Enjoy museum feast in Guangdong this National Day holiday

Beyond the bustling attractions, Guangdong's museums and galleries offer a quieter way to spend the National Day holiday. A rich "museum feast" awaits, ranging from Renaissance masterpieces and ancient Egyptian artifacts to oracle bones, Buddhist sculptures and imperial porcelain.

Guangzhou

Guangzhou Through the Millennia: A Special Exhibition Marking 2,240 Years Since the City's Founding and 1,800 Years of Its Name

Featuring more than 410 exhibits, including 51 first-class and 90 second-class cultural relics, the exhibition uses artifacts and historical texts to tell the story of Guangzhou's rich cultural heritage and vibrant history.

(Photo: Guangzhou Museum of Art)

Dates: Through August 22, 2027

Venue: Guangzhou Museum of Art (广州艺术博物院)

Prosperous Symphony: Masterpieces from Glasgow Museums

Works by Italian masters including Titian, Giovanni Bellini, Tintoretto, Guardi and Giuseppe Cesari are on display at the Guangdong Museum. The exhibition features nearly 70 rare works spanning paintings, sculptures, ceramics, glassware, arms and textiles, offering a look at the evolution of Italian art over several centuries. Several first-class cultural relics from the Guangdong Museum are also included.

(Photo: Guangdong Museum)

Dates: July 1–October 18, 2026

Venue: Exhibition Hall 3, 3rd Floor, Guangdong Museum (广东省博物馆)

Qingzhou Smile: Buddhist Images of Qingzhou, China

The exhibition brings together 62 Buddhist sculptures unearthed in Qingzhou and nearby Zhucheng, including 22 national first-class cultural relics. Dating from the Northern Wei Dynasty to the Northern Song Dynasty, the works span nearly 600 years and showcase the evolution of Buddhist sculpture in China.

During the holiday, the museum also offers evening sessions for this exhibition and "A Thought of Dunhuang: Grand Exhibition of Cave Art," from 17:30 to 20:30, with themed interactive activities.

(Photo: Guangzhou Museum of Art)

Dates: June 20–December 19, 2026

Venue: Hall 1, Guangzhou Museum of Art (广州艺术博物院)

A Gift of the Nile: Ancient Egyptian Artifacts and Digital Art Experience

The exhibition features 180 ancient Egyptian artifacts alongside 26 relics from the Nanyue King Tombs. Among the Egyptian artifacts, 167 are being displayed in Asia for the first time. Covering mythology, royalty and daily life, the exhibition offers a glimpse into ancient Egyptian civilization through both artifacts and digital experiences.

(Photo: Nanyue King Museum)

Dates: Through November 1, 2026

Venue: Nanyue King Museum (Tomb Exhibition Area) (南越王博物院王墓展区)

Shenzhen

Inscribed Oracle Bones Treasures Through Three Millennia

The exhibition brings together around 120 exhibits, including about 55 cultural relics, covering oracle bones, bamboo slips and ancient books. Through reconstructed scenes, artifacts, digital interaction and immersive experiences, it explores the Shang Dynasty civilization and the development of oracle-bone script. Visitors can also try a VR experience inspired by Fu Hao, a female military leader of the Shang Dynasty.

(Photo: ShenzhenLOOK)

Dates: September 30, 2026–March 21, 2027

Venue: 1st–2nd Floors, Folk Culture Center, Eyes of the GBA (湾区之眼)

Dear Love: The World of Cats and Dogs

This exhibition brings together 80 sets of cultural relics and more than 20 interactive experiences. Through games, videos, illustrations and tactile exhibits, visitors can learn about cats and dogs, from their anatomy and intelligence to their behavior and relationship with humans.

(Photo: Shenzhen Museum)

Dates: Through October 8, 2026

Venue: Shenzhen Museum Jintian Road Branch (History and Folk Culture) (深圳博物馆金田路馆（历史民俗）)

The Charm of Plurality—International Print Exhibition

Featuring 156 print works from 18 countries, the exhibition covers four major printmaking techniques as well as mixed media. Works by artists including Pablo Picasso, Joan Miró, Salvador Dalí, Zao Wou-Ki and Andy Warhol are presented alongside contemporary works, offering a broad look at printmaking around the world.

(Photo: Guan Shanyue Art Museum)

Dates: September 11–October 7, 2026

Venue: Guan Shanyue Art Museum (关山月美术馆)

Hengqin

Chinese Civilization Through Shaanxi Archaeological Finds

More than 200 artifacts from Shaanxi are on display, spanning the Zhou, Qin, Han and Tang dynasties. The collection includes bronze vessels, gold and silver objects, jade, ceramics and other treasures, including terracotta warriors, gold bowls unearthed from Hejia Village and treasures from the underground palace of Famen Temple.

(Photo: Hengqin Fabu)

Dates: September 17, 2026–January 16, 2027

Venue: 3rd Floor, Hengqin Cultural and Art Center (横琴文化艺术中心)

Foshan

The Splendor of Luoyang: Cultural Relics from the Tang Dynasty

The exhibition features 130 sets of Tang Dynasty cultural relics, including gold and silver objects and sancai ceramics. It explores Luoyang's urban landscape, everyday life and exchanges along the Silk Road during the Tang Dynasty.

(Photo: Foshan Museum)

Dates: Through October 18, 2026

Venue: 1st Floor Temporary Exhibition Hall, Foshan Museum (佛山市博物馆)

Huizhou

Tang Dynasty Treasures in Zhenguan Era

This exhibition brings together 95 sets of Tang Dynasty artifacts, including 27 first-class cultural relics. The collection spans pottery figures, sancai ceramics, gold and silver objects, porcelain, glassware, epitaphs and Buddhist sculptures. A dedicated section also explores Huizhou's history as an important Lingnan town during the Tang Dynasty.

(Photo: Huizhou Museum)

Dates: August 13–November 15, 2026

Venue: 1st Floor, Huizhou Museum (惠州市博物馆)

Dongguan

Nine exhibitions at Dongguan Museum's new venue

Dongguan Museum's new venue began trial operation on September 28, bringing together nine exhibitions covering the city's history, calligraphy and painting, artifacts, Bronze Age civilization, gold and silver artifacts from the Song-Liao-Jin period, Dunhuang culture, digital theater, Lingnan-themed VR experiences and contemporary art. During the National Day holiday, the museum also hosts evening events featuring stamp collecting, traditional music and hands-on experiences.

(Photo: Dongguan Museum)

Dates: From September 28, 2026

Venue: New venue of Dongguan Museum (东莞博物馆新馆)

Jiangmen

Venture Out, Prosper Home: An Enduring Legacy of Grace and Duty in Overseas (Chinese Architecture)

Using "door" as a central theme, the exhibition presents more than 600 sets of artifacts and other exhibits documenting the journeys of overseas Chinese and their contributions to their hometowns over the past century. Architectural drawings, furniture, building components, Qiaopi (remittance letters) and other objects offer a glimpse into the history of Jiangmen's overseas Chinese communities and their enduring ties to home.