8,000 people visited the old China Science and Technology Museum (CSTM) on June 30, the last opening day. Staff told reporters the number was 10 times higher than the normal.

10 times more visitors than normal visited the old CSTM on its last opening day.

Residents were already queuing for free tickets at front of the gate of the old CSTM at 5:00am on June 30. Staff said that they had intended at first to distribute 5,000 free tickets, but the number reached nearly 10,000, much higher than expected, adding that "8,000 tickets were given out, but visitors were still queuing. After running out, the rest went in without tickets." Statistics showed that over the past eight days, the old CSTM admitted nearly 50,000 visitors free of charge.

Many parents took leave from work to bring their children to the old CSTM. A couple told reporters that the old CSTM was a big part of their childhood.

An old lady who lives nearby took her camera and asked visitors to take photos of her inside the CSTM. She said that the new museum cannot replace the old one in her heart even though the new one is better. Every weekend, the assembled crowds made a beautiful backdrop.

On July 1, "A", "B" and "C" pavilions of the old museum were closed, and its precious exhibits will be transferred to the new museum, including a 2,550 year old specimen of the Sierra redwood tree, a present from friends in the US.

CSTM moves away and the neighbors don't want to say goodbye.

At midday on June 30, 48-year-old Wu Yuanke strolled across the community to the old CSTM. Though the day was hot, there were still crowds of people.

Having lived next to the CSTM for 18 years, Wu was unwilling to say goodbye when she heard it would move away.

Wu lives in the Anzhenli Community, a 5-minute walk from the old museum. For three days, she visited the old CSTM and took photos. She said that she had seen the old CSTM everyday for decades and was reluctant to bid farewell to it.

Nearly every Beijing child would go to the museum to explore various mysteries, including "soap curtains," "hedgehog hair" from static electricity, "shape changing houses" and "invisibility," said Wu.

Wu said her neighbors often took their children to the CSTM on weekends to learn new things; sometimes it wasn't planned, they just bumped into each other and decided to go.

She said that the new museum is not far, and she hopes to visit it with her neighbors in September when it opens.

The new CSTM is adjacent to the "Bird's Nest"

In November 1984, the first-phase of construction started and, in September 1988, after four years of work, the CSTM officially opened to the public.

After 21 years of operation, the old CSTM closed on June 30. Officials from Beijing Association for Science and Technology said that the old museum will become Beijing Science Center, where advanced interactive science activities will be held.

The new CSTM is within the central area of the Olympic Park, adjacent to the "Bird's Nest." Currently, the new museum is installing and testing its equipment, as well as arranging its exhibits. It will officially open to the public in mid September.