Prehistoric Planet: Dinosaur Edition Shenzhen Stop Opens October 1: ¥88 Early Bird Tickets, 16-Metre Giant Screen Dinosaur Exhibition

This is the most talked-about new exhibition in Shenzhen this National Day Golden Week: Prehistoric Planet: The Dinosaurs, an immersive giant-screen experience adapted from the documentary co-produced by Apple TV+ and BBC Studios Natural History Unit, is confirmed to land in Shenzhen on 1 October 2026, making it a must-visit new landmark for this year's National Day holiday. It has already caused a sensation in London, Shanghai and Beijing, and the Shenzhen stop is one of its South China stops.

1. What is the exhibition?

Prehistoric Planet is a highly rated documentary co-produced by Apple TV+ and BBC Studios Natural History Unit, using modern palaeontological research to recreate the true appearance of dinosaurs. This Shenzhen stop's immersive experience selects classic footage from seasons one and two, and adds unreleased extended footage and exclusive content, presenting the prehistoric world from the documentary in full through a 360-degree immersive projection system.

The exhibition runs about 1 hour and is made up of 6 chapters, travelling through the diverse landscapes of ancient Earth in one go: from deep blue seas and freezing skies to blazing volcanoes and desolate deserts.

2. The 6 chapters, one by one

• Age of Giants: Step into the world of giant dinosaurs and learn about the size and power of prehistoric beasts such as Tyrannosaurus Rex, Triceratops, Pterosaurs and Mosasaurus.
• Tree of Life: Trace the evolutionary relationship between dinosaurs and modern birds.
• Raising Young: Discover how prehistoric creatures raised their young, including growing up independently, group cooperation and protecting their offspring.
• Beasts in the Mind: How humans moved from mythical monsters to gradually understanding the dinosaurs that really existed.
• Digging Through Time: Learn how scientists reconstruct dinosaur appearance from evidence such as fossils, bones, footprints and feather impressions.
• Path of Evolution: Explore how species evolved similar abilities in response to their environments, such as flight and streamlined bodies.

3. Three experience highlights

• 1:1 true-scale recreation: Prehistoric beasts are presented at true scale, with the dynamic details of Cretaceous giants such as Tyrannosaurus Rex and Pterosaurs visible up close.
• 16-metre-high exhibition hall + 5 surrounding giant screens: Breaking away from the traditional way of viewing exhibitions, exploring the origins of life from hundreds of millions of years ago from a "dinosaur's perspective".
• Immersive sound and lighting: Combined with cutting-edge modern technology, turning the documentary footage into a surround experience, suitable for both children and adults.

4. Tickets and booking method

Tickets are gradually opening for pre-sale, so buy early if you want to go during National Day:

• Purchase channel: the official designated WeChat mini-program "OUTPUT EXPERIENCE"
• After purchase you need to book a date and session; book early to ensure entry
• Early bird prices and concession ticket eligibility are subject to the latest announcement on the official mini-program

5. Address and transport

• Location: Shenzhen Bay MixC · BASE Digital Art Centre
• Address: L307, Zone D, Shenzhen Bay MixC, 1218 Haide 1st Road, Nanshan District, Shenzhen
• Exhibition period: 1 October 2026 to 30 May 2027
• Transport: Houhai Station Exit N on Line 11, about 7 minutes' walk
• From three checkpoints: Luohu Checkpoint → Luohu Station (Line 1) transfer to Line 11 to Houhai Station; Futian Checkpoint → Futian Checkpoint Station (Line 4) transfer to Line 11; Shenzhen Bay Checkpoint → Shenzhen Bay Checkpoint Station (Line 13) direct to Houhai Station

6. Exhibition tips

• National Day 1 to 7 October is Golden Week, and Shenzhen Bay MixC will be very crowded; it's best to pick a morning session or a weekday after the holiday.
• After exiting at Houhai Station Exit N, follow the mall signs and you'll go straight into MixC, fully air-conditioned the whole way.
• After the exhibition you can also visit Shenzhen Bay MixC and the neighbouring Coastal City, so a one-day itinerary needs no further transport.
• One ticket per person, children also need tickets; remember to complete your session booking on the mini-program before entering.

7. On-the-way itinerary: how to spend a day in Houhai

Shenzhen Bay MixC is itself one of the largest malls in Nanshan District, so after the exhibition you can stay in the mall for a meal without needing more transport. If you're planning a full day, you can do this:

• Morning: get off at Houhai Station on Line 11 → see Prehistoric Planet at BASE Digital Art Centre in Shenzhen Bay MixC (exhibition about 1 hour)
• Noon: have lunch inside MixC; mall and nearby shops generally open 10:00–22:00, with options from fast food to full meals
• Afternoon: walk or take one stop to Coastal City shopping mall, or go to Shenzhen Talent Park or Shenzhen Bay Park for a seaside walk
• Evening: watch the sunset at the Shenzhen Bay Park waterfront promenade, then return to Houhai Station for the metro to the checkpoint

From Shenzhen Bay Checkpoint, Line 13 takes one stop to Houhai Station; from Luohu Checkpoint, Luohu Station (Line 1) transfer to Line 11 takes about 45 minutes; from Futian Checkpoint, Futian Checkpoint Station (Line 4) transfer to Line 11 also takes about 40 minutes.

8. How it differs from the Shanghai and Beijing stops

Prehistoric Planet: The Dinosaurs has already been shown in London, Shanghai and Beijing. This Shenzhen stop uses the same 360-degree immersive projection system and 1:1 dinosaur recreation technology, but with the venue at BASE Digital Art Centre in Shenzhen Bay MixC, it has a ceiling height of 16 metres and uses 5 surrounding giant screens. By comparison, the Shenzhen stop is the most convenient for Hongkongers — you can get there within an hour from all three main checkpoints, without flying to Shanghai or Beijing.

9. Things to note when bringing children

• The exhibition runs about 1 hour with a fairly fast pace and a lot of information; very young children may not sit still, so it's best for ages 4 and up.
• Some chapters have sound-and-light effects such as volcanic eruptions and hunting; if your child is afraid of the dark or loud noises, watch the official trailer together first to prepare them.
• The mall has baby care rooms and family toilets, and strollers can be pushed into the mall; but the internal route in the exhibition hall may not be fully convenient, so you can ask staff before entering.
• National Day Golden Week is the busiest for family visitors; if bringing children, choose the earliest session, eat after viewing, and avoid the afternoon crowds.

10. Budget reference

In other words, for one person travelling from Hong Kong to see the exhibition plus a meal, budgeting HK$250 to HK$350 is more than enough.

11. FAQ

Q1: How long does the exhibition run?

The Shenzhen stop runs from 1 October 2026 to 30 May 2027, spanning the whole autumn and winter.

Q2: How much are the tickets?

Early bird adult ticket RMB ¥88, early bird concession ticket and child ticket ¥58 each; official ticket prices and discounts are subject to the official mini-program "OUTPUT EXPERIENCE".

Q3: What's the most convenient way to get there?

About 7 minutes' walk from Houhai Station Exit N on Line 11. From Shenzhen Bay Checkpoint, take Line 13 one stop to Houhai.

Q4: Can I buy tickets on site?

Officially, tickets are mainly pre-sold and sessions booked through the WeChat mini-program "OUTPUT EXPERIENCE"; it's best to buy in advance, as there's a high chance of on-site queues during National Day Golden Week.