[2025 Beijing Attraction] Travel Guide for Beijing Longshuncheng Jingzuo Intangible Cultural Heritage Museum (Updated Apr)

Today, I visited the Longshuncheng Beijing-style Intangible Cultural Heritage Museum, a true hidden gem on the central axis of Beijing. In a word, it's "stunning." In addition to learning about the history of Longshuncheng from the guide, I also got to experience mortise and tenon joints firsthand. The wisdom of the ancients is like a deep ocean. Despite the passage of time and the elements, it remains unchanged, exuding infinite charm and making people want to explore its mysteries and appreciate the beauty of mortise and tenon joints. Longshuncheng's history dates back to 1862, making it a true century-old shop. But what is even more amazing is that it has retained its original sincerity and ancient craftsmanship to this day. As times change, Longshuncheng has found its own way to bring mortise and tenon craftsmanship to a larger stage, and its status as an intangible cultural heritage is the best proof of this. This treasure of Beijing is located on Yongwai Street in Dongcheng District, near the Second Ring Road. The entire exhibition hall is divided into three floors, showcasing the history of Longshuncheng, the craftsmanship and etiquette of Beijing-style hardwood furniture, and the craftsmanship and masterpieces of Longshuncheng's artisans throughout the ages. I learned about the ups and downs of Longshuncheng from the guide and was amazed by the spirit of Longshuncheng's artisans. It seems that no words can describe the charm of Longshuncheng, so let the photos speak for themselves! Finally, I got to try my hand at mortise and tenon joints. It may seem simple, but it takes time and patience to saw and polish wood, let alone build large structures. Once again, I was amazed by the wisdom of the ancients. In any case, the Longshuncheng Beijing-style Intangible Cultural Heritage Museum is a must-see when you visit Beijing. You have to see and experience it for yourself to appreciate the beauty of its craftsmanship. Immerse yourself in the charm of intangible cultural heritage, renew its legacy, and learn about it together. Intangible cultural heritage is also youthful.

Step into Longshuncheng, admire the nation's treasures, explore the mysteries of 'Jingzuo', appreciate the beauty of rosewood, and feel the charm of intangible cultural heritage! Become a young 'guardian' of craftsmanship. Here, you can see exquisite Jingzuo furniture, Ming and Qing dynasty collections, and our artworks selected as national gifts... With mortise and tenon joints, completely nail-free, this place not only showcases the superb skills of woodworking craftsmen but also embodies the great wisdom of Jingzuo furniture... Personally 'take the knife' to make a stool without a single nail. Cutting, polishing, assembling, waxing... In over 2000 years, I see the high aesthetics that transcend millennia! Come to the starting point of the southern central axis of Beijing and feel the charm of intangible cultural heritage!

Chinese ancient furniture has a history of over 5,000 years, showcasing the grand journey of the integration of the Chinese nation and the mutual learning between Chinese and foreign cultures. The traditional Beijing-style furniture making technique originated in the imperial city of Beijing, embodying the imperial demeanor and gathering the ingenuity of craftsmen. It reached its peak during the Ming and Qing dynasties, achieving remarkable success. As a court art, its solemn and elegant, delicate and beautiful, grand and restrained, and noble and implicit style reflects the royal aesthetic taste. As a historical icon, it also reflects the woodcraft level and aesthetic literacy of that era. Beijing-style hardwood furniture, as a functional material carrier, carries a lot of intangible cultural information and exudes the profound cultural heritage of the ancient capital. During the Tongzhi period of the Qing Dynasty, the Beijing-style hardwood furniture making technique flowed from the court to the folk, with skilled craftsmen gathering at 'Long Shun Cheng'. Over the following 160 years, through the trials and tribulations, six generations passed down the craft, and the century-old brand Long Shun Cheng, renowned in Beijing, as a 'National Intangible Cultural Heritage Inheritance and Protection Unit', has been revitalized in the new era of the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation. Long Shun Cheng, founded in 1862, has undergone over 160 years of development and the arduous entrepreneurship of six generations. It integrates the essence of Guang-style and Su-style techniques, incorporates royal rituals and aesthetic standards, and combines the humanistic characteristics of the Beijing region, forming the palace furniture features of meticulous material selection, rigorous regulations, and exquisite craftsmanship, pushing the art of traditional Chinese furniture to its peak. The exhibition comprehensively showcases the history, achievements, and essence of Beijing-style hardwood furniture making, promoting the traditional culture of the Chinese nation and advancing the innovative development of cultural heritage.

"Long Shuncheng Jingzuo Intangible Heritage Museum" is located at No. 64, Yongwai Avenue, and opened in 2021. "Long Shuncheng" is a renowned century-old brand in the capital, with a history that can be traced back to the Tongzhi era of the Qing Dynasty. Over the years, based on the great achievements of integrating various schools of Northern Ming and Qing furniture, it has formed the unique court furniture characteristic known as "Jingzuo", represented by the furniture made for the Qing Imperial Household Department. The museum's exhibits are divided into three sections: 'Originating from the Court. The Great Achievement of Long Shun', 'Strict in Standards. Timelessly Renewed', and 'Artisanal Inheritance. Eternal Classics', showcasing the over 160 years of Long Shuncheng's profound history and the culture of Jingzuo intangible heritage.

Long Shuncheng is a century-old brand, its history can be traced back to the Tongzhi period of the Qing Dynasty, and it has a history of 160 years. In 1862, Wang, a carpenter who fell from the Qing Palace "Zaoban Office" to the people, opened a small workshop in the southeast corner of Beijing, near Longxugou and Goldfish Pond, on the south side of Xiaoshi Street, named Longshun. Not only did it continue to make and repair hardwood furniture for the court, but it also integrated the court-style hardwood furniture into the people, pioneering the trend of elm lacquer furniture. Later, Longshun Workshop absorbed Wu and Fu's shares and renamed it "Long Shuncheng". Since then, the elm lacquer tables and chairs of "Long Shuncheng" have been popular for decades and have become a famous product in Beijing during this period, and have won the reputation of "century-old firm". After the liberation in 1956, the public-private partnership, 35 hardwood furniture workshops in Beijing's furniture industry merged, retaining the name "Long Shuncheng", known as "Long Shuncheng Woodware Factory", and later renamed "Chinese Hardwood Furniture Factory" during the Cultural Revolution. In the mid-1980s, it was renamed "Chinese Furniture Factory" after merging with the Chinese Repair Factory, and it was not until 1993 that the old name "Long Shuncheng" was restored, officially known as "Beijing Long Shuncheng Chinese Furniture Factory". Now Long Shuncheng is located on the east side of Yongdingmen Outer Street, and the "Long Shuncheng Jingzu Intangible Cultural Heritage Museum" that came to visit today is also here. Through a plaque with the words "Long Shuncheng", you enter the "Jinyu Long Shuncheng Cultural and Creative Industrial Park", and a distinctive red building in the park is the location of the museum. The exhibition hall has three floors. Entering the museum from the north gate, you immediately enter an ancient and elegant world of hardwood furniture, including exquisite furniture from the Ming, Qing, and Republic of China periods, including tables, chairs, cases, beds, cabinets, etc., which are displayed in the exhibition hall, either individually or combined into a whole scene. Unlike most exhibits in other museums that can only be viewed from a distance, the exhibits here can be viewed up close, and all details are in full view. The display boards on the wall introduce the development history of ancient Chinese furniture, the system and functions of the court "Zaoban" organization, the establishment and development of the "Long Shuncheng" brand, the form and etiquette of Chinese hardwood furniture, the selection and production process of furniture, the inheritance and advancement of the Long Shuncheng brand, and the major projects and achievements of Long Shuncheng in contemporary times. Every exhibit in the museum is a boutique, and the content introduced is very rich, full of knowledge, and the entire exhibition visit takes at least an hour. After visiting the museum, there is a passage to the furniture exhibition hall in the northwest of the building, where the ancient and fragrant hardwood furniture produced by Long Shuncheng is displayed, mostly in the form of scenes, each piece is a boutique, one of which is a small leaf rosewood dragon pattern Luohan bed priced at 15.99 million, which is really amazing and eye-opening. In addition, there is a Chinese-style courtyard on the southeast side of the red building of the museum, the rooms inside are locked, and it should also be an exhibition hall when looking through the window, but it is not open now. Although today is the weekend, there are very few visitors, and the museum is very deserted, perhaps because it is not well-known, but in fact, there is a lot to gain from visiting here, and it is highly recommended.