Updated old museum reopens

Visitors enjoy exhibits at Shenzhen Museum of Ancient Art, the oldest outlet of Shenzhen Museum on Tongxin Road in Futian District, as it reopened yesterday after five years of renovation. Positioned as an ancient art museum, the four-story outlet collects, researches and exhibits ancient Chinese artifacts. Shenzhen Museum, which opened in 1988, has four outlets across the city now. Sun Yuchen

Shenzhen Museum of Ancient Art, the oldest outlet of Shenzhen Museum, reopened yesterday after five years of renovation, with interactive guidance screens, multimedia displays, anti-reflective cabinet glass, sensor lights and more.

The 13 exhibition halls in the outlet on Tongxin Road, Futian District, have also been designed with traditional Chinese housing decorations to match the ancient artifacts displayed within. The museum launched an audio channel on the Himalaya app yesterday to provide exhibition information, expert guidance and interviews for visitors to access.

Positioned as an ancient art museum, the four-story outlet collects, researches and exhibits ancient Chinese artifacts. Three exhibitions of 670 pieces of ancient Chinese ceramics, bronze ware, paintings and works of calligraphy from the museum’s own collection opened yesterday.

Meanwhile, the museum has also collaborated with the National Museum of China in Beijing, Xi’an Beilin Museum and other organizations to hold a Qing Dynasty (1644-1911) court painting exhibition, a Tang Dynasty (618-907) poets’ tomb-rubbing exhibition and two more ancient relics exhibitions.

“Since the opening of Shenzhen Museum in 1988, it has been a key place for Shenzhen’s cultural exchange with the outside world and for foreigners to understand Shenzhen’s development and China’s reform and opening up. It also records precious memories for both old and new Shenzheners,” said Zhang Heyun, director of the Shenzhen Municipal Culture, Radio, Film, Tourism and Sports Bureau.

“Most of Shenzhen’s gems are displayed here. Our museum contributed to the city’s cultural sector in the 1980s and will continue to serve local residents,” said Ye Yang, director of Shenzhen Museum.

At yesterday’s ceremony, the Reform and Opening-up Museum Alliance initiated by 46 museums in China, including Shenzhen Museum, Capital Museum, Tianjin Museum and Shanghai History Museum, was set up, aiming to research, collect, display and promote exhibits related to China’s reform and opening up. Ye has been elected as the alliance’s director-general.

“China’s reform and opening-up history is a new subject for us. The museums of the alliance will collaborate in this field and train talent,” said Cai Huiyao, deputy director of Shenzhen Museum and secretary-general of the alliance.

Shenzhen Museum also has three other outlets: Shenzhen Museum of History and Folk Culture near Civic Center in Futian, Dongjiang River Guerrilla Command Headquarters Memorial Museum in Dongmen, Luohu District, and Shenzhen Reform and Opening-up Exhibition Hall near Children’s Palace in Futian.