Relics from the Past: Narratives of Human Evolution in Chinese Museums

This study evaluates how Chinese museums present Palaeolithic archaeology and contextualises museum narratives of human evolution by exploring the current state of palaeoanthropological science, historical developments in Chinese palaeoanthropology, and the history and legislative landscape of China's museum sector. Through analysing three case study exhibitions - the Origin of Human Beings exhibition at Beijing Natural History Museum, the exhibition at Zhoukoudian Site Museum, and the Ancient China exhibition at the National Museum of China - it reveals the significant role of the history of Chinese palaeoanthropology in shaping current exhibitions on human evolution, with museological and legislative requirements playing a secondary role.