Capital Library of China

The Capital Library of China is a public library in Chaoyang housed in a modern building on South Third Ring Road. The facility holds extensive collections of Chinese and international publications, including specialized materials across different subject areas.

The institution was created in 1913 through the merger of three separate libraries and received its current name in 1956. This renaming reflected its role as a central library serving the region.

The library preserves knowledge about Chinese art forms including opera, classical music, and theater through dedicated collections that reflect their importance in local culture. Visitors can explore these sections to understand how these traditions shape artistic life in the city.

The library holds regular film screenings on Wednesdays at 2 PM with free tickets available from the entrance starting at 12:30 PM. International visitors can obtain a reader card by providing a deposit to access the collection of books in foreign languages.

The library emerged from combining several older collections, creating a comprehensive resource that brings together different areas of knowledge under one roof. This merging of separate institutions allowed for a broader scope of materials than any single collection could offer.

Location: Beijing

Website: http://clcn.net.cn

GPS coordinates: 39.86904,116.46361

Latest update: December 12, 2025 09:04