Suzhou Bay Digital Art Museum(Suzhou Bay)
苏州湾数字艺术馆Immersive digital art museum combining large-scale projections, interactive installations and new technology
东太湖大道12000号苏州湾文化中心南区
South Wing, Suzhou Bay Cultural Center, 12000 DongTaiHu Avenue
WuJiang, Suzhou
Tuesday–Sunday: 10:00–17:30 Last admission: 16:30 Monday: Closed Also closed annually from February 16–18. Public holiday arrangements may vary.
Pricing
Admission varies by exhibition. Some areas of the museum are free, while the main digital-art experiences and temporary exhibitions require separate tickets. Current paid exhibitions generally range from around ¥50–¥158, depending on the exhibition and ticket type. Children under 1 metre are admitted free. Visitors aged 70+, eligible visitors with disabilities and active-duty military personnel can also receive free admission under the museum's concession policy.
Set beside Taihu Lake in the striking Suzhou Bay Cultural Center, Suzhou Bay Digital Art Museum combines digital art, immersive environments and interactive technology across a series of permanent and changing exhibitions.
Rather than a traditional art museum, many of the displays are designed to be experienced and played with. Expect large-scale projections, light installations, interactive walls, digital games and exhibits that respond to visitors. The museum is particularly popular with families, although there's plenty here for adults interested in digital and new-media art too.
The second-floor Future Inspiration World is the museum's main permanent digital-art experience, with futuristic light-and-shadow installations, interactive displays and imaginative environments including a Mars-themed area.
Upstairs, Spiritual Eyes – The Fascinating World of Vision explores eyesight and visual perception through interactive exhibits and digital technology. This area is currently free to visit.
Other floors are used for separately ticketed exhibitions. Current exhibitions include an immersive experience inspired by the ancient Chinese Classic of Mountains and Seas (Shan Hai Jing), combining traditional mythology with contemporary digital presentation.
The museum isn't enormous, but the combination of hands-on installations and changing exhibitions makes it an interesting indoor stop in Suzhou Bay, particularly for families and on hot or rainy days.