SOME say that compared with other first-tier cities in China such as Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou, Shenzhen lacks culture and history. Many envy those living in Beijing who can visit the Palace Museum or watch traditional Chinese opera on a regular basis. However, Shenzhen has its own history and charm. Those living in Shenzhen who love historical artifacts can check out these 10 recommended niche museums within the city limits.

China Print Art Museum

China Print Art Museum is an essential part of the Guanlan Original Printing Base in Longhua. Covering an area of 17,600 square meters, it’s the first professional print art museum in China. The construction of the museum started in 2012.

The museum itself is a magnificent modern structure which combines the new with the old. It has garnered various awards including the quality project award of Shenzhen, the Jinpeng Award, the quality architecture and decoration project award of Guangdong, and the architecture and decoration project award of China.

To the side of the museum sits traditional Hakka houses, watchtowers, and a pond in a half-moon shape, where you can go and walk through an old part of the city after checking out the museum.

Every year there are numerous exhibitions held in the museum which display works by artists from both home and abroad.

Add: The middle section of Yuxin Road, Guanlan Subdistrict, Longhua District 龙华区观澜街道裕新路中段

Hours: China Print Art Museum: 10 a.m.-5 p.m., closed on Tuesdays

Print Art Workshop: 10 a.m.-12 p.m., 2 p.m.-5 p.m. Open from Wednesday to Sunday

Buses: 312, M285, M288 (Banhua Base Stop)

Shenzhen Gas Science Museum

When it comes to natural resources, one of the most commonly-used is the gas that provides fire in our kitchens for cooking and heat to our bathrooms for hot showers. Last year, the first interactive museum in China with natural gas as its theme was opened in Shenzhen.

The museum consists of 10 exhibition areas named gas paradise, energy marks, city gas, safety palace, and green home. At the museum, you can learn about the elements of gas, its explosive properties, and the conversion process of gas into energy.

Before visiting, booking a reservation is necessary.

Add: 1/F west side, Building B, Shenzhen Gas Building, 268 Meiao Road 1, Futian District 福田区梅坳一路268号深燃大厦B座1楼西侧

Metro: Line 4 to Shangmeilin Station, Exit B

Hours: Students: The museum is open to middle school students Wednesdays and to primary school and kindergarten students Saturdays.

Public: 9:30 a.m.-10:30 a.m., 10:30 a.m.-11:30 a.m., 3 p.m.-4 p.m., 4 p.m.-5 p.m., Sunday

Please call 8866-0930 for reservations and other details.

Chinese Cheongsam Museum

The beauty of cheongsams and Chinese women are symbiotic. Those who have seen Wong Kar-wai’s film “In the Mood for Love” will never forget the elegant cheongsams that accentuated Maggie Cheung’s slim waist and graceful posture.

Some people may think that cheong-sams were only adorned in the 1930s or by actresses for films. But Shenzhen has already equipped us with a place for getting a closer look at the enduring and relevant beauty of the cheongsam. Chinese Cheongsam Museum in Longgang is definitely a blessed place for cheongsam lovers.

Renowned experts on the cheongsam together with a top team spent one year in planning the museum. The museum not only showcases the most popular cheongsam brands and styles, but also holds art saloons, lectures and personalized events, which enable the fashion-oriented to indulge in the charm of elegant garment.

Add: Zhongsi Garden, 10 Nanxin Road, Nanling Village Community, Longgang District 龙岗区南岭村社区南新路10号中丝园

Hours: 9 a.m.-5:30 p.m.

Tel: 8938-2222

Buses: 376, 836, B665, M183, M227, M265, M271, M301, M309, M379, M385, M404, M476 (Nanwan Jiedaoban Stop)

Shenzhen Piano Museum

The piano museum in Xiamen is one of the most renowned among piano lovers in China, but Shenzhen has had its own piano museum since 2008.

Shenzhen Piano Museum is the first professional piano museum in Guangdong. The museum houses a large variety of collections, including the Ryukyu zither. Its main collections are old pianos from the 18th to 20th centuries from the United States, Germany, Russia, France, Italy and China. Currently, it is home to 46 old pianos with the oldest one dating back to over 300 years ago.

Add: 4/F, Guoqi Building, 1002 Shangbu Road South, Futian District 福田区上步南路1002号国企大厦4楼

Hours: 9 a.m.-5 p.m.

Tel: 2219-7080

Metro: Line 1 to Science Museum Station, Exit D

Nanshan Bronze Museum

Covering an area of 2,000 square meters, Nanshan Bronze Museum is a folk museum that mainly collects ancient Chinese bronze wares.

The main exhibition building consists of two floors and adopts an open skylight design. It exhibits nearly 1,000 bronze wares collected by Zhang Zhanbin, founder of the museum, over the past 20-plus years. Some of the exhibits date back to the Shang and Zhou dynasties (1,600- 256 B.C.).

Add: 100 meters northeast to the intersection of Jingxing Road and Yanhu Road, Nanshan District 南山区景行路与沿湖道交叉口东北100米

Buses: 21, 22, 37, 201, 226, 324, 332, B628, M176, M343, M349, M425, M475, M492, M506 (Zhongshan Park East Gate Stop)

(Chen Xiaochun)