As the COVID-19 pandemic has eased in China, museums in Beijing reopened on May 1. Among these popular destinations are the Palace Museum and the National Museum of China.

After closing for almost 100 days to help contain the spread of COVID-19, the Palace Museum, also known as the Forbidden City, opened its doors on Friday.

However, the Palace administration has enforced a cap of 5,000 visitors per day to follow the social distancing measures. Tickets need to be booked online in advance. For now only outdoor spaces in the compound are open to public.

Visitors must have their body temperature checked and scan a QR code to confirm their health status before entering the ancient site.

The National Museum of China, which is right across the road, is taking similar precautions.

Gu Jiandong, deputy Party secretary of the National Museum of China's CPC Committee, told CGTN: "Among the ongoing exhibitions, I especially recommend our 'Ancient China' exhibition, because it's the only one in the country in which you get to see 5,000 years of our country's cultural legacy in its full glory."

For Beijing residents, who have been in self-quarantine for months, visiting museums is a popular choice for entertainment and education during the Labor Day holiday.

A visitor praised the efforts made by the authorities in managing crowds. "The museum used to admit 30,000 people a day, but now only 3,000 visitors are allowed. So we want to take this opportunity to better appreciate the exhibition about ancient China," he said.

"We've been locked in our house for too long. It's good to come here for a change of perspective," said another visitor.

Another highlight at the museum is an exhibition focusing on great Chinese philosopher and educator Confucius.

According to its curator, difficult times such as these are an opportune moment to rediscover Confucius's ancient wisdom.

"Confucianism is an important part of China's great traditional culture, and it is also valuable spiritual symbol of the Chinese nation. To help the audience understand Confucian thought in a more lively way, we have this installation featuring excerpts from 'The Analects of Confucius.' I think it's meaningful to come here and really savor his words and ideas," said Chen Keshuang, curator of the exhibition.

For those who aren't able to come and admire the exhibits on site, the museum's virtual reality display offers an exciting alternative.