Shenzhen arranged a three-day media tour starting August 6 to showcase its preparations for hosting the APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting in November and related supporting events throughout the year.

Dozens of Chinese and international media outlets are taking part, visiting sites along three thematic routes covering public cultural services, tech innovation, and economic and trade development.

The first day covered the city's cultural venues and their programming for the 2026 APEC "China Year."

At Shenzhen International Museum of Art, Shi Yifan, director of the exhibition center, said the museum is marking the year with exhibitions drawing on artworks, artists and themes from many APEC economies. The director also noted that a retrospective of 20th-century Russian abstract art is scheduled to open there.

Li Ren, director of theater operations, said the museum's theater has been curating international performing arts programs and will stage more pop-up and interdisciplinary shows during the APEC meetings, inviting artists from APEC economies to present interdisciplinary works across the venue.

At Shenzhen Science & Technology Museum, curator Zheng Yongchun said the museum has widened its provision for foreign visitors. Signage is now in Chinese, French, Japanese and English. Multilingual commentators are on hand, while AI-powered glasses and audio guides offer real-time interpretation in visitors' chosen languages.

The tour will focus on tech innovation and economic and trade development over the next two days.