Photo taken on September 16, 2009 shows the inauguration ceremony of the new premises of China Science and Technology Museum in Beijing, China. The new premises of China Science and Technology Museum covers an area of 48,000 square meters with a construction scale of 102,000 square meters. [Xinhua]

A brand new science and technology museum opened in Beijing Wednesday.

Wang Zhaoguo, vice chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress, attended the opening ceremony.

Located north of the Bird's Nest, the China Science and Technology Museum covers an area of 48,000 square meters. It will receive visitors from September 20.

The museum cost about 2 billion yuan (US$293 million) to build.

"The museum will play an important role in popularizing knowledge of science", said Han Qide, chairman of the Association for Science and Technology.

The museum consists of five themed halls. One is a science park while others cover exploration and discovery, technology and life.

The museum's predecessor, the first of its kind in China, was opened in 1988 and attracted more than 20 million visitors before it was closed late June.

(Xinhua News Agency September 17, 2009)