Discover Shenzhen
As China’s first Special Economic Zone, Shenzhen has become an attractive travel destination thanks to its pleasant climate and picturesque coastal and mountain scenery. It has even secured a spot on The New York Times’ list of the world’s 31 must-visit destinations. Travellers to Shenzhen can enjoy 271 kilometres of coastline with high-quality beaches. The city also offers a vibrant metropolitan lifestyle with cultural and entertainment attractions, shopping malls, food streets and lively nightlife districts. Additionally, Shenzhen is home to 15 golf clubs, including one of the world’s largest, and numerous amusement parks, solidifying its status as China’s theme park capital.
Dafen Oil Painting Village
Hailed as the ‘number one’ oil painting village in the country, Dafen Oil Painting Village has been China’s largest oil painting production and trading centre, as well as a key hub for trading oil paintings worldwide. Despite being a small village, it has strikingly bountiful paintings on offer to fascinate all art lovers. Many workshops allow visitors to observe how the oil paintings are created, and tailor-made orders are accepted on the spot.
Inside the village also stands Dafen Art Museum, an exquisitely designed space that exudes purity and clarity and a Zen atmosphere. Named one of the ‘Best Public Projects’ in China by Business Weekly and Architectural Record, the museum regularly hosts exhibitions of oil paintings, radiating a vibrant artistic ambience.
Dapeng Fortress
Erected over 600 years ago in 1394 during the Ming Dynasty, Dapeng Fortress (Dapeng meaning ‘The Roc’) is the reason why Shenzhen gets its nickname ‘The Roc City’. This naval stronghold in southern China, one of the most remarkably preserved to date, has witnessed the emergence of over 10 prefectures. Among the notable figures associated with this significant location in history are prominent naval generals Lai Enjue and Liu Qilong of the Qing Dynasty.
In this walled town, visitors will find three gate towers, over 100 old houses, and mansions of the naval generals, all looking intact today as they did in previous centuries. Regular exhibitions explaining the history of the fortress are ideal for visitors interested in China’s coastal defense in the past.
Gankeng Ancient Town
Originally a Hakka town developed in the Ming and Qing Dynasties, Gankeng Ancient Town is now a cultural destination that brings together Hakka houses, customs, architecture, folk art and traditional cuisine, all amidst picturesque scenery. In the Hakka dialect, ‘Keng’ refers to small streams and ditches. The ancient town earned its name ‘Gankeng’, which means ‘sweet stream’ in Chinese, due to the abundance of springs and streams that provide fresh and sweet water.
Strolling through the ancient town, visitors will find Nanxianglou, a scenic spot that boasts over 120 years of history; Zhuangyuan mansion, which was built in the Qing Dynasty; and Phoenix Valley, a complex of highly distinctive buildings. There are also artillery towers, watchtowers and stilted buildings that sit in perfect harmony with natural landscapes. Alongside these are century-old Hakka row houses, which radiate a quaint charm of the long-standing Hakka culture.
MixC World
Situated at Nanshan District in Shenzhen, MixC World is an innovative space designed for leisure strolls. It’s conveniently located near the Window of the World and Overseas Chinese Town, with the Shenzhen Bay at its south.
Famous for its unique ‘block + mall’ spatial planning, MixC World sets itself apart from traditional shopping malls. In addition to a food court, it’s home to about 300 shops and over 1,000 brands; it also has a number of plazas that serve as public spaces, filling every corner of MixC World with art and lifestyle elements.
At MixC World, also be prepared to be intrigued by ‘Bubblecoat Elephant’, a large-scale permanent public art installation by Dutch artist Florentijn Hofman, who’s best known for bringing the iconic, oversized floating yellow rubber duck to life. Perching on the rooftop of the shopping mall, Hofman’s elephant features a long trunk that sprays water outside the mall to bring fun to mall-goers.
Nantou Ancient Town
Located on the east bank of the mouth of the Pearl River, Nantou Ancient Town, also known as Xin’an Ancient Town, has a history of about 1,700 years. It was once an external trading hub in the coastal Lingnan region. Today, the southern and eastern city gates of the walled town are well preserved, and the design of its main street is based on the Lingnan architectural style of Guangdong.
The town is full of historical sites that are worthwhile to see, such as the Dongguan Assembly Hall, Ancestral Temple for Wen Tianxiang, Emperor Guan Temple, and Xin’an Tobacco Museum. There is also the Nantou Ancient Town Museum, where visitors can understand how the town was built and developed over the span of many dynasties.
In addition, thanks to a revitalisation project, a cultural and creative block is introduced to add new elements to the ancient town. When you’re there, explore specialty stores that promote a better quality of life, enjoy design exhibitions, take part in DIY handcraft workshops, and make sure you also check out the vintage and retro shops to discover hidden gems from the past.
OCT Loft Creative Culture Park
Housed in a group of renovated old factory buildings in Overseas Chinese Town, the OCT Loft Creative Culture Park is an innovative hub for the creative sectors, including design, photography and animation. With its profoundly artistic atmosphere, the park has become a celebrated cultural hotspot in Shenzhen’s Nanshan District. The remarkable graffiti on the exterior walls of the park’s premises and creative art installations in the street are highly popular among visitors.
In addition, bookstores, cafes and art galleries flourish in the area alongside exhibitions and live band performances, attracting art enthusiasts from not only the district but also other places. At weekends, creative marketplaces are organised, providing art lovers with the opportunity to discover exquisite handcrafted items.
Shajing Golden Oyster Festival (December)
If you’re planning to visit Shenzhen in December, make sure you head to Shajing in the western part of Bao’an District, which is rich in historical and cultural heritage, for its locally and internationally renowned specialty oysters.
The oyster-breeding business in Shajing can be traced back to the Song Dynasty, about a thousand years ago. The oysters, renowned for their tender, succulent flesh and snow-white appearance, are carefully raised in the area in the Pearl River Estuary where sea water meets with fresh water, making them a well-known treasure of Shenzhen. To pass on the oyster-breeding culture, Shajing has been hosting the Golden Oyster Festival every year in mid or late December since 2004. Participants can enjoy a scrumptious feast of oysters that sates both their appetite and curiosity about local culture.
Shenzhen Happy Valley
When it comes to maximising family fun in the city, the Shenzhen Happy Valley unquestionably takes the top spot. Covering an area of 350,000 square metres, the park consists of nine themed areas, including Spanish Square, Cartoon City, Mt. Adventure; and Maya Water Park.
Many rides in the park are known for being the ‘First in China’ — they include ‘Snow Mountain Flying Dragon’, China’s first suspended looping coaster; ‘Gold Mine Train’, China’s first mine coaster; the ‘Perfect Storm’, China’s first top spin ride; China’s first ‘Classic Around-the-park Mini Train’; and ‘Jungle Water Fight’, the country’s and the world’s longest warship ride.
In addition to a full suite of exciting rides, there are a multitude of festive activities, including carnivals, magical performances, and Halloween celebrations — all perfect for you and your families and friends to get immersed in unparalleled fun and enjoyment.
Splendid China Folk Culture Villages
A theme park dedicated to promoting Chinese culture, Splendid China Folk Culture Villages in Shenzhen are divided into two areas: Splendid China Miniature Park and China Folk Culture Village. The miniature park is the largest of its kind in the world, with over 50,000 tiny clay human figurines that transport visitors into a Lilliput-like world.
As for the China Folk Culture Village, it takes visitors to a multitude of ethnic villages to experience the distinguishing custom, art and architecture of each of the ethnic groups across China. All villages are meticulously constructed to scale to completely replicate the building styles and therefore ensure an authentic experience.
In addition, Splendid China has reproduced some of the world’s greatest architectural structures, such as the Great Wall, the world’s longest defensive wall; Zhaozhou Bridge, the world’s oldest stone arch bridge; and the Forbidden City, the world’s largest palace. At Splendid China, visitors can experience the best of China in just one day.
Window of the World
A highly acclaimed miniature park in China, Window of the World brings together worldwide wonders, historical heritages, ancient and modern landmarks, and folk performances for visitors to explore the world.
Based on geographic locations and the types of activities, Window of the World are divided into eight zones, including the World Square, Area of Asia, Area of America, Area of Africa, Sculpture Park, and International Street.
Over 100 replicas of cultural landmarks and world’s wonders are dotted around the park, including the Eiffel Tower of Paris, the Leaning Tower of Pisa of Italy, Taj Mahal of India and the Pyramids of Egypt. Amusement rides, an indoor ice world, exotic performances and themed cultural celebrations are also available for visitors to see the world in just one day.
Zhongying Street
Originally named ‘Cormorant Trail’, Zhongying Street is located just one block away from Hong Kong, embodying a historical relevance and cultural style that are uniquely ‘One Street, Two Systems’. The street once marked the border between the Chinese territory and the British territory when the New Territories of Hong Kong was leased to Britain. The boundary between Hong Kong and Shenzhen was demarcated by eight boundary monuments, most of which are, as witnesses of history, still preserved today.
As the heart of Shatoujiao, the birthplace of Chinese folk art, Zhongying Street is famous for its cultural relics and architecture, including the eight boundary monuments, the Ancestral Hall of Family Wu and Tianhou Palace. It also takes pride in being home to the Shatoujiao Fish Lantern Dance Museum, where visitors can learn about local history, as well as a wide range of intangible cultural heritages, such as fish lantern dance, Hakka folk songs, and Tianhou Festival.
Zhongying Street is laid out under the concept of ‘One Boundary, One Marketplace, One Alley and Seven Streets’. ‘One Boundary’ refers to the border between Shenzhen and Hong Kong; ‘One Marketplace’ means the Donghe Marketplace in the past; ‘One Alley’ is the seven old streets interspersed in the old buildings on the east side. Cultural fusions are really prominent here — take a stroll along Zhongying Street to experience them all.
Reprinted from the website of the Hong Kong Tourism Board，click here.
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