A young boy is fascinated with the shell of a sea snail on display at the Guangdong Museum, Guangzhou, on May 1. [Photo by Xu Jianmei/Xinhua]

Guangzhou residents are able to experience the sights and sounds of the seaside from the comfort of their own metropolis from May 1 to Aug 27, as the city's museum puts a collection of seashells on display.

Thousands of seashells, conches, and cockles will be exhibited on the third floor of the Guangdong Museum.

Divided into four parts, the exhibition sheds light on the shells, once home to a vast array of sea creatures, such as mussels, oysters, scallops, and snails.

Meanwhile, the museum has also launched a series of educational activities to promote general science knowledge among visitors of all ages.

Guangdong Museum gives visitors a close up look at seashells and the sea creatures they are home to. The exhibition opened on May 1 and will run until Aug 27. [Photo by Xu Jianmei/Xinhua]

Beautifully patterned triton's trumpets are on display until Aug 27 at the Guangdong Museum. [Photo by Xu Jianmei/Xinhua]