The China National Arts and Crafts Museum, in Dongcheng District, was opened to public in July 1990. It boasts a collection of thousands of artifacts collected since the founding the People's Republic of China in 1949, and was the first of its kind. 

Exhibits include jade ware, stone and wood sculptures, earthenware, lacquer ware, metal ware, embroidery, and ethnic folk art. Four of the most well known pieces are exquisite jade carvings, considered "the four great national treasures".  They are: The Marvelous Spectacle at Mount Tai, Nine Dragons Playing in the Sea, The Incense Burner, and The Flower Basket.

On sale are also representative forms of Chinese folk art such as painted clay figurines, interior-painted bottles, gourd carvings and decorative fans.