China
Museum of Telecommunications
China
Museum of Telecommunications houses a relics exhibition, demonstrates
the latest in science and
technology, and is also venue for popular
science education. This museum is the first of its kind in
the information and telecommunications field.
The exhibition halls are distributed over
three floors. The Comprehensive Hall, on the first floor,
mainly exhibits achievements in the telecommunications field
since reform and opening-up, and its role within the development
of society, as well as its exchanges and cooperation with
international counterparts.
The Telephone Card Hall -- the card-collector's
best choice -- on the same floor, exhibits all manner of magnetic
and IC cards that have been collected throughout China, all
of which were issued by China Telecom.
The Telecommunications History Hall, with
over a thousand tools of telecommunication collected over
the past 20 years, contains a comprehensive display of China's
telecommunications history and its magnificent achievements
made throughout its 3,000 years of history.
At
the Ancient Telecommunications Exhibition, one will see the
spectacle of the beacon tower, and how, when lit, it was used
to send messages, and raise the alarm, thus giving an explanation
of its principles, whereby sound and light signals were the
means of message transmission. The Posts and Mail Service
Exhibition focuses on the transfer of messages in kind, as
well as on the modern state postal service, and makes full
and accurate use of authentic cultural relics and materials.
In 1837, Morse, an American, invented the
first telegraph, a device for transmitting messages through
an electric current, which ushered in a new era in telecommunications
history. It was 44 years later that this technology spread
to China. The museum collection contains several kinds of
telegraphs from different periods, as well as a model of a
Qing Dynasty telegraph operator using the Morse telegraph.
In the telegraph unit may be seen a set
of telephone exchange equipment, introduced by courtesy of
the USA West Electrical Equipment Company during the late
Qing Dynasty, and installed in the Summer Palace. It was hand
operated, and used for internal Qing court connections. It
still works.
The numerous ancient telephones in this
hall include a typical Western style telephone, but painted
yellow, emblematic of China's imperial power, and decorated
with dragons. According to textual research, it was manufactured
in Norway and presented to the Qing government as a gift.
The
Popular Science Hall, on the third floor, is a favorite with
young people. In contrast to the historical exhibition on
the second floor, it exhibits large-scale mechanical automation
facilities, and also smaller models and objects. Through the
various projects displayed, a vivid, audio-visual presentation
of telecommunications may be observed, and a better understanding
of the basic principles of data, microwave, mobile, satellite
and optical fiber communications gained. The videophone, and
surfing on the Internet, are the means by which the wonders
of modern telecommunications technology may be seen with one's
own eyes.
Apart from all these exhibitions, there
is also a news release hall open to the public, with a seating
capacity of 200, equipped with advanced lighting and sound
equipment, and attendants on hand to explain and assist.
The museum is open from 9:00 am to 4:00
pm from Tuesday to Sunday.
To get there, take bus No. 375, 386, 719,
743, 748, 706, 810 or 944, get off at the Beijing University
of Aeronautics and Astronautics, and head south.
Add: 42 Xueyuan Road, Haidian District,
Beijing (100083)
Tel: 62303621, 62303681
Fax: 62303648
E-mail: wenshi@btamail.net.cn
