James Baquet

ALTHOUGH the new Shenzhen Museum opened in late 2008, I recently visited it for the first time — and it’s nothing short of world-class.

The four permanent exhibition halls showcase Ancient Shenzhen, Modern Shenzhen, Shenzhen Folk Culture (all on the second floor), and Shenzhen’s Reform and Opening-up (on the third floor, where there’s also a rooftop verandah). A Children’s Hall and changing exhibitions can be found on the first floor.

There is ample signage in English and an audio guide in French, Japanese, Korean, English, or Chinese can be rented for just 10 yuan (with a 200-yuan deposit).

The halls contain photos, artifacts, reproductions, and life-sized dioramas of historic moments and cultural celebrations. One of my favorites was “Paying Formal Respect to Confucius on Entering School.”

On the third floor there’s a plexiglass floor with an extensive miniature model of Shenzhen itself. People squat over a section to locate their houses!

In the same area is the bus used to transport the late leader Deng Xiaoping on his 1984 visit, and a bronze statue of him planting a tree in Xianhu (Fairy Lake) Botanical Garden in 1992. The shovel and bucket he used are also on display.

Admission is free. The museum is open 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday (closed Mondays except during national holidays). Last admission is at 5:30 p.m.

Remember, the museum faces east at the east end of the Shenzhen Civic Center. It is not to be confused with the old Shenzhen Museum next to Litchi Park, which is now dedicated to ancient art.