Shenzhen Museum

Shenzhen Museum

The Shenzhen Museum is recognized as a science education base, a classic red tourism destination, and a patriotic education base.

Established in 1981, the Shenzhen Museum currently has four venues: the History & Folk Culture Museum, the Ancient Art Museum, the Former Site Memorial of the Dongjiang Guerrilla Command, and the Shenzhen Reform and Opening-up Exhibition Hall. With a total construction area of over 50,000 square meters, it is a large-scale multi-branch museum that integrates collection, preservation, research, exhibition, and education. It is a national first-class museum, a national classic red tourism destination, and a national social science popularization base.

I. Background of Establishment

On August 26, 1980, the Shenzhen Special Economic Zone was established. In August 1981, the Cultural Relics Team of the Guangdong Provincial Museum came to Shenzhen and, together with staff from the Shenzhen Library and other institutions, conducted a citywide cultural relics survey and archaeological excavations at some sites and ancient tomb clusters, unearthing and collecting a large number of cultural relics. To preserve and study these relics and showcase Shenzhen’s history and culture, on October 17, 1981, the Shenzhen Municipal Establishment Committee approved the establishment of the Shenzhen Special Economic Zone Museum, which was later renamed the Shenzhen Museum, and then changed to its current name in early 2008.

II. Venue Development

1. Ancient Art Museum

Located on the north side of Shennan Avenue. The foundation project was approved in 1982 and listed as one of the eight major cultural facilities in Shenzhen, receiving priority development. It was completed and opened to the public in November 1988. Covering an area of 37,000 square meters, it has a total floor area of 18,400 square meters, with the exhibition building spanning 8,000 square meters. In the 1980s, the museum was hailed as the most modern in China, winning the “Second Prize for Design of National Public Cultural Facilities” and being named one of the “Top Ten Historic Buildings of Shenzhen’s Reform and Opening-up.” It was temporarily closed in August 2015 for renovation and maintenance.

2. History & Folk Culture Museum

Located in Block A of the Shenzhen Civic Center. The site covers 12,500 square meters, with a total construction area of 33,600 square meters. It was completed and opened in December 2008. The exhibition building has three floors, including five permanent exhibitions and two thematic exhibition halls, covering a total exhibition area of over 10,000 square meters. The basement level houses the cultural relics storage area. Additionally, the exhibition building includes supporting facilities such as a multifunctional lecture hall, VIP rooms, a tea house, and a souvenir shop.

3. Former Site Memorial of the Dongjiang Guerrilla Command

Located at No. 13 Nanning Street, Luohu District, it covers an area of 240 square meters with a construction area of 794 square meters. This historic site is a municipal-level cultural relic protection unit in Shenzhen. It was placed under the management of the Shenzhen Museum in 2012 and reopened to the public after renovation in December 2017.

4. Shenzhen Reform and Opening-up Exhibition Hall

Located at No. 184 Fuzhong Road, Futian District (on the fourth and fifth floors of the South Block of the Shenzhen Contemporary Art and Urban Planning Museum), it has an exhibition area of 6,300 square meters and opened to the public on November 8, 2018.

III. Organization and Functions

The Shenzhen Museum is a public institution fully funded by the Shenzhen Municipal Finance Bureau and is under the administration of the Shenzhen Municipal Bureau of Culture, Radio, Television, Tourism, and Sports. In November 2004, the archaeology team became independent from the museum and formed the independent legal entity Shenzhen Cultural Relics Archaeology and Appraisal Institute. In January 2010, the Shenzhen Intangible Cultural Heritage Protection Center was incorporated into the Shenzhen Museum. Currently, the museum has 15 departments, with 135 full-time staff, including 79 intermediate-level and above professionals. The current director is Ye Yang, with deputy directors Guo Xuelei, Cai Huaiyao, and Du Juan.

At the end of 2014, the Shenzhen Museum established a council, becoming one of the first museums in Guangdong to implement the council system reform.

The main functions of the Shenzhen Museum are to collect and exhibit cultural relics and promote national culture. Specific responsibilities include: collecting, appraising, cataloging, restoring, replicating, preserving, and displaying cultural relics; conducting research on historical relics, ancient architecture, ancient artworks, and cultural relic restoration, as well as local history of Shenzhen and Hong Kong, folk culture, museology, and natural sciences; carrying out archaeological excavations and publishing cultural relic-related materials.

IV. Achievements in Professional Work

1. Cultural Relic Collection and Preservation

The collections of the Shenzhen Museum come from allocations by national, provincial, and municipal entities, as well as acquisitions and donations from society. It currently houses nearly 40,000 cultural relics, including over 5,400 sets of precious relics rated at Grade III or above. It also holds over 40,000 physical items related to the history of reform and opening-up, ranking among the top in domestic museums. Its collections of Shang and Zhou dynasty bronzes, ceramics, modern paintings and calligraphy, and world wildlife specimens are considered advanced within the province.

In 2015, the museum completed the first phase of the pilot project for collecting material evidence of socioeconomic development changes commissioned by the National Cultural Heritage Administration. It established workflows and standard guidelines for collection, providing experience for museums in Guangdong Province and beyond. In 2018, leveraging the establishment of the Shenzhen Reform and Opening-up Exhibition Hall and the Shenzhen Natural Museum, the museum actively collected items and materials related to reform and opening-up across the province, as well as natural specimen collections, achieving fruitful results.

The Shenzhen Museum has an advanced and well-equipped cultural relics conservation laboratory, including conservation and restoration rooms, general laboratories, instrument rooms, X-ray inspection rooms, and fumigation and disinfection rooms, covering a total area of over 500 square meters. It holds Class A qualifications for technical conservation design of movable cultural relics, Level 1 qualifications for the restoration of movable cultural relics, as well as qualifications for replication and rubbing. The museum has established a comprehensive and multi-tiered environmental monitoring system for cultural relic preservation, implementing both preventive and emergency conservation measures, placing it at an advanced level in Guangdong Province. It conducts extensive cultural relic conservation and restoration work annually.

2. Exhibitions

(1) Permanent Exhibitions

The History & Folk Culture Museum currently features five permanent exhibitions: “Ancient Shenzhen,” “Modern Shenzhen,” “The History of Shenzhen’s Reform and Opening-up,” and “Shenzhen Folk Culture,” which systematically showcase the city’s history and folk traditions. Among them, the “History of Shenzhen’s Reform and Opening-up” exhibition pioneered the collection, preservation, research, and display of reform and opening-up artifacts in museums, setting an example for contemporary history exhibitions and earning the title of “Eighth National Excellent Museum Exhibition.” The “Emotional World of Wildlife—Mr. Behring’s Donation of World Wildlife Specimens” exhibition displays a large number of precious wildlife specimens.

The Ancient Art Museum, currently under renovation, previously featured five permanent exhibitions: “Bronzes in the Collection,” “Ceramics in the Collection,” “Plaques in the Collection,” “Wildlife,” and “Marine Life.” After renovation, it will present three new major exhibitions: “Masterpieces of Calligraphy and Painting in the Collection,” “Masterpieces of Bronzes in the Collection,” and “Masterpieces of Ceramics in the Collection.”

The Former Site Memorial of the Dongjiang Guerrilla Command currently hosts a permanent exhibition titled “General Ye Ting and Shenzhen,” which focuses on General Ye Ting’s military career, his profound connection with Shenzhen during the War of Resistance, and the arduous resistance history of the Shenzhen region.

The Shenzhen Reform and Opening-up Exhibition Hall permanently displays the "Great Tide Surges Along the Pearl River — The 40th Anniversary Exhibition of Guangdong’s Reform and Opening-up," comprehensively showcasing the extraordinary years of Guangdong’s reform and opening-up over the past four decades. It vividly recreates the magnificent journey of major decisions and breakthroughs in Guangdong’s reform and opening-up, and deeply reflects the brilliant achievements of Guangdong’s economic and social development over the past 40 years.

(2) Special Exhibitions and Touring Exhibits

Aiming to “host major exhibitions, pursue excellence, and emphasize quality,” the Shenzhen Museum has organized over 900 special exhibitions through original curation, external collaborations, and joint ventures, averaging more than 20 per year. It has displayed national treasures such as the Four Rams Square Zun, the Jade Burial Suit Sewn with Gold Thread, the Terracotta Army of Emperor Qin Shi Huang, the Sword of King Goujian of Yue, and the Zilong Ding, as well as cultural and artistic masterpieces from countries and regions including the UK, France, the US, Italy, India, and Egypt.

Adhering to the philosophy of “going global,” the museum has organized ancient art masterpieces, unearthed relics, folk artifacts, and modern-era items from its collection to be exhibited at over 20 renowned museums in Hong Kong, Macau, Beijing, and other domestic and international locations. The “Photo Exhibition on the History of Shenzhen’s Reform and Opening-up” has been displayed in more than 10 cities across China, including Beijing and Sichuan, with influence reaching the entire nation. In addition, the museum actively organizes mobile exhibitions that tour grassroots communities, parks, schools, military units, and enterprises.

In 2016, the “Guangdong Provincial Museums Association Professional Committee on Exhibition Art,” affiliated with the Shenzhen Museum, was established, with over 20 municipal-level and above museums joining.

3. Academic Research

The Shenzhen Museum is one of the city’s key research institutions, with strong research capabilities in fields such as Shenzhen local history, the history of reform and opening-up, Shenzhen folk culture, archaeology, museology, cultural relics, and intangible cultural heritage.

The research project “Preventive Conservation Studies of Collection Artifacts” passed the final acceptance by experts from the National Cultural Heritage Administration and was included in the national movable cultural relics protection project database. The Shenzhen Science and Technology Plan project “Research on Eco-friendly and Safe New Materials for Animal Specimen Production and Preservation” was also completed, resulting in three national patent applications, six high-level academic papers published, and the development of a specimen anti-mildew agent that is leading in China. Additionally, the museum has jointly established research bases with institutions such as Guangdong Ocean University, Shenzhen Polytechnic, and Shenzhen ESUN Display Co., Ltd., achieving numerous significant research outcomes.

It has published important monographs and exhibition catalogs, including 《A Brief History of Ancient Shenzhen》,《A Brief History of Modern Shenzhen》,《The Founding History of the Shenzhen Special Economic Zone》,《The History of the Shenzhen SEZ》,《Baoshan: Thirty Years of History (1949–1979)》,《Shenzhen Archaeological Discoveries and Research》,《Commemorative Essays on the 10th Anniversary of the Shenzhen Museum》,《7000 Years of Shenzhen》,《Kejia Walled Villages in Southern Guangdong》,《Research on Bronze Ware Unearthed in the Lingnan Region》,《Studies on the Changes in China’s Legal System》,《China’s Administrative Management Through the Dynasties》,《Research on Music and Dance in the Han Dynasty》,《Incantations · Images · Magic: Esoteric Buddhism and Literature of the Mid-to-Late Tang Dynasty》,《Theories and Practices of Cultural Relics Conservation and Restoration》,《East Meets West — Highlights of Heraldic Porcelain from the Caihua Hall Collection》, and 《A Brief History of Major Reforms and Innovations in Shenzhen (1979–2015)》, along with numerous academic papers. The museum has also organized large-scale academic exchange conferences such as the International Symposium on Chinese Red and Green Glazed Ceramics, the International Symposium on Ancient Chinese Black-glazed Ceramics and Jizhou Kiln Ceramics, the Symposium on Song Dynasty Hoard Artifacts, the 2008 China (Shenzhen) Museum Directors’ Forum, the 3rd and 10th Academic Annual Conferences of the Urban Museums Committee of the Chinese Museums Association, the Internet + Chinese Civilization — China Museums Innovation Forum, and the Symposium on Ceramic Trade between China and the West and the Art of Export Ceramics. It participated in the preparation and attendance of the UNESCO International Museum High-Level Forum, exerting significant influence within the industry and society.

4. Cultural Relics Survey and Archaeological Excavation

The Shenzhen Museum has organized and participated in the city’s first and second cultural relics surveys, discovering numerous sites and reporting 36 cultural relics protection units in three batches to the Shenzhen Municipal Government for announcement. It has overseen the restoration of historic sites such as Dapeng Ancient City and Nantou Ancient City. The museum has conducted archaeological excavations at dozens of sites, including Xiantouling, Dameisha, Xiaomeisha, Chiwan, Hedi Mountain, Xiangnan Village, Zhuishu Ridge, Dieshi Mountain, Tiezai Mountain, and Wubeiling, unearthing a wealth of precious cultural relics and clarifying Shenzhen’s 7,000-year civilization history and urban development trajectory. Among them, the Shang Dynasty site at Wubeiling and the Neolithic site at Xiantouling have both been named among the “Top Ten Archaeological Discoveries in China.”

5. Intangible Cultural Heritage Promotion and Protection

Promoting and protecting intangible cultural heritage is an important responsibility of the Shenzhen Museum (Shenzhen Intangible Cultural Heritage Protection Center). In terms of promotion, the museum holds over 20 events annually, such as the “Happy Lantern Festival,” “Intangible Heritage in Communities and Schools,” and “Cultural Heritage Day.” It also organizes intangible heritage programs to participate in the Shenzhen Cultural Industries Fair and surrounding regional exhibitions. The museum produced the feature documentary 《Echoes of Pengcheng》, which was broadcast on television. For protection, the museum actively conducts fundamental theoretical research on intangible heritage, publishing multiple books; promotes the application of intangible heritage projects for national, provincial, and municipal representative lists, with 59 such projects currently in the city, including 8 national-level, 28 provincial-level, and others. The museum organizes expert field visits to project protection units, encourages participation in competitions with over 10 awards at the provincial level or above, and hosts numerous forums, seminars, workshops, and training sessions on intangible heritage protection. It has also formulated systems such as the 《Interim Measures for the Management of Subsidy Funds for Intangible Cultural Heritage Protection in Shenzhen》, ensuring effective implementation of intangible heritage protection efforts across the city.

V. Social Services

1. Visitor Reception

The Shenzhen Museum is an important venue for citizens to visit and learn, as well as for the Shenzhen Municipal Government to host receptions and diplomatic events. Since its opening, it has welcomed over 10 million domestic and international dignitaries and visitors. In 2018, it received more than 2 million visitors, ranking among the top museums in China. Dignitaries hosted include: President Xi Jinping, Jiang Zemin, Hu Jintao, Li Keqiang, Wang Qishan, Wang Yang, Li Xi, Liu Yandong, Li Yuanchao, and others; foreign leaders such as UN Secretary-General Boutros Boutros-Ghali, former US President Richard Nixon, former US Secretary of State Henry Kissinger, Peruvian President Alberto Fujimori, Singaporean Prime Minister Goh Chok Tong, General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Nguyễn Phú Trọng, and Myanmar President Thein Sein. The Shenzhen Museum has become an important window showcasing Shenzhen and China’s reform and opening-up. In recent years, it has been awarded the Best Guided Tour Service Prize by the Guangdong Provincial Museums Association.

2. Educational Activities

The Shenzhen Museum provides high-quality cultural and educational activities both on-site and off-site. On-site, it runs flagship programs such as the “History and Culture Lecture Series,” “Intangible Heritage Workshop,” “Archaeology Mini Workshop,” “Muse Youth Experience Camp,” “International Museum Day,” “Global Nature Day,” and “Junior Docent Training Class,” hosting over 100 events annually that make the museum a hall for education and refined culture. Experts are dispatched to give lectures and training both locally and beyond; school-based curricula are developed, and the “Museum Mini Lecture” series is held in primary, middle, and high schools across the city. In recent years, the museum has won awards such as the Best Community Service Prize and Best Publicity and Promotion Prize from the Guangdong Provincial Museums Association.

3. Volunteer Work

The Shenzhen Museum currently has over 2,000 volunteers, with the scale and quality of the team ranking among the best in domestic museums. Under the guidance of the museum and the volunteer self-governance committee, Shenzhen Museum volunteers are fully involved in exhibition interpretation, visitor guidance, exhibit care, public education, and event support. They contribute approximately 10,000 service instances and over 20,000 hours annually, forming a vital force in the museum’s public cultural services.

Address: Area A, Civic Center, Fuzhong Road, Futian District, Shenzhen

Type: Museum

Recommended Visit Duration: 2 hours

Phone: 0755-82105550; 0755-88125800

Official Website: http://www.shenzhenmuseum.com.cn/

Opening Hours: 10:00–18:00 (last entry at 17:30, closed every Monday)

Ticket Information: Free admission

Further Reading:

· National First-Class Museum of China