Nanshan Museum南山博物馆

Big, free district museum by Nantou Old Town, with strong temporary shows

Nanshan Museum is one of the largest district-level museums in China: a 36,000 square metre building on Nanshan Avenue that opened in January 2018 after years of delays. It tells the story of Nanshan, which for much of its history was the administrative heart of the region, from Neolithic sites and the old walled town of Nantou to the Shekou industrial zone and Shenzhen University.

The three permanent galleries take up the third and fourth floors. Ancient Nanshan and Modern Nanshan cover prehistoric sites, the 1521 Battle of Tuen Mun against the Portuguese, the Opium Wars and the Japanese occupation; the fourth floor is given to the reform era, starting with the 'first blast' at Shekou in 1979. Below them, four temporary halls (the largest about 1,900 square metres) host borrowed shows that are often better than the permanent displays.

It is free, quiet on weekdays and easy to combine with a walk round Nantou Ancient City five minutes away. A Saturday evening opening makes it one of the few museums in the city you can visit after work.

What to see and do

Visiting

Hours

Tue-Sun 10:00-18:00, last entry 17:30; Saturday evenings 18:00-21:00, last entry 20:30. Closed Mondays except major public holidays. In July-August 2026 it also stayed open to 21:00 on Fridays and Sundays (evenings: temporary shows only)

Tickets

Free; the odd special exhibition may charge (2026)

Booking

Not needed for individual visitors since 2025; groups must book

Address

2093 Nanshan Avenue, Nanshan

Getting there

Metro Lines 1 and 12, Taoyuan station, exit B, about 3-5 minutes' walk. Line 12 Nantou Ancient City station, exit D, also works

Audio guide

¥20 per device at the service desk (2026)

Time needed

2-3 hours for the permanent galleries and current shows

• Free guided tours run at fixed times on opening days (10:50, 14:30 and 15:30 in early 2026), in Chinese, usually themed on the current temporary shows.
• Free electronic lockers by the service desk take day bags.
• In summer the evening hours cover only the temporary halls, so see the permanent galleries before 18:00.
• Nantou Ancient City is a five-minute walk away; go to the museum first for context, then wander the old gates and lanes.
• Driving: the first three hours of parking were free in 2025, then ¥10 an hour (2025).

FAQ