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Visitors to museums mention that Shenzhen’s latest cultural spaces provide exhibits and grandeur difficult to find in Hong Kong.

Dinosaur remains, uncommon meteorites, and works by French Impressionist artists are now some of Shenzhen’s latest highlights, attracting locals from across the border on weekends, as Hong Kong’s northward spending habits shift from dining to cultural travel.

Shenzhen has recently introduced a set of large-scale cultural projects. One of them is the Shenzhen Natural History Museum, which features 35,200 square meters of display area showcasing the Earth’s 4.6 billion-year history.

For Hong Kong resident Raymond Leung, employed in the manufacturing sector, the museum’s recent Tuesday opening, along with displays like meteorites, provided sufficient motivation to organize a weekend visit with three companions.

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“The museum is our primary focus. We’ll also have some meals together afterward. There will be plenty to view,” Leung said to the South China Morning Post in Shenzhen on Saturday.

Although dinosaur fossils can sometimes be seen in Hong Kong as well, they are not exhibited permanently as they are here.

The four, claiming they weren’t regular visitors to Shenzhen, set aside approximately 500 yuan (US$74) per person for the day trip.

Angel Yip, who was also present at the museum, mentioned that she appreciated the ample space provided by the attractions compared to Hong Kong, which was ideal for her and her family. She visits Shenzhen roughly twice a month, spending approximately 1,000 yuan per day trip.

“A fewer number of facilities are available for children in Hong Kong,” said the mother of one.

A female educator in her thirties journeyed from Tseung Kwan O in Hong Kong through the Liantang border checkpoint and reached the museum on Saturday at midday along with her family and friends—a group of 10 people, including children.

She mentioned that the kids were particularly thrilled with the 3D movie theater, along with the dinosaur bones and space rocks.

The museum is a component of the Shenzhen government’s initiative to enhance its cultural facilities since 2008, with 10 significant projects scheduled throughout the city, including the Shenzhen Library North, which was inaugurated in 2023.

Across the city, the Shenzhen International Museum of Art is located, which commenced operations in May and showcases a diverse range of displays, including European masterpieces from Hungary’s national collection alongside Chinese historical bronze artifacts.

Alex Cheung had planned a weekend trip to Shenzhen with his girlfriend, including a visit to the museum to view a painting by the French Impressionist artist Claude Monet from the Hungarian collection.

“Hong Kong recently held an exhibition showcasing his renowned water lily paintings as well. After viewing them, I felt compelled to come and see this one here,” said a man in his thirties working in administration, who mentioned that he visits Shenzhen twice a month.

He often remained over the weekend, spending a minimum of HK$1,000 (US$128) per visit, and occasionally went with friends who enjoyed unwinding in entertainment centers that provide a variety of activities like go-karting, trampoline parks, ice skating, and other attractions all in one place.

“Hong Kong does not have such complexes, and even if these activities are available, they tend to be more costly,” he said, noting that the couple also liked searching for unique restaurants and exploring markets for cultural items.

Maggie Lai also went to the art museum, situated in the Guangming district, during a day trip organized by the Hong Kong Institute of Architects to examine the structures and explore the exhibits.

“Without this trip, I wouldn’t have considered visiting Shenzhen,” said the architect in her thirties, who arrived through the Shenzhen Bay border checkpoint from Hong Kong. The journey included a visit to the nearby Shenzhen Science and Technology Museum, which has also recently been completed.

Other architects, Alice Lee and Ashley Chiu, shared Lai’s opinion, mentioning they had no interest in regular cross-border activities like eating out or receiving massages in Shenzhen, but special exhibitions might attract them.

Lai mentioned that she planned to visit exhibitions in Hong Kong, including those at M+ and the Palace Museum located in the West Kowloon Cultural District, as her interest was sparked by the themes of the displays.

The group mentioned that their conclusion from the trip was that it would be challenging to find similar architecture in Hong Kong due to financial constraints or rules, while pointing out that Shenzhen seemed to have more recently built cultural venues.

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This piece was first published in the South China Morning Post (www.scmp.com), a top news outlet covering China and Asia.

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