In the late 1970s, China pivoted towards economic development, designating Shenzhen as its first Special Economic Zone. The Hong Kong-based China Merchants Group spearheaded the establishment of the Shekou Industrial Zone in Shenzhen, constructing a port on the Nantou Peninsula by blasting rocks and reclaiming land from the sea. This initiative attracted foreign investment and became a cornerstone of China’s reform and opening-up policy.
The operational success of this industrial zone became known as the “Shekou model,” setting the stage for China’s economic rise over the next four decades. Founded in 1872 during the late Qing Dynasty, China Merchants Group has witnessed the transitions through the Republic of China and the People’s Republic of China. To commemorate its 150th anniversary, the group chose to build the China Merchants Group History Museum atop Microwave Mountain in Shekou.
Microwave Mountain was originally a small, unnamed hill in Shekou, named after China’s first commercial microwave station built at its summit. Urban Practice was commissioned to design the China Merchants Historical Museum, embracing the concept of “mountains as exhibition spaces, cities as exhibitions.” The design integrates the entire Microwave Mountain Park into a cohesive spatial narrative.
Beginning at “Time Square” at the mountain’s base—the site where the “Shekou Mountain Cannon,” symbolizing the start of reform and opening-up, was fired—the square features a monument engraved with the famous phrase “Time is money, efficiency is life,” by Mr. Yuan Geng, the industrial zone’s founder and a symbol of Shenzhen’s spirit.
Ascending the stairs, visitors encounter a narrative trail chronicling key reform milestones, harmonizing with the surrounding urban landscape and creating multiple scenic nodes. The act of climbing becomes part of the exhibition, culminating in the mountaintop museum, which serves as the narrative climax.
The museum’s design began with verifying the original microwave station site. Through historical drawings and on-site surveys, the original structure was discovered within buildings that had been modified over time. The plan restored the station’s original appearance, reinforced its foundation, and preserved it as the museum’s most historically significant exhibit, presented as a “ready-made artifact.”
The museum comprises five floors. The semi-underground level houses the main entrance, foyer, a small reception room, the main equipment room, and a multi-energy hall that can operate independently when the museum is closed.
On the second floor, surrounding the restored microwave station, is a permanent exhibition celebrating the China Merchants Group’s 150-year history. The three-level elevated platform is a public viewing area linked to the hiking trail, featuring a coffee shop and reception room suitable for meetings and salons. Visitors can enjoy indoor and outdoor seating with panoramic 360-degree views of Shekou’s peninsula and witness the “urban exhibition hall” of Shekou unfolding before them.
The fourth floor hosts a contemporary art gallery within a floating volume, offering a continuous exhibition space for short-term themed shows. Windows of varying shapes and orientations frame views of the natural and urban surroundings, integrating changing cityscapes into the exhibition experience. The roof serves as an open viewing platform—the highest point on Microwave Mountain—ideal for panoramic vistas and outdoor events.
Besides the indoor exhibition flow, multiple outdoor public pathways allow citizens to ascend the stairs even after museum hours, enriching the visitor experience and accommodating diverse exhibitions and activities.
The museum’s exterior mainly features white cave stone, with the structure partially embedded in the mountain, blending seamlessly with the natural landscape. Inside, materials and craftsmanship delicately echo the industrial heritage of China Merchants Group, incorporating cast aluminum, copper, steel, and concrete.
The imposing entrance gate is crafted from cast aluminum, exceeding conventional dimensions. Walls in key areas incorporate industrial components mixed as aggregates and poured together with concrete, symbolizing the group’s industrial legacy.
The China Merchants Group History Museum stands as more than just a museum—it marks a pivotal moment in modern Chinese history and serves as a space to preserve and promote the spirit of reform and opening-up. The project integrates this landmark commemorative building with everyday life, creating a public space and urban memory that belongs to the present.
Visitors ascend Microwave Mountain to admire the vast sky and sea, while reflecting on history, envisioning the future, honoring ancestors, and inspiring generations to come. This hidden urban gem becomes a spiritual landmark and cultural anchor for Shenzhen’s residents.
Project Drawings
△ Base schematic diagram
△ Design sketch
△ Design sketch
△ Analysis chart
△ General layout plan
△ Section diagram
Project Information
Architect: URBANUS Urban Practice
Area: 13,733 m²
Year Completed: 2023
Photographer: TAL
Lead Architect: Meng Yan
Project General Manager: Zhang Haijun
Project Manager: Liao Mengjun
Project Architects: Yue Ran (Architecture), Zhang Xuejuan (Landscape)
Project Team: Matt Eshleman, Zhu Hongrui, Sun Yanhua, Yuan Zhiwei, Yuan Ruizhe, Wen Ting, Yu Shiyao, Sun Pengcheng, Ni Ruoning, Ji Hengwei (Architecture); Li Guanda, Gao Yufeng, Jin Xin, Ma Xiying, Pu Jinyan (Landscape); Deng Tingfang, He Jiamin (Interior); Lin Lingyu, Lin Siyao, Wei Tianqi, Wan Yuqing, Lin Shuyi, Liu Jiaji, Gao Qingyue, Zhang Manjia (Interns)
Construction Drawings: Huasen Architecture and Engineering Design
Interior Construction Drawings: Elegant Decoration Project
Landscape Construction Drawings: Final Landscape Design
Curtain Wall Consultant: Pengge Curtain Wall
Lighting Consultants: Handu Lighting Design, Farview Lighting Design
Signage Design: Huang Yang
Exhibition Strategy: Narrative Ensemble (MSG)
Construction Contractor: Shenzhen China Merchants Real Estate Co., Ltd.
Location: Shenzhen, China
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