1743, the exact replica of the Gaya Temple in India, Wu Tai Si was originally called the True Awakening Temple. Now a museum surrounded by ancient trees, the temple features centuries-old tombstones of Jesuit missionaries, a simple teahouse, a monumental diamond throne with small pagodas, and over a thousand ancient stone carvings.

The fabulous collection dedicated to 500 years of Chinese history will have a new home, one with more exhibition halls. The Museum of Chinese History is set for a grand makeover, a change that will see the birth of a National Museum of China, the museum’s new name. For it’s grand reopening, history buffs are treated to an exhibition of over 400,000 relics, some of which are over a million years old.