Expats explore SZ Science & Technology Museum before May 1 opening

Video and photos by Liu Xudong

At the invitation of Guangming District’s Foreign Affairs Bureau, a diverse group of expats toured the Shenzhen Science & Technology Museum on Friday to review foreign-language signage in preparation for its official opening May 1.

Recognized as one of Shenzhen’s “Top 10 Cultural Facilities of the New Era” and located in the heart of Guangming Science City, the 128,300-square-meter museum is divided into seven major functional zones and four permanent exhibition halls that incorporate digital experiences.

By presenting cutting-edge scientific and technological achievements, the museum is committed to popular science education and stimulating the public’s enthusiasm for scientific exploration.

Furthermore, the museum aims to establish itself as a world-class science exploration center that showcases Shenzhen’s unique spirit of innovation, attracting visitors from across China and around the world.

Visitors can explore immersive exhibits across five floors:

First Floor (Film Experience Zone): Traces over a century of cinema history and highlights key innovations in film technology.

Second Floor (“Hello, World!” Interactive Area): Presents the evolution of agricultural, industrial, and digital civilizations.

Third Floor (Better Life Exhibition Hall): Features cutting-edge digital technologies that are transforming everyday life.

Fourth Floor (Smart Industry Exhibition Hall): Demonstrates the transformative impact of digital civilization on industries, spotlighting Shenzhen’s vital role in China’s national innovation system.

Fifth Floor (Cosmic Origins Exhibition Hall): Explores scientific discoveries from the Big Bang to the origin of life, linking humanity with the natural universe.

John Mason, a teacher at BASIS Bilingual School Guangming from the U.K., remarked, “Very impressive, very high tech... The displays are interactive — you can touch them and experience with your hands, eyes, and ears, all the senses... So it’s quite exciting for kids, I think.”

In regard to foreign-language signage in the museum, Mason noted, “They’re mainly okay. Just a couple of words need changing, but it’s mainly okay.”

Quinn Dobbins, a U.S. teacher at Hanlin Kindergarten, said, “I think it’s very exciting and very new from outside. It looks like a spaceship. On the first floor, I was very excited because it was about the history of film and cinema. Since that’s a personal interest of mine, it was very cool to see the development of photography all the way up.”

Quinn said, “I think people should come to the new museum because it provides a lot of great insights into things we may already know or only slightly understand. Each exhibit goes into much more detail than you might think.”

Expats review foreign-language signs at the Shenzhen Science & Technology Museum in Guangming District on April 25.  

A futuristic exhbit welcomes visitors in the museum. 

A striking eyeball-shaped installation captures visitors' attention inside the museum.

A view of the Shenzhen Science & Technology Museum. 

Expats listen to guidance at the Shenzhen Science & Technology Museum in the Guangming District on April 25.

Expats review foreign-language signage at the Shenzhen Science & Technology Museum in Guangming District on April 25.

A robot is on display on the third floor (Better Life Exhibition Hall) of the Shenzhen Science & Technology Museum.

The “Super Brain” exhibition area of the Shenzhen Science & Technology Museum.

A corner of the third floor of the Shenzhen Science & Technology Museum.

A corner of Shenzhen Science & Technology Museum.

A corner of the digital art exhibition hall of the Shenzhen Science & Technology Museum.

Mechanical phantom wall in Shenzhen Science & Technology Museum.