Shenzhen Museum深圳博物馆
How a fishing county became a megacity in 45 years — the best primer for newcomers.
Inside Shenzhen Civic Center
Free walk through Shenzhen's story, from Neolithic shores to the reform-era boom
The Shenzhen Museum is the city's main history museum, run by the municipal government and spread across four sites. Our page covers the History and Folk Culture branch, known locally as the Jintian Road site, which opened in December 2008 in Block A of the Civic Center, the building with the big curved roof at the head of Futian's central axis. It has three floors, five permanent galleries and two halls for temporary shows.
For anyone new to the city it is the clearest primer on how Shenzhen got here. The galleries run in order from early settlements and coastal trade through the colonial-era border, the Opium Wars and the founding of the Special Economic Zone, then switch to the Hakka and Cantonese villages whose names still survive in today's metro stations. Entry is free and no booking is needed.
The other three sites are smaller. The Ancient Art branch at 6 Tongxin Road (the museum's original building) shows ceramics, bronzes and seals. The Reform and Opening-Up Exhibition Hall sits on the fourth and fifth floors of the Museum of Contemporary Art and Urban Planning at 184 Fuzhong Road, and the former Dongjiang Guerrilla Command HQ is a small memorial at 13 Nanqing Street in Luohu.
What to see and do
Ancient Shenzhen
Neolithic pottery from the coast and finds linked to the maritime porcelain trade show the area was settled and trading long before 1979.
Modern Shenzhen (1839-1949)
Covers the Opium Wars period through to 1949, with street-scale reconstructions such as an old police station and market scenes.
History of Reform and Opening Up
Dioramas and models trace the Special Economic Zone years, including the construction of the International Trade Centre tower.
Shenzhen Folk Culture
Hakka and Cantonese customs, carved Qing woodwork and a full-size replica of a clan ancestral hall.
Wildlife specimens
A gallery of mounted animals donated by American collector Kenneth E. Behring, with an elephant and giraffe that are a hit with children.
Visiting
- Hours
- Tue-Sun 10:00-18:00, last entry 17:30; closed Mondays. Longer hours in July and August (9:00-20:00 in 2025 and 2026)
- Tickets
- Free (2026)
- Booking
- Not needed for the Jintian Road site; walk in through security (2026). Capacity is capped at about 2,000 people
- Address
- Block A, Civic Center, Futian (Jintian Road side)
- Getting there
- Metro Lines 2/8 and 4, Civic Center station, exit B
- Time needed
- 2-4 hours to see all five galleries properly
- Bring your passport. Booking was dropped, but foreign visitors are still asked for ID at the door.
- Weekday mornings are calmest; weekends and July-August bring school groups and families.
- Pair it with the Reform and Opening-Up Exhibition Hall a short walk north at the Museum of Contemporary Art and Urban Planning (Children's Palace station, exit A2).
- The Ancient Art branch at Tongxin Road is a separate trip: Hongling South (Line 9) or Science Museum (Lines 1 and 6), exit A.
- Drivers can use the Civic Plaza car park, west entrance.
FAQ
Is the Shenzhen Museum free?
Yes. Entry to the permanent galleries at all four sites is free (2026).
Do I need to book Shenzhen Museum in advance?
No. Since 2025 the Jintian Road and Tongxin Road sites have run walk-in entry without reservations. Bring your passport for ID checks.
Which metro exit for Shenzhen Museum?
Civic Center station (Lines 2/8 and 4), exit B, for the History and Folk Culture site in Block A of the Civic Center.
Is Shenzhen Museum open on Monday?
No. All sites close on Mondays, with exceptions announced for public holidays.
How many branches does Shenzhen Museum have?
Four: History and Folk Culture (Civic Center), Ancient Art (Tongxin Road), the Reform and Opening-Up Exhibition Hall (Fuzhong Road) and the former Dongjiang Guerrilla Command HQ (Luohu).
Sources: Shenzhen Bendibao: Shenzhen Museum opening hours and booking (Aug 2026) · Shenzhen Bendibao: Shenzhen Museum summer guide with addresses and metro exits for all four sites (Jul 2025) · Sohu: Shenzhen Museum summer visit guide, capacity and transport (Jul 2025) · Live2Makan: visit to the Museum of History and Folk Culture (Mar 2025) · Wikipedia: Shenzhen Museum (background) · checked 2026-10-04
Photos
Good to know
- Entry
- Free · walk-in, no booking needed (2025–26); bring your passport