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 

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 showcase 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.

Photo by Cao Zhen, posters from Shenzhen Museum

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 opening hours: 9:30 a.m.-10 p.m.

Reservations: WeChat miniprogram “深圳博物馆”

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

Shenzhen Museum's Ancient Art Division 

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.

Photo by Cao Zhen, posters from Shenzhen Museum

One may have seen oracle-bone inscriptions, Han Dynasty (206 B.C.-A.D 220) 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 opening hours: 9:30 a.m.-10 p.m.

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 

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

Spring Festival opening hours: 9:30 a.m.-10 p.m. 

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

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.

Photo by Cao Zhen, posters from Nanshan Museum

Spring Festival opening hours: 10 a.m.-10 p.m. 

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

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 opening hours: 10 a.m.-10 p.m. 

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

Tianhou Museum 

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

Spring Festival opening hours: 9 a.m.-10 p.m. 

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

Shenzhen (Bao'an) Labor Museum 

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 opening hours: 9 a.m.-10 p.m. 

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

Poster from Shenzhen (Bao'an) Labor Museum

Shenzhen Hakka Folk Customs Museum 

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 opening hours: 9 a.m.-10 p.m. 

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

Photo from official WeChat account "itravelshenzhen"

Memorial Hall for the Great Rescue of Chinese Cultural Celebrities 

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 opening hours: 9 a.m.-10 p.m. 

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

Photo from official WeChat account "itravelshenzhen"

Dongjiang Column Memorial Hall 

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 opening hours: 9 a.m.-10 p.m. 

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

Photo from official WeChat account "itravelshenzhen"

Dapeng New Area Museum 

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 opening hours: 9 a.m.-10 p.m. 

Bus: M471

Zhongying Street 

Zhongying Street (or Chung Ying 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., featuring new restaurants and stores such as Beauty Lab, Goat, Pastelaria Yeng Kee and Mak Man Kee.

People stroll on the renovated Zhongying Street. Photo by Ren Xianping

Shoppers can browse festive snacks, decorations, gifts, and trendy goods from Hong Kong and the mainland, while enjoy handicrafts and Shatoujiao Fish Lantern Dances. They can also explore the street's rich history at the Zhongying Street Historical Museum (中英街历史博物馆) which opens 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

Night scenes on Zhongying Street. Photos from official WeChat account "ytrmwx" 

Glow Shenzhen

Glow Shenzhen 2023, a grand light festival running through Feb. 25, features 215 works and installations of light art displayed across the city. Citizens can check the event's official WeChat account (ID: glowshenzhen) for information on the locations of the artworks, events, and shopping promotions. 

Scenes of Glow Shenzhen across the city. Photos by Lin Songtao

Huaqiangbei Pedestrian Street 

The Huaqiangbei Yeah Market (华强北YEAH夜市) opens at 4-10:30 p.m. daily through Feb. 26 on Huaqiangbei Pedestrian Street, where shoppers can enjoy various street food and live music. Meanwhile, a light show will be held Feb. 8-25 in Huaqiangbei.

Metro: Line 2 or 7 to Huaqiang North Station (华强北站), Exit E1

Night scenes in Huaqiangbei, Futian District. Photos from official WeChat account "itravelshenzhen"

Dongmen Pedestrian Street 

The bustling Dongmen Pedestrian Street, known for its multitude of clothing, gadget, and snack shops, has recently become a hub for livestreamers who perform entertaining shows. On Feb. 13-17, they will collaborate with dance troupes to present flashmob dances and singing at different time slots.

Metro: Line 1 or 3 to Laojie Station (老街站), Exit A

Livestreamers dance on Dongmen Pedestrian Street, Luohu District. Photos by Liu Xudong

Guanlan Old Market 

Dream-like light shows are projected onto the facades of old towers and houses in Guanlan Old Market in Longhua District at 7-9 p.m. every night, immersing visitors in a dazzling world blending the old and the new.

Metro: Line 4 to Guanlan Station (观澜站), Exit B

Light shows at Guanlan Old Market. Photos by Chang Zhipeng

Greater Bay Area Super Light Show 

The Greater Bay Area Super Light Show is back to OCT Harbor, featuring a 20,000-square-meter exhibition with over 40 sets of light installations, as well as flashmobs, a food market, and lucky draws. The show runs at 5-10 p.m. every night until March 3.

Metro: Line 9 to Shenzhen Bay Park Station (深圳湾公园站), Exit E

Photo and poster from the light show organizer