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Shenzhen, China
Photo: Huangdan2060, CC0 via Wikimedia Commons
Western Shenzhen is mostly industrial but also has large parks and even some farmland, as well as trendy, well-to-do Bao'an center.
From the travel guide. Select a place for details, a map and what is nearby.
中国版画博物馆
China's largest printmaking museum. Part of the China Guanlan Original Printmaking Base (中国·观澜版画原创产业基地).
深圳市合正艺术博物馆
Private art museum established by businessman Li Weiqing in 2016. Items on display include paintings, calligraphy, ceramics and sculptures.
依波钟表文化博物馆, Ebohr Horologe Culture Museum
Owned and operated by Ebohr, one of China's leading luxury watch manufacturers. Solo visitors and small groups (with less than 10 people) are required to make an appointment before visiting (this can be done either by phone or on WeChat). Visitation time is limited to 60-90 minutes and visitors are expected to follow the directions of their tour guide at all times.
美联红木艺术博物馆
华夏军装博物馆
Displays a wide variety of military uniforms from ancient times to the early 21st century.
深圳（宝安）劳务工博物馆, Shenzhen (Bao'an) Migrant Workers Museum
Tells the story of the hundreds of thousands of migrant workers who built Shenzhen and made it into the city it is today. The museum focuses on Bao'an district and celebrates the recent history of the city: Deng Xiaoping's "reform and opening up" and the subsequent fast-paced industrial development that has come to define Shenzhen. Fittingly, the museum itself is located in a former factory.
At the entrance to the museum complex, the first building preserves the look of part of the factory, but that's certainly not all there is to see here. Go up the ramp to the main exhibition hall, which is full of artifacts from the recent history of industrial Shenzhen, including lots of personal items donated by factory workers to give you a window into their lives—love letters, dorm room decorations, and so on. Most of the labels are bilingual in Chinese and English. The second floor, accessible by a staircase around the right side of the building, has a display of lots of beautiful Chinese calligraphy.
凤凰山, Fènghuáng Shān
Literally "Phoenix Mountain", this forested mountain in northwestern Shenzhen is covered with a network of well-maintained hiking trails paved with steps. The main point of interest is Fengyan Temple (凤岩古庙, Fèngyán Gǔmiào), a Buddhist temple partway up the mountain, dating back to the Yuan Dynasty. At the trailhead (凤凰山脚) there are various shops selling food and drinks, including bottled water, which you should definitely buy for the hike if you didn't bring any. Then plan to hike 30–40 minutes (all uphill) to get to the temple complex. The complex has lots of interesting spots scattered around, including fortune tellers, lots of shrines, and a big pool full of turtles and a few lazy fish, surrounded by people pestering them by throwing coins. There are lots of shops selling food, incense, jewelry, and other traditional items for the many pilgrims who make their way up to pray and leave offerings. For more serious hikers, the trails continue higher up on the mountain past the temple. A partial map of the trails can be found at the temple complex, though it's only in Chinese. The trail up to the temple is crowded, especially on weekends, but the trails higher up on the mountain aren't so bad.
Both the temple and the rest of the mountain have views of the surrounding area. Don't miss the two-story lookout tower (望海楼, Wang Hai Lou) in the temple complex. The views make for an incredible contrast between the traditional temple in the middle of the woods and the unending high-rises down below. From the right spot you can make out ships floating in the Pearl River.
The temple complex also has a vegetarian buffet restaurant, Fenghuang Mountain Vegetarian Restaurant (凤凰山素菜馆). This is not the little place with the signs saying "Vegetarian Restaurant" in English (though the food there isn't bad either)—the buffet is located at the other end of the complex; look for signs that say "素菜馆 Su Cai Guan". The buffet costs ¥28 for breakfast, ¥58 for lunch—pay before you enter, at the Ticket Counter outside. If you want to skip the hike, the restaurant (and therefore the temple complex) are also accessible by road.
石岩湖温泉度假村; Shíyánhú Wēnquán Dùjiàcūn
This has been a popular attraction since the 16th century when it was named as one of the "Eight Great Views of Xin'an County" (the county of which Hong Kong and Shenzhen were part). It's on a man-made reservoir at the back of Yangtai Mountain, and is not easy to get to but it is worth the trouble. Water springs from the ground at over 60 °C, but is cooled to about 40 °C before being fed into pools. There are public and private, indoor and outdoor pools.
羊台山森林公园 Yángtái Shān Sēnlín Gōngyuán
This is a forest park administered by the water and forestry administrations of Guangdong Province. The mountain, 500 metres high, lies around an attractive reservoir. It is heavily wooded with native and exotic vegetation and abounds with wildlife. As elsewhere in Shenzhen, the hiking paths are well paved with steps. The climb to the top is moderately difficult and very rewarding. Not much for sale on the trail, so bring water and snacks or buy them at the convenience stores near the trailhead. As of December 2019, there's a lot of construction going on along the trail; hiking is still possible but not particularly quiet or enjoyable. Consider hiking somewhere else in Shenzhen for the time being.
立新湖 Lìxīn Hú
An attractive reservoir in northeastern Shenzhen surrounded by parks with trees and well-manicured walkways. Adjacent to the lake is Wangniuting Park (望牛亭公园 Wàngniútíng Gōngyuán), with hiking trails on a small hill. The area is very green and good for a lakeside walk—it's not worth making the trip all the way from the city center just for this, but stop by if you're in the area.
海上田园 Hǎishàngtiányuán
A much-hyped 1.6 square kilometer park by the water, way on the outskirts of the city, full of trees, streams, ponds, and walking paths. The activities scattered around are fun, including obstacle courses, boats, strawberry picking, and a lookout tower. If you like hills this is not the park for you, but it allows for a nice few hours walking around and exploring whatever attractions you stumble across. For travelers who are a bit adventurous, the highlight is surely the obstacle courses, some of which go over water and will get your heart racing. This park is connected to the metro network via 2 line 12 stations, Waterland Resorts East (terminus of line 12) and Waterland Resorts South.
红花山 Hónghuā Shān
It's a stretch to call this a mountain – it's really just a hill – but the view of the nearby neighborhoods from the top is nice, so it's worth a visit if you're in Gongming anyway. The pagoda on top is nice but not old (built in 2009). From the main (south) entrance the walk to the top takes ten minutes if that, but the steps are steep. From the north and east entrances there's a more leisurely set of trails that take you slowly up through the woods. Arrive via line 6 of the metro.
宝安西湾红树林公园
A park protecting an area of fascinating mangrove forest along the water, with some nice boardwalks and paved walking paths. There's an adjoining park to the north with a big sandpit which is fun for kids. It's not too big, but nice for an hour or so walking around, though the peaceful atmosphere is spoiled by the screeching noise of metro line 11 trains passing by and the sound of planes taking off from the airport. Avoid coming in the middle of the day—it gets hot.
观澜高尔夫
The world's biggest golf course with 216 holes. Each course is designed by a different world champion golfer. The Golf World Cup has granted a twelve-year franchise to Mission Hills
This indoor ski arena brings skiing to the tropics, offering a surreal alpine escape in balmy southern China. Covering 10 hectares with five slopes, including one with an 83-metre drop, it’s one of the world’s largest indoor ski resorts. A perfect place to swap flip-flops for skis, even in the middle of summer.
凤凰台湾街 Fènghuáng Táiwān Jiē
At the foot of Fenghuang Mountain on an avenue of faux-traditional architecture with light brown shingled roofs and red pillars. The specialty is Taiwanese food, but there are various other restaurants with the usual variety of Chinese cuisines as well. Good place to stop for a snack or a meal after you finish hiking down the mountain.
坪洲美食街
Quiet during the day but a happening area in the evening. A variety of Chinese restaurants, including seafood and barbecue, as well as a slightly hidden but authentic Mexican restaurant (across from KFC).
新沙天虹美食街 Xīnshā Tiānhóng Měishí Jiē
A bustling area in the industrial suburb of Shajing, the area around Xinsha Rainbow (新沙天虹) and Jingjibaina (京基百纳) shopping centers has lots of restaurants. Between the two malls and the streets around them, you can find cuisine from more than a dozen provinces and a few foreign countries. No one specialty predominates; you'll find all the usual suspects plus some less common ones like Henan, Hubei, and Yunnan, as well as Shajing's specialty, oysters. Take the bus from Shajing or Ma'anshan metro station, or a 15-minute walk from Shajing West railway station. If you're driving, don't come around rush hour unless you like sitting in traffic.
翻身路
During the day, this block of Fanshen Road is a busy street with lots of restaurants, tea shops, and a small branch of the Rainbow shopping mall chain. But at night is when it really gets going: every evening from 17:00 to midnight, the sidewalk becomes Lefan Night Market (乐翻夜市), a bustling row of stands and carts selling tasty snacks and greasy dinners. Dumplings, oysters, Xinjiang flatbread, stinky tofu, chow fun, sushi, fruit, bubble tea, wraps, a few desserts, and all sorts of fried things.
客家本色 Kèjiā běnsè
Authentic Hakka cuisine—the proof is in the snatches of conversation in Hakka dialects that you'll hear from nearby tables. Try some tofu stuffed with meat (酿豆腐), or eggplant (茄子) with basil.
车田豆腐坊
Delicious Hakka food. The specialty is Chetian-style tofu (Chetian being a town out in Heyuan, Hakka country to the northeast of Shenzhen). Good vegetarian options, though if you're vegetarian you should order carefully as Hakka-style tofu is sometimes stuffed with meat! Recognize the restaurant from across the street with the big white characters spelling its name, or from close up with the words "客家菜馆" ("Hakka restaurant") in red on yellow.
禾山有素 Héshān Yǒusù
Vegetarian restaurant overlooking the attractively manicured Xin'an Park. The menu has both Western-style and Chinese-style vegetarian food (veggie burgers and mapo tofu, salad and mushroom stew). Not too heavy. On the ground floor is a little coffee shop, and the restaurant itself is up a flight of stairs.
凯家酒店 Kǎijiā Jiǔdiàn
Large hotel with WiFi and a delicious buffet breakfast. Popular with business travelers visiting Shajing.
天和酒店 Tiānhé jiǔdiàn
Airport hotel. To get there from the airport, take bus m416 and get off at the third stop, 航空物流园. Has a Chinese restaurant and a Western restaurant inside, and there are also a bunch of restaurants and stores just down the street (right past the intersection). They can provide transportation to the airport in the morning. Free breakfast from 6:30 to 9:30, free but slow Wi-Fi.
宝丽来国际大酒店
A Shenzhen institution, Baolilai Hotel has long been a popular choice for international business travellers visiting this part of the city. Restaurants serve Chinese, Japanese, and Western cuisine. Excellent massage center on the fifth floor.
深圳书城宝安城
The Bao'an branch of Book City, Shenzhen's local chain of large bookstores.
壹方城 Yìfāngchéng
A very elegant, very upscale shopping center in Bao'an. Lots of nice restaurants and fancy shops, and the bookstore next to the food court on the third floor has a selection of paperbacks in English. On the lowest level (B1) are a few shops with beautiful traditional Chinese products like statues, porcelain, and inkstones. Even if shopping here is beyond your budget, it's an interesting place for people-watching—see how the wealthy and fashionable live in suburban Shenzhen.
海雅缤纷城
A high-end six-story mall. Brand-name clothes, expensive electronics and handbags, edible bird's nests, elegant porcelain. The first floor is mostly cosmetics and jewelry, second floor mostly brand-name clothes, and the shops gradually get more varied as you ascend to higher floors. Restaurants are clustered on the top levels and on the basement level. The top few floors also have various games and activities for kids, including a Toys 'R' Us. On the second floor you'll find an expensive supermarket with lots of foreign products, from baguettes to vegan chocolate bars.
By train
Shenzhen North Station, one of the main high-speed rail stations in the city, is in Longhua district.
By intercity bus
Depending on where you're trying to go, this may be your best bet, as the area is dotted with intercity bus stations.
By ferry
Fuyong Ferry Terminal near the airport has service from Hong Kong International Airport, Macau, Zhongshan, and Zhuhai.
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Shenzhen · International · SZX
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