Sun Yat-sen University Museum of Biology

Sun Yat-sen University Museum of Biology

The Sun Yat-sen University Museum of Biology is a patriotic education base.

Established in 2000, the Sun Yat-sen University Museum of Biology is dedicated to public science education and supporting teaching at related primary, middle, and high schools. With its rich collection and distinctive cultural and academic atmosphere, it enjoys an international reputation.

The museum is located in the “Ma Wenhui Hall,” donated by fellow Hong Kong compatriots. The earliest specimens date back to 1817, with a history of nearly 200 years. Currently, the museum houses 220,000 plant specimens; over 600,000 insect specimens; and 30,000 animal specimens, including 37 species under national first-class protection such as giant pandas and golden monkeys, as well as over a hundred rare animal specimens such as nurse sharks, leopard sharks, and sunfish. In addition, there are rare animal specimens from abroad, such as polar bears, penguins, and ostriches. There are also more than 500 paleontological fossil specimens, among which the 7.8-meter-long Shastasaurus, the 3.5-meter-long Xinjiang Dragon, the Xingyi Dragon, and the Lepidotes fish hold significant scientific research and exhibition value. It is the only university biology museum in China that houses a large number of precious biological specimens from both domestic and international sources, featuring flora and fauna characteristics of South China. It holds a high status internationally.

The exhibition halls of the Sun Yat-sen University Museum of Biology are divided into the Comprehensive Exhibition Hall, the Fossil and Life Evolution Exhibition Hall, the Animal Ecology Exhibition Hall, and the Life Science Hotspots Series Exhibition Windows.

Comprehensive Exhibition Hall

The Comprehensive Exhibition Hall comprehensively showcases life science knowledge, research achievements, and the history of development through a wealth of physical objects, specimens, models, texts, images, light boxes, audiovisual equipment, and more. It actively promotes the principles and applications of life sciences. It includes four exhibition areas: Microorganisms, Plants, Animals, and Insects, featuring simulated landscapes such as the magical “fallen tree” of the tropical rainforest, the majestic Asian elephant, and vivid grassland scenes. The “Fossil and Life Evolution” exhibition hall is based on the systematic evolution of life, displaying ancient plant and animal fossils as well as specimens of animals known as “living fossils,” such as sturgeons, garfish, bowfins, and arowanas. It also exhibits skeletal specimens of ancient reptiles (such as ichthyosaurs and Guizhou dragons) and aquatic mammals (such as finless porpoises and bottlenose dolphins), with special sections for the Guizhou Dragon Fauna and the Maoming Turtle Fauna, systematically presenting the long journey of life evolution. The exhibition hall uses vivid and interesting panels to showcase the colorful world of life and complex life phenomena.

Life Science Corridor

The current exhibition theme of the Life Science Corridor is “The Beauty of Life – A Photographic Exhibition of People and Nature.” Through photography, it encourages young people to seek and appreciate the beauty of nature, harmony, and life, thereby promoting environmental education and a deeper understanding of the Scientific Outlook on Development and sustainable development strategies.

Vertebrate Ecology Exhibition Hall

The Vertebrate Ecology Exhibition Hall features scientifically rigorous content. Within a 200 m² exhibition area, it displays 72 species of animal specimens across 4 classes, 18 orders, and 40 families. The layout is based on the geographical distribution of animals, using animal-environment backgrounds to showcase Australian, African, Asian animals, and distinctive marine vertebrates from the museum’s collection. Within limited space, it maximally presents some of the museum’s animal collections and their natural habitats. The exhibition hall is also equipped with a multimedia system, where lighting is controlled via touchscreens, enabling full interaction between humans, machines, and the exhibition. This presents the diverse world of animals and reveals the mysteries of life in a more vivid and varied manner. Additionally, the content-rich Vertebrate Specimen Exhibition Room is open to the public.

Insect Specimen Hall

The Insect Specimen Hall is a vibrant world of insects; the memorial room of the renowned entomologist Academician Pu Zhe-long showcases the noble spirit and outstanding scientific achievements of senior scientists dedicated to science.

Science Popularization Efforts

Over the past five years since its establishment, the Sun Yat-sen University Museum of Biology has carried out extensive science popularization work with remarkable achievements. It has received over 100,000 visitors, including teachers and students from primary and secondary schools and people from all walks of life. It has hosted scientific exhibitions such as the “Modern Biotechnology Exhibition” and “Biological Invasion,” offered lectures on biological science knowledge, and conducted engaging and fun biological experiments. It has also built an online digital biology museum to disseminate biological knowledge to the public via the internet.

The museum’s extensive science popularization efforts have garnered widespread attention. It has been recognized as a National Science Education Base, a Science Popularization Education Base of Guangdong Province and Guangzhou City, a Youth Science and Technology Education Base, and a Guangzhou Patriotic Education Base. It is an important venue for science education in Guangdong and Guangzhou.

Visiting Information

Address: Ma Wenhui Hall, Sun Yat-sen University, No. 135 Xingang West Road, Guangzhou City (enter through the main gate of Sun Yat-sen University)

Directions:

By car: Guangzhou City – Haizhu District – No. 135 Xingang West Road (Main Gate/South Gate) – Yat-sen Road – Yuannan Road – Ma Wenhui Hall (parking available in the parking lot beside the main gate or in spaces around Ma Wenhui Hall)

By bus: “Sun Yat-sen University” Station or “Shengrong Hospital (Rongxiao)” Station. Routes include: University Town Line 3, 14, 18, 25, 53, 69, 88, 93, 125, 178, 184, 188, 190, 197, 203, 206, 208, 211, 226, 250, 263, 264, 270, 276, 505, 543, 565, 823

By metro: Exit A (enter campus from the main gate) or Exit B (enter campus from the west gate) of Zhongda Station on Line 8.

Zhongda Community: Zhongda Community…… More information about Zhongda Community++

Further Reading:

· China National Second-Class Museum