Dinosaur showdown exhibition opens at science museum

Two giant dinosaur skeletons now tower over the atrium of the Shenzhen Science & Technology Museum, recreating a prehistoric encounter hundreds of millions of years in the making.

Jointly organized by the Shenzhen Science & Technology Museum and the Zigong Dinosaur Museum, the “Jurassic Clash” exhibition explores China’s dinosaur discoveries through fossils, interactive displays and scientific interpretation.

At the center of the exhibition are two Jurassic giants from the Sichuan Basin. The towering Mamenchisaurus hochuanensis, stretches more than 20 meters long and is known for its extraordinarily long neck. Facing it is the Yangchuanosaurus hepingensis, a nearly 10-meter-long predator with powerful hind legs, a massive skull and rows of sharp teeth.

Visitors admire the exhibits. Photos by Li Lizhi, Lu Zhenghui

The exhibition invites visitors to investigate a prehistoric mystery: If the two dinosaurs had encountered each other, who would have prevailed? Scientists have found a healed fracture on the shoulder blade of a Yangchuanosaurus, suggesting it survived a powerful attack. Researchers believe the clue may lie in the tail of the Mamenchisaurus, whose tail tip was equipped with a hammer-like structure that could have delivered a devastating strike. By displaying the fossil evidence and the dinosaurs’ defensive features together, the exhibition allows visitors to reconstruct this possible prehistoric confrontation.

Beyond the two dinosaur giants, the exhibition features fossil specimens including dinosaur eggs, fish fossils, trilobites and plant fossils. Visitors can also touch a replica of a sauropod femur and experience the texture of prehistoric life through hands-on interaction.

Dates: Through Sept. 21

Tickets: Free 

Venue: Shenzhen Science & Technology Museum, Guangming District (深圳科学技术馆)

Metro: Line 6 to Guangming Station (光明站), Exit D