Shenzhen Museum collection goes online

The Shenzhen Museum has recently unveiled its online collection database, now accessible on its official website (https://www.shenzhenmuseum.com/works), and through the WeChat miniprogram “深圳博物馆”. This initiative opens up a vast array of cultural relics to a global audience, enabling exploration of a rich cultural legacy.

A Shenzhen Museum staffer introduces the museum’s online collection database to the press June 7. Photos by Cao Zhen

As a public resource, the digital database offers high-resolution photos of artifacts spanning from the Neolithic era to the present day. Enthusiasts can examine each item from six different angles and zoom in to appreciate intricate details. Comprehensive documentation accompanying each piece provides contextual information, allowing online visitors to deepen their understanding of the museum’s collection and grasp the cultural significance of each object. The initial phase of the online database has already made over 1,400 artifacts accessible, with plans to expand the collection further for worldwide viewing in the near future.

A journalist rotates a photo of an Eastern Han Dynasty (25-220) relic to view it from different angles at Shenzhen Museum on June 7.      

The database was officially launched June 8, coinciding with China’s Culture and Natural Heritage Day. Cui Xiaosong, deputy director of the Shenzhen Museum, emphasized that the embrace of digital technologies and the creation of the online collection database underscore the museum’s dedication to innovation and adaptation in an ever-evolving digital landscape.

Beyond accessibility, the online database plays a crucial role in the preservation of historical and cultural heritage, serving as a means to pass on cultural legacies and breathe new life into ancient relics. Cui highlighted that the platform also fosters collaboration, dialogue, and idea exchange with other museums in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area.

Scholars, curators, and historians stand to benefit significantly from this digital resource, as it facilitates collaborative research endeavors, promotes information sharing, and encourages cross-institutional partnerships.