The Museum of Chinese History presents three main periods of Chinese history. The first, Primitive Society, ranges from 500,000 B.C. to 4,000 B.C. The exhibits in the Slave Society section cover the time from 2,100 B.C. to 475 B.C. The Feudal Society exhibits focus on the period from 221 B. C to 1911.

The museum is located in south half of the same building as the Museum of the Chinese Revolution.