Museums to open at night during Spring Festival

Museums in Shenzhen have always been fully booked on weekends, but for the 2024 Spring Festival holiday, over 10 museums in Shenzhen will extend their evening opening hours to accommodate the surge of visitors. Here are selected exhibitions at some museums recommended for nighttime cultural adventure.

Shenzhen Museum’s History and Folk Culture Division 深圳博物馆历史民俗馆

Now through May 24, visitors can check out the replicated Yungang Grottoes Cave 12 at the “Pingcheng and Yungang Grottoes Art in the Northern Wei Dynasty” exhibition, which also showcases more than 200 relics from the Northern Wei Dynasty (386-534). Strolling in the replicated cave, visitors will be awed by its magnificence and fine details.

Meanwhile, over 200 artifacts, including 173 from seven museums in Pakistan and 30 from the Palace Museum in Beijing, are on display at another exhibition, titled “Gandhara Heritage Along the Silk Road.” Running through March 24, the exhibition showcases Buddhist statues, pagoda components, and gold and silver wares, demonstrating the artistic charm of Gandhara culture, its diversity and its far-reaching influence on China and East Asia.

Spring Festival open: 9:30 a.m.-10 p.m. (Feb. 10-17)

Reservations: WeChat miniprogram “深圳博物馆”

Metro: Line 2 or 4 to Civic Center Station (市民中心站), Exit B

A visitor in a traditional Chinese outfit observes relics at the “Treasures Along the Silk Road” exhibition at Shenzhen Museum’s Ancient Art Division.

Shenzhen Museum’s Ancient Art Division 深圳博物馆古代艺术馆

The “Treasures Along the Silk Road” exhibition, running through April 7, showcases 263 pieces and sets of metallurgical artifacts from ancient Asian civilizations, spanning nearly 4,000 years from the Bronze Age to the Middle Ages. Meanwhile, fine Chinese literature books printed in the Ming (1368-1644) and Qing (1644-1911) dynasties are also on display at another exhibition running through March 3.

One may have seen oracle-bone inscriptions, Han Dynasty (206 B.C.-220 A.D.) bamboo slips, Dunhuang manuscripts, and the Ming and Qing imperial documents before, but now the artifacts can be viewed from all four of the categories, known as the four great discoveries of ancient literary artifacts in China’s early 20th century, at one exhibition through March 10.

Spring Festival open: 9:30 a.m.-10 p.m. (Feb. 10-17)

Reservations: WeChat miniprogram “深圳博物馆”

Metro: Line 9 to Hongling South Station (红岭南站), Exit A

Shenzhen Reform and Opening-up Exhibition Hall 深圳改革开放展览馆

Shenzhen Reform and Opening-up Exhibition Hall features Shenzhen’s reform and opening-up development over the past four decades.

Spring Festival open: 9:30 a.m.-10 p.m. (Feb. 10-17)

Metro: Line 3 or 4 to Children’s Palace Station (少年宫站), Exit A2

Nanshan Museum 南山博物馆

Relics are on display at the “Years of Wanli” exhibition at Nanshan Museum.

History lovers can admire stunning artifacts at the “Years of Wanli” exhibition running through March 31. The exhibition provides a rare insight into the imperial life during the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644). Meanwhile, the “Vision and Gaze” exhibition, running through Feb. 28, features 56 masterpieces created from the 16th to the 20th century by renowned Western artists. Viewers are offered a rare opportunity to admire iconic paintings by Giorgio de Chirico, Marc Chagall, René Magritte, and others.

Visitors admire paintings at the “Vision and Gaze” exhibition at Nanshan Museum. Photos by Cao Zhen

Spring Festival open: 10 a.m.-10 p.m. (Feb. 10-17)

Reservations: WeChat miniprogram “南山博物馆预约”

Metro: Line 1 or 12 to Taoyuan Station (桃园站), Exit B

Nantou Ancient Town Museum 南头古城博物馆

Located inside Nantou Ancient Town, the museum displays Shenzhen’s 1,700-year history. Hundreds of cultural relics elaborate Nantou’s significance as the historical origin of Shenzhen, Hong Kong, and Macao.

Spring Festival open: 10 a.m.-10 p.m. (Feb. 10-17)

Metro: Line 12 to Nantou Ancient City Station (南头古城站), Exit D

Tianhou Museum 天后博物馆

Located in Chiwan, the Tianhou Museum is a folk museum dedicated to preserving and studying the Tianhou relics and culture.

Spring Festival open: 9 a.m.-10 p.m. (Feb. 10-17)

Metro: Line 2 or 5 to Chiwan Station (赤湾站), Exit B

Zhongying Street Historical Museum 中英街历史博物馆

Zhongying Street, a 250-meter-long lane with a unique historical identity, straddling the border between the mainland and Hong Kong, has been renovated recently. The street’s entry time has been extended to 10 p.m. Visitors can also explore the street’s rich history at the Zhongying Street Historical Museum.

Spring Festival open: 10 a.m.-10 p.m. (Feb. 10-17)

Metro: Line 8 to Shatoujiao Station (沙头角站), Exit A and then take bus B619 or 68

Shenzhen (Bao’an) Labor Museum 深圳(宝安)劳务工博物馆

Shenzhen (Bao’an) Labor Museum is the first museum focusing on labor workers’ history in China, and also serves as a witness to Shenzhen’s reform and opening up. A Chinese New Year painting exhibition will be held Feb. 4-March 31. Visitors can also claim gifts during the holiday if they take photos at the museum and then post them on their WeChat Moments. On Feb. 14, attendees of Spring Festival folk custom events at the museum at 6-8 p.m. can enter a lucky draw to win gifts.

Spring Festival open: 9 a.m.-10 p.m. (Feb. 10-17)

Metro: Line 6 to Shangwu Station (上屋站), Exit C1

Shenzhen Hakka Folk Customs Museum 深圳客家民俗博物馆

With a collection of 7,000 exhibits, the Shenzhen Hakkas Folk Customs Museum in Longgang District finds its home within the Hehu New Residence built by the Luo family in 1817. The museum displays a wide array of Hakka furniture, agricultural implements, everyday items, genealogical records, and restored scenes showcasing various aspects of Hakka life and traditions. The museum serves as an important venue in preserving and investigating the origins and culture of the Hakka people.

Spring Festival open: 9 a.m.-10 p.m. (Feb. 10-17)

Metro: Line 16 to Longyuan Station (龙园站), Exit B

Memorial Hall for the Great Rescue of Chinese Cultural Celebrities 中国文化名人大营救纪念馆

The Memorial Hall for the Great Rescue of Chinese Cultural Celebrities in Longhua District commemorates a crucial rescue of patriotic intellectuals in the Chinese People’s War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression. The memorial hall consists of a church, which served as the stopover for the intellectuals during the rescue.

Spring Festival open: 9 a.m.-10 p.m. (Feb. 10-17)

Metro: Line 4 to Baishilong Station (白石龙站), Exit B1

Dongjiang Column Memorial Hall 东江纵队纪念馆

The Dongjiang Column Memorial Hall in Pingshan District displays the history of the Dongjiang Column of the Guangdong People’s Guerrilla Force Against Japanese Aggression.

Spring Festival open: 9 a.m.-10 p.m. (Feb. 10-17)

Metro: Line 16 to Dongjiang Column Memorial Hall Station (东纵纪念馆站), Exit D

Dapeng New Area Museum 大鹏新区博物馆

Dapeng New Area Museum is located inside Dapeng Fortress built over 600 years ago. Old houses in narrow alleyways, fortress gates, temples, wells, and other relics are the main attractions for visitors today.

Spring Festival open: 9 a.m.-10 p.m. (Feb. 10-17)

Bus: M471