A section of the "Penguin Island — Exhibition of Tencent" which kicks off at the Shenzhen Museum of Contemporary Art and Urban Planning in the Futian CBD on Friday.
The "Penguin Island — Exhibition of Tencent," a special Spring Festival event, officially kicks off at the Shenzhen Museum of Contemporary Art and Urban Planning in the Futian CBD on Friday. The event is co-hosted by Tencent and the Shenzhen Municipal Culture, Media, Tourism, and Sports Bureau.
As a tech giant born and raised in Shenzhen, Tencent has not only grown alongside the city over the past two decades but has also made its QQ penguin mascot a unique symbol of Shenzhen.
This exhibition brings together Tencent's flagship products, cutting-edge technologies, and cultural icons in an interactive showcase. Highlights include "Digital Penguin Island," "QQ Time Capsule," "WeChat Atom City," "Honor of Kings," and "IP Culture Box." The exhibition seamlessly blends Tencent's innovations with Shenzhen's dynamic urban culture, setting the stage for a new model of industrial tourism with distinctive Shenzhen characteristics.
At the "Digital Penguin Island" gallery, visitors can explore a stunning 1:1 digital replica of Tencent's new headquarters in Qianhai, dubbed Penguin Island, which is still under construction. On-site tablets offer a deeper dive into the island's design.
For those feeling nostalgic about the early days of QQ, an online instant messaging service developed by Tencent, the "QQ Time Capsule" features a retro server room with vintage desktop computers that play the iconic "didi" notification sound. Step closer, and you'll see the classic QQ chat interface come to life. In the WeChat experience zone, visitors can discover hidden WeChat features through interactive displays.
Outside the museum, life-sized penguin installations like "Reading Penguin," "Constructing Penguin," and "Volunteer Penguin" reflect Tencent's commitment to serving Shenzhen's residents and visitors. These charming sculptures are perfect for snapping selfies and checking in on social media.
The exhibition runs until Feb. 23. It is open Tuesday to Sunday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. (last entry at 5:30 p.m.), with holiday hours to be announced. Admission is free, but visitors must make reservations through the WeChat miniprogram (深圳市當(dāng)代藝術(shù)與城市規(guī)劃館).
Adding to the excitement, the city and Tencent have unveiled their first joint IP mascot — a massive, 15-meter-tall "Great Peng Penguin" — which made its debut at the Civic Center on Jan. 8. Representing Shenzhen's nickname, "Pengcheng" (the city of the roc), and its innovative spirit, this larger-than-life penguin has become a popular icon for people to take photos with.
Tencent's penguin logo was introduced in 2001, coinciding with the firm's entry into the social networking space with QQ. The friendly, approachable penguin was a strategic move to appeal to a broad audience and an attempt to personify the firm's commitment to building communities.