Beijing Exhibition Center

Beijing Exhibition Hall, originally the Soviet Exhibition Hall, completed in October 1954, and officially renamed Beijing Exhibition Hall in 1958. It is the first large-scale comprehensive exhibition hall in the People's Republic of China.

The Beijing Exhibition Hall covers an area of about 132,000 square meters, with the main building occupying 88,500 square meters. The main exhibition hall has an area of 50,400 square meters. Inside, there are four main operational units: Beijing Exhibition Hall Exhibition Center, Moscow Restaurant, Beijing Exhibition Hall Theater, and Beijing Exhibition Hall Hotel, making it a large, comprehensive exhibition venue that includes exhibition, dining, performance, and accommodation services.

The main building's roof features a 2.5-meter-diameter red five-pointed star, and the upper part of the main entrance is inscribed with "Beijing Exhibition Hall" in the handwriting of Chairman Mao Zedong. The interior has 12 exhibition halls with a total exhibition area of 22,000 square meters, with ceiling heights ranging from 8 to 19 meters on each floor.

The entire complex is centered around the central hall, which divides the space into two wings extending forwards and backwards. The front forms an entrance square, while the rear connects with the central industrial hall, creating two indoor exhibition courtyards. The central axis stretches from north to south, consisting of the central hall, industrial hall, and an open-air theater (later renovated to include a curved roof). The west wing houses the Agricultural Hall, Moscow Restaurant, and cinema, while the east wing features an exhibition hall for cultural and educational achievements. The west plaza displays agricultural machinery, and the east plaza showcases transportation and mining equipment.

Externally, the building is dominated by an 87-meter-high central tower and a spire. The main building consists of a single story, with partial two-story sections. The facade features 16 continuous arches forming a circular embrace, and the exhibition hall's outer walls are adorned with symmetrical, repeating semi-circular columns and rectangular glass windows, with some areas featuring arched doors and decorative floral columns.