Besides the reopening of the hall, an exhibition celebrating the upcoming Year of the Snake opened at the museum on Tuesday. Focused on the titular reptile and zodiac animal representing the upcoming Chinese New Year, which falls on Jan 29, the exhibition will run till Feb 16.

A remarkable selection of 50 snake specimens from the museum's collection presents a full overview of serpentine beauty. Divided into four sections, it explains the origin and evolution of the Chinese zodiac, the cultural symbolism of the snake, its biological features, and its position in folk art.

"Through the event, we hope visitors will get a glimpse into the significant role that the snake plays in Chinese culture and embrace Chinese New Year," says Miao Yuyan, a museum worker.

With a collection of 400,000 historical and current specimens, the 70-year-old Natural History Museum of China is one of the most visited museums in the capital, with some 1.8 million visits every year.