Just a stone’s throw from The World Trade Towers and right next to An Hua Qiao Subway Station is the derelict site of Beijing Space and Science Museum.
Along with the Planetarium and the The Natural History Museum nearby in the compound, all of these buildings are due for demolition soon.
The Space Museum has recently been abandoned by the security guards which makes entering much easier than before.
The museum is spread over nine floors, and the sixth floor opens out onto this awesome roof area affording some great views of the local area.
Unfortunately most of the building has been gutted, but there are a few exhibits remaining in a few hidden corners.
It is also very easy to get lost in the maze-like basement, but there are some great rooms to be found.
There are lots of bottles and specimens on display and in storage within the building.
One of the best features of the museum is the display about how ancient mines were dug.
Manikins of the miners are still down there in the dark gathered around their little fires.
The museum also has a great number of open spaces which are ideal for light-painting.
The central roof is made of glass panels which from the atrium below looks magnificent.
Like a lot of buildings in Beijing, it was built in the run-up to the Olympics and then just abandoned after the finish of the games. This is a relatively easy place to get into, and there is a lot to see, which is why this earns itself a hearty B-.