Published : 08/11/2026
The Qianhai Museum is a major new cultural landmark co-developed by Shenzhen and the National Museum of China, rising on the city's waterfront.
Beyond its striking architecture and 270-degree views, the museum houses 3,000+ artefacts across 8 exhibitions—including 10 national treasures leaving Beijing for the first time. Here's a closer look.
On Qianwan 4th Road, across the water from Qianhai Stone Park, the Qianhai Museum rises like a giant tree reaching for the coast—nothing like the solemn feel of a traditional museum.
Ancient heritage, modern form: The sweeping eaves of Qianhai Museum
Set in the heart of Qianwan in the Qianhai Cooperation Zone, the museum occupies about 32,000 sq m of land and 126,000 sq m of total floor space.
It stands 68 metres tall, seven floors above ground, three below, and its footprint is nearly twice that of the Hong Kong Palace Museum.
Designed by He Jingtang, a member of the Chinese Academy of Engineering, the museum is built around the concept "Tree of Civilisation, Beacon of the Times."
Its exterior draws on the "soaring double eaves" of traditional Chinese architecture: layered eaves step outward from bottom to top, like the branches and leaves of a giant tree reaching for the sea.
The ingenious design is not limited to its exterior.
On the north and south sides of the museum, there are pillar-free viewing spaces, offering an expansive 270° panoramic view of "mountains, sea, and city": to the north, one can see the shimmering waters of Qianhai Bay, and to the south, the verdant scenery of Greater and Lesser Nanshan.
Traditional museums shut the landscape out; the Qianhai Museum brings it in. From on high, exhibitions come with an uninterrupted view of the Ferris wheel and the bay skyline—the building itself is the first exhibit.
3,000 Relics across eight exhibitions—mostly free to visit
At opening, the museum presents eight major exhibitions and more than 3,000 artefacts across five categories—massive ritual ding vessels, heirloom jades, celebrated porcelain from successive dynasties, Silk Road relics, and precious statuary.
Five themes—Origin, Fabric, Evolution, Foundation, and Future of Civilisation—shape the narrative "From the Origins of Civilisation to the Echoes of the Times," gradually unfolding the sweep of a diverse yet unified Chinese civilisation.
The remaining five shows each bring something distinct—blue-and-white porcelain, the civilisation of rites and music, Silk Road civilisation, and the art of statuary alongside a digital exhibition with Tencent.
Using AI and digital twins, it brings the Beijing Central Axis, Dunhuang Mogao Caves, and Yinxu oracle bone script vividly to life.
It is worth noting that the five exhibitions mentioned above—the general history display, as well as the jade, porcelain, statuary art, and digital exhibitions—can all be booked for free with real-name registration.
However, the three special exhibitions, "Qinghua Qing," "Zhongding Zhaoli," and "Boundless Journey," require a ticket for entry.
All these arrangements apply to the Hong Kong region, which means that Hong Kong residents can travel north to see the national treasures for free.
Ten national treasures make their Southern debut
For museum and heritage fans, here's the headline: ten star national treasures from the National Museum of China are leaving Beijing for the first time and heading south to Shenzhen—all on show in the general history hall.
The Zǐlóng Dǐng of the Shang dynasty: Named for the two-character inscription "Zǐlóng" cast on its belly, it is the largest round ding vessel of the Shang dynasty—a single vessel that embodies the full grandeur of an era.
The Guójì Zǐbái bronze pán of the late Western Zhou dynasty: A water vessel popular from the Shang to the Warring States, the bronze pan ranged from small—for washing hands and faces—to large—for bathing.
Its 111-character inscription inside marks the pinnacle of late Western Zhou standard bronze script.
The jade cōng of the Liangzhu culture: With a total of 19 sections, it is one of the tallest jade cōng ever found in the country.
Each section is carved with simplified motifs of divine figures and animal faces; it is the tallest jade cōng found in the country, reflecting how the ancestors of over 5,000 years ago used jade for rituals and communicated with the gods through the cōng.
Boat-shaped painted pottery pot: Unearthed in 1958 at Beishouling, Baoji, Shaanxi, this 7,000–6,000-year-old portable water flask has a dugout-canoe-shaped body—hard evidence of ancient boat-building and fishing know-how.
Western Han dynasty gold and silver-inlaid cloud pattern bronze rhinoceros zun: The rhinoceros stands with its head held high, eyes inlaid with black glass beads, its body covered in gold- and silver-inlaid cloud patterns as fine as silk thread. Two thousand years on, the metalwork still astonishes.
Qing dynasty Qianlong period clair-de-lune glazed famille-rose gold-painted swallow-handled zun: The clair-de-lune glaze symbolises "clear rivers", and "yàn" (swallow) is a homophone for "yàn" (peace), implying the auspicious phrase "peaceful seas and clear rivers, peace across the land", showcasing the peak craftsmanship of famille-rose during the Qianlong period.
Liao dynasty gilt-silver cockscomb flask with deer pattern: The shape of a Khitan leather pouch flask is combined with the gold and silverware craftsmanship inherited from the Tang dynasty. This object carries half the history of cultural integration in the Liao dynasty.
The other three pieces are a painted stone carving of a warrior, a gem-inlaid gold crown from the tomb of Prince Yi Zhuang of the Ming dynasty, and a Song dynasty Jun ware rose-purple begonia-shaped flowerpot.
Each piece has its own significant background, and each is a benchmark in its respective category.
The exhibition period for the ten national treasures runs until 3 January 2027, after which they will all return to Beijing, so museum and cultural heritage enthusiasts should take note.
Preparations began in September 2018, with the Shenzhen Municipal People's Government and the National Museum of China jointly building the venue as "National Museum of China · Shenzhen", later renamed the Qianhai Museum.
It opens officially on 30 October 2026 after eight years of construction, aiming to be a national-level, comprehensive, open, smart, and international museum.
With national treasures heading south, you'll no longer need to fly to Beijing to see the National Museum's collection.
Shenzhen Qianhai Museum:
Address: No. 272, Qianwan 4th Road, Qianhai Cooperation Zone, Shenzhen
Transport: Take Metro Line 5 to Qianwan Park Station Exit C, then change to bus M158/M409/Qianwan Circular Bus T208
Opening hours: 10:00-18:00 (Closed on Mondays)
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