Inside China's new $517 million natural history museum that takes visitors from the cosmos to human evolution, featuring meteorites, dinosaurs and a river-inspired design

The Shenzhen Natural History Museum was finally opened to the public on 28 July 2026, which makes it the first large-scale institution of its kind in southern China, dedicated to natural history. Located in the Pingshan District, this world-class facility is part of the 'Ten Cultural Facilities of the New Era' initiative, representing a total investment of approximately US$517 million, as reported by the South China Morning Post.According to the Shenzhen Government, the museum occupies a site of roughly 42,000 square metres, featuring a total floor area of 105,300 square metres, which also includes 35,200 square metres dedicated to exhibitions. This project aims to be a centre for collecting, researching, and delivering natural science education to visitors from across the world. The museum serves as a connection between the history of our planet and the modern urban landscape of Shenzhen.What is the inspiration behind China's new $517 million natural history museumAccording to the South China Morning Post, the building was designed by a consortium including the Danish firm 3XN, the Canadian firm B+H Architects, and the Chinese firm Zhubo Design. This team was selected through an i...