Roavina

City guide · China

Shenzhen

A photograph of Shenzhen
Photograph · Charlie fong · CC BY-SA 4.0

Shenzhen is a polycentric city stretching along the coast and the Hong Kong border. Futian forms the civic and business centre, Luohu combines an older commercial core with a major border crossing, and Nanshan holds many museums, theme parks and technology districts. Eastern beaches and mountain areas sit far beyond the central urban sequence.

Reviewed by Elena Voss · Roavina Travel Editor

Practical information

Language spoken
Standard Chinese; regional languages are widely used
National practical orientation; regional and minority languages may also be used
Dialling code
+86 mainland · +852 Hong Kong · +853 Macao
International calling code; local area and mobile prefixes still apply
Currency
Renminbi (CNY); HKD and MOP in the SARs
Use the official local currency; card acceptance varies by place
Emergency number
110 police · 120 medical on the mainland
Use only for an emergency; tourist assistance may use a separate number
Plug type
Type A, C and I · 220 V
Check that chargers support the recorded voltage before using an adapter
Tap water
Not recorded
No single verified statement covers mainland China and both SARs

Turn this list into a plan

Set your days, your pace and the hours you actually want to be out. The planner works around closing days and travel time, and leaves room to eat.

Plan Shenzhen

Planning a visit

Suggested stay
Not recorded
Getting around
Walking, metro and rail
  1. January: best time to visit
  2. February: best time to visit
  3. March: good time to visit
  4. April: viable with meaningful trade-offs
  5. May: viable with meaningful trade-offs
  6. June: viable with meaningful trade-offs
  7. July: recurring difficult conditions
  8. August: recurring difficult conditions
  9. September: recurring difficult conditions — current month
  10. October: good time to visit
  11. November: best time to visit
  12. December: best time to visit
  • Best time
  • Good time
  • Viable with trade-offs
  • Difficult conditions

Sources

Top things to see

Ranked by importance — sitelinks, pageviews and heritage status, not editor preference.

  1. Splendid China Folk Village Splendid China Folk Village
    02 2 hours

    Splendid China Folk Village

    锦绣中华民俗村

    Splendid China Folk Village combines two Shenzhen attractions: Splendid China, a miniature presentation of celebrated Chinese landmarks, and China Folk Culture Village, which focuses on ethnic traditions and reconstructed environments.

    • Must see
    • Entertainment venue
  2. Ping An Finance Centre Ping An Finance Centre
    03 1 hr 30 min

    Ping An Finance Centre

    Ping An Finance Centre is a 599.1-metre skyscraper in Shenzhen's Futian District, with the Free Sky observation deck forming its principal public visitor experience.

    • Must see
    • Viewpoint
  3. Wutong Mountain National Park Wutong Mountain National Park
    04 4 hours

    Wutong Mountain National Park

    Wutong Mountain National Park is a protected natural area in Shenzhen, Guangdong Province, China. Its local name is 梧桐山国家森林公园. The park encompasses Wutong Mountain and provides a substantial green landscape within a densely developed metropolitan region.

    • Must see
    • Nature site
  4. OCT-LOFT Creative Culture Park OCT-LOFT Creative Culture Park
    05 2 hours

    OCT-LOFT Creative Culture Park

    OCT-LOFT Creative Culture Park is a former industrial compound in Shenzhen’s Nanshan District, reshaped into a cultural quarter by Overseas Chinese Town. Factory buildings now hold galleries, studios, creative workspaces, shops, cafés, restaurants, and event venues.

    • Must see
    • Art and culture venue
  5. Dapeng Fortress Dapeng Fortress
    06 45 min

    Dapeng Fortress

    大鹏所城

    Dapeng Fortress, known locally as 大鹏所城, is a historic military fortification in Shenzhen's Dapeng New District.

    • Must see
    • Historic monument
  6. Shenzhen Bay Park Shenzhen Bay Park
    07 1 hour

    Shenzhen Bay Park

    深圳湾公园

    Shenzhen Bay Park is a coastal linear park stretching along Shenzhen Bay in southern Shenzhen, Guangdong Province, China. The park forms part of the city's waterfront green corridor, facing Hong Kong across the bay.

    • Must see
    • Nature site
  7. Lianhuashan Park Lianhuashan Park
    08 1 hour

    Lianhuashan Park

    莲花山公园

    Lianhuashan Park is a central green space in Shenzhen’s Futian District, known locally as 莲花山公园. Its lotus-flower-shaped hill rises among the city’s dense urban development.

    • Must see
    • Nature site
  8. Museum of Contemporary Art & Planning Exhibition Museum of Contemporary Art & Planning Exhibition
    09 1 hr 30 min

    Museum of Contemporary Art & Planning Exhibition

    深圳市当代艺术与城市规划馆

    The Museum of Contemporary Art and Planning Exhibition occupies a prominent position in Shenzhen’s Civic Center area. Designed by Coop Himmelb(l)au, its metallic exterior and angular volumes make the building a landmark in their own right.

    • Must see
    • Museum
  9. HQB Museum HQB Museum
    10 45 min

    HQB Museum

    华强北

    Huaqiangbei is a major commercial district in Shenzhen, Guangdong Province, China. Known widely as one of the world's largest electronics markets, it occupies a significant area in the Futian District.

    • Must see
    • Historic monument
  10. Happy Valley Shenzhen Happy Valley Shenzhen
    11 2 hours

    Happy Valley Shenzhen

    欢乐谷

    Happy Valley Shenzhen, or 深圳欢乐谷, is a large urban amusement park in Shenzhen, Guangdong, built around themed environments, rides, performances and family entertainment.

    • Must see
    • Entertainment venue
  11. Fairylake Botanical Garden Fairylake Botanical Garden
    12 1 hour

    Fairylake Botanical Garden

    仙湖植物园

    Fairy Lake Botanical Garden, or 仙湖植物园, is a large botanical garden in Shenzhen’s eastern area. Hills, a lake and cultivated plant landscapes shape the visit.

    • Must see
    • Nature site
  12. Dameisha Beach Dameisha Beach
    13 1 hour

    Dameisha Beach

    大梅沙

    Dameisha Beach Park is a coastal recreational area in Shenzhen, China. Its local name is 大梅沙海滨公园. The park sits on the southern coast of the city facing Mirs Bay and the South China Sea.

    • Must see
    • Nature site
  13. Xiaomeisha Beach
    14 3 hours

    Xiaomeisha Beach

    Xiaomeisha Beach is a seaside recreation area in Yantian District on Shenzhen’s eastern coast, known locally as 小梅沙海滨. Its setting combines a sandy shoreline, seawater and the hilly coastal landscape that characterizes this part of the city.

    • Must see
    • Nature site
  14. Shenzhen Museum Shenzhen Museum
    15 1 hr 30 min

    Shenzhen Museum

    深圳博物馆历史民俗馆

    Shenzhen Museum is a municipal cultural institution in Shenzhen, Guangdong Province, known locally as 深圳博物馆. It is a useful stop for travelers who want context for the city's transformation from a small fishing settlement into a major modern metropolis.

    • Must see
    • Museum
  15. Nantou Nantou
    16 45 min

    Nantou

    南头古城

    Nantou Ancient City, or 南头古城, is a historic fortified settlement in Shenzhen. It preserves the memory of an older urban landscape within a city better known for new towers, technology, and rapid construction.

    • Must see
    • Historic monument
  16. Sea World Shekou Sea World Shekou
    17 2 hours

    Sea World Shekou

    Sea World Shekou is an open waterfront dining, public-space, and evening precinct in Shenzhen's Shekou district. The area centres on a decommissioned Minghua cruise ship, now permanently moored and converted into a hotel and restaurant complex.

    • Must see
    • Activity
  17. OCT East OCT East
    18 4 hours

    OCT East

    OCT East is a major theme park resort complex in Shenzhen's Yantian District, developed by Overseas Chinese Town Enterprises. It occupies mountainous coastal terrain east of urban Shenzhen.

    • Must see
    • Entertainment venue
  18. Shenzhen Safari Park Shenzhen Safari Park
    19 1 hr 30 min

    Shenzhen Safari Park

    深圳野生动物园

    Shenzhen Safari Park is a large zoological attraction in Shenzhen, known locally as 深圳野生动物园. It is designed around encounters with wild animals in safari-themed surroundings and suits travellers looking for a dedicated wildlife day.

    • Must see
    • Family attraction
  19. Futian Mangrove Ecological Park
    20 1 hour

    Futian Mangrove Ecological Park

    福田红树林生态公园

    Futian Mangrove Ecological Park, or 福田红树林生态公园, protects a coastal wetland in Shenzhen's Futian District. The park brings mangrove habitat and estuarine scenery into a highly urbanized part of the city.

    • Must see
    • Nature site
  20. Dafen Dafen
    21 45 min

    Dafen

    大芬油画村

    Dafen Oil Painting Village is an art production and trading district in Shenzhen, China. A small village developed into a concentrated center for oil-painting reproduction and original art.

    • Must see
    • Historic monument
  21. Kingkey 100 Kingkey 100
    22 45 min

    Kingkey 100

    京基100

    KK100, known locally as 京基100, is a supertall mixed-use tower in Shenzhen's Luohu District. It is one of the city's most recognizable skyline landmarks and contains office space and the St.

    • Must see
    • Historic monument
  22. Shun Hing Square Shun Hing Square
    23 45 min

    Shun Hing Square

    地王大厦

    Shun Hing Square, known locally as 信兴广场, stands as a prominent commercial and architectural landmark in Shenzhen. The complex features one of the city's most recognizable skyscrapers, contributing to the distinctive skyline of this rapidly developed metropolis.

    • Must see
    • Historic monument
  23. Sea World Culture and Arts Center Sea World Culture and Arts Center
    24 2 hours

    Sea World Culture and Arts Center

    The Sea World Culture and Arts Center is a purpose-built cultural institution in Shenzhen's Shekou precinct. Its local name is 海上世界文化艺术中心. The center operates as a distinct museum and arts venue with its own galleries, exhibitions, and theatre spaces.

    • Must see
    • Art and culture venue
  24. Nanshan Museum Nanshan Museum
    25 1 hr 30 min

    Nanshan Museum

    南山博物馆

    Nanshan Museum is a public cultural institution in Shenzhen’s Nanshan District, known locally as 南山博物馆. It is a useful stop for travellers who want context for the district and the wider Shenzhen region beyond the city’s modern skyline.

    • Must see
    • Museum
  25. Shenzhen Concert Hall Shenzhen Concert Hall
    26 1 hour

    Shenzhen Concert Hall

    深圳音乐厅

    Shenzhen Concert Hall is a major performing arts venue in Shenzhen, China. Its local name is 深圳音乐厅. The building serves as a cultural landmark within the city, contributing to Shenzhen's growing reputation as a destination for arts and entertainment.

    • Must see
    • Art and culture venue
  26. Shenzhen Art Meseum Shenzhen Art Meseum
    27 1 hr 30 min

    Shenzhen Art Meseum

    深圳美术馆

    Shenzhen Art Museum, or 深圳美术馆, is a public art institution in Shenzhen, China. It provides exhibition, collection, research and art-promotion functions within a city known for rapid development and expanding cultural investment.

    • Must see
    • Museum
  27. China Merchants Group History Museum China Merchants Group History Museum
    28 1 hr 30 min

    China Merchants Group History Museum

    招商局历史博物馆

    China Merchants History Museum is a museum dedicated to the history of China Merchants Group, one of China's oldest and most significant state-owned enterprises.

    • Must see
    • Museum
  28. Chiwan Tianhou Temple Chiwan Tianhou Temple
    29 30 min

    Chiwan Tianhou Temple

    赤湾天后宫

    Chiwan Tianhou Temple, also called 赤湾天后宫, is a historic place of worship in Shenzhen dedicated to Tianhou, the sea goddess Mazu.

    • Must see
    • Place of worship
  29. Chiwan Bay Left Fort Chiwan Bay Left Fort
    30 45 min

    Chiwan Bay Left Fort

    赤湾左炮台

    Chiwan Left Fort, or 赤湾左炮台, is a historic coastal defence site in Shenzhen’s Nanshan District near Chiwan Port. The fort represents the military role of the Pearl River approaches and preserves a link between Shenzhen’s coastline and earlier maritime security.

    • Must see
    • Historic monument
  30. Tomb of Emperor Shao of Song Tomb of Emperor Shao of Song
    31 45 min

    Tomb of Emperor Shao of Song

    宋少帝陵

    The Tomb of the Young Song Emperor, known locally as 宋少帝陵, is a memorial site in Shenzhen associated with the final years of the Southern Song dynasty.

    • Must see
    • Historic monument
  31. Jv-Diao Beach
    32 1 hour

    Jv-Diao Beach

    桔钓沙

    Judiaosha Beach, or 桔钓沙, is a sandy coastal destination on Shenzhen’s Dapeng Peninsula in the city’s eastern area. The beach belongs to the South China Sea shoreline and offers a change of pace from Shenzhen’s dense urban districts.

    • Must see
    • Nature site
  32. Qiniangshan Qiniangshan
    33 20 min

    Qiniangshan

    七娘山

    Qiniang Mountain, or 七娘山, is a natural landmark in Shenzhen and a destination for visitors who want a demanding outdoor experience rather than an urban attraction.

    • Must see
    • Viewpoint
  33. Baguang Silver Leaf Wetland Park Baguang Silver Leaf Wetland Park
    34 1 hour

    Baguang Silver Leaf Wetland Park

    坝光银叶树湿地园

    Baguang Heritiera Wetland Park is a coastal wetland destination in eastern Shenzhen’s Dapeng New District. Its central attraction is the Heritiera littoralis community, including mature silver-leaf trees growing near the intertidal zone.

    • Must see
    • Nature site
  34. Fenghuang Mountain Forest Park
    35 1 hour

    Fenghuang Mountain Forest Park

    凤凰山森林公园

    Phoenix Mountain Forest Park, known locally as 凤凰山森林公园, is a forested mountain recreation area in Shenzhen. It gives visitors a chance to leave the city’s dense urban setting for wooded slopes, walking routes, and elevated outdoor scenery.

    • Must see
    • Nature site
  35. Honghu Park Honghu Park
    36 1 hour

    Honghu Park

    洪湖公园

    Honghu Park is a public urban park in Shenzhen, known locally as 洪湖公园. The park centers on Honghu Lake and serves as a recreational green space within the dense metropolitan environment.

    • Must see
    • Nature site
  36. Zhongshan Park (Nanshan, China) Zhongshan Park (Nanshan, China)
    37 1 hour

    Zhongshan Park (Nanshan, China)

    中山公园

    Zhongshan Park is an urban green space in Shenzhen, identified locally by the Chinese name 中山公园 and by OpenStreetMap way 203270341.

    • Must see
    • Nature site
  37. Bijiashan Park Bijiashan Park
    38 1 hour

    Bijiashan Park

    笔架山公园

    Bijia Mountain Park, known locally as 笔架山公园, is an urban mountain park in Shenzhen. Its name refers to the mountain’s resemblance to a traditional Chinese brush rest, giving the landscape a distinctive identity among the city’s green spaces.

    • Must see
    • Nature site
  38. Shenzhen International Garden and Flower Expo Park Shenzhen International Garden and Flower Expo Park
    39 1 hour

    Shenzhen International Garden and Flower Expo Park

    深圳国际园林花卉博览园

    Shenzhen International Garden and Flower Expo Park is a landscaped public park shaped by its origins as a major horticultural exposition. Its gardens, planted displays, and exposition-era architecture create a setting that combines designed green space with large-scale civic landscaping.

    • Must see
    • Nature site
  39. Shenzhen Talent Park Shenzhen Talent Park
    40 1 hour

    Shenzhen Talent Park

    深圳人才公园

    Shenzhen Talent Park is a waterfront public park in Shenzhen, China. Its local name is 深圳人才公园. The park is situated in the Nanshan District near Shenzhen Bay, forming part of the city's coastal park network.

    • Must see
    • Nature site
  40. Qianhai Stone Park Qianhai Stone Park
    41 1 hour

    Qianhai Stone Park

    前海石公园

    Qianhai Stone Park is a landscaped public park in Shenzhen’s Qianhai area. Its defining feature is a prominent stone monument, set within a green urban space shaped by the district’s rapid modern development.

    • Must see
    • Nature site
  41. Shenzhen Science & Technology Museum Shenzhen Science & Technology Museum
    42 1 hr 30 min

    Shenzhen Science & Technology Museum

    深圳科学技术馆

    The Shenzhen Science and Technology Museum is a cultural and educational institution dedicated to science popularisation and technological demonstration. Located in Shenzhen, Guangdong Province, it serves as a venue where visitors can engage with scientific principles and technological developments.

    • Must see
    • Museum
  42. 深圳科学馆 深圳科学馆
    43 1 hr 30 min

    深圳科学馆

    Shenzhen Science Museum, known locally as 深圳科学馆, is a science education venue in Shenzhen. It belongs to the city’s cultural and educational landscape and reflects Shenzhen’s strong connection with technology and scientific learning.

    • Must see
    • Museum
  43. Guan Shanyue Art Museum Guan Shanyue Art Museum
    44 1 hr 30 min

    Guan Shanyue Art Museum

    关山月美术馆

    Guan Shanyue Art Museum is a public art museum in Shenzhen’s Futian district, devoted to the legacy of Guan Shanyue, a major modern Chinese painter.

    • Must see
    • Museum
  44. He Xiangning Art Museum He Xiangning Art Museum
    45 1 hour

    He Xiangning Art Museum

    何香凝美术馆

    He Xiangning Art Museum is a public art museum in Shenzhen devoted to the work and legacy of He Xiangning, an artist and prominent figure in modern Chinese history.

    • Must see
    • Art and culture venue
  45. Gankeng Hakka Town Gankeng Hakka Town
    46 45 min

    Gankeng Hakka Town

    甘坑客家小镇

    Gankeng Hakka Town is a cultural heritage destination in Shenzhen’s Longgang District, centred on Hakka architecture, settlement patterns and folk culture.

    • Must see
    • Historic monument
  46. Guanlan Printmaking Village Guanlan Printmaking Village
    47 45 min

    Guanlan Printmaking Village

    观澜版画村

    Guanlan Printmaking Village is a cultural heritage site in Shenzhen's Longhua District, known for its historical architecture and contemporary printmaking tradition. The village preserves traditional Hakka-style buildings while functioning as an active base for printmaking artists.

    • Must see
    • Historic monument
  47. 光明农场大观园
    48 45 min

    光明农场大观园

    Guangming Farm Grand View Garden is an agricultural tourism attraction in Shenzhen’s Guangming District. It offers a rural counterpoint to the city’s dense urban landscape, bringing visitors into a farm-oriented setting within the metropolitan area.

    • Must see
    • Historic monument
  48. 玫瑰海岸
    49 1 hour

    玫瑰海岸

    Rose Coast, also known locally as 玫瑰海岸, is a coastal scenic destination in Shenzhen. The experience centers on shoreline scenery and landscaped outdoor spaces, offering a change from the city’s towers and commercial streets.

    • Must see
    • Nature site
  49. Shenzhen Reservoir Shenzhen Reservoir
    50 1 hour

    Shenzhen Reservoir

    深圳水库

    Shenzhen Reservoir, known locally as 深圳水库, is a major water-storage facility in Shenzhen, Guangdong.

    • Must see
    • Art and culture venue
  50. Donghu Park Donghu Park
    51 1 hour

    Donghu Park

    东湖公园

    East Lake Park, known locally as 东湖公园, is a public green space in Shenzhen. It offers an urban setting for walking, rest, and contact with trees and water within a dense metropolitan environment.

    • Must see
    • Nature site
  51. Xili Eco Park
    52 1 hour

    Xili Eco Park

    西丽生态公园

    Xili Ecological Park, locally called 西丽生态公园, is a green space in Xili, within Shenzhen’s Nanshan District. It gives visitors an outdoor setting among natural surroundings in one of the city’s densely developed metropolitan areas.

    • Must see
    • Nature site
  52. Xiangmi Park
    53 1 hour

    Xiangmi Park

    香蜜公园

    Honey Park is a mapped public green space in Shenzhen, identified by OSM way 540340500.

    • Must see
    • Nature site
  53. Shenzhen Museum of Paleontology
    54 1 hr 30 min

    Shenzhen Museum of Paleontology

    深圳古生物博物馆

    Shenzhen Paleontology Museum is a natural-history destination devoted to fossils, ancient life, and geological history. Its Chinese name is 深圳古生物博物馆.

    • Must see
    • Museum
  54. Shenzhen Museum Ancient Art Museum Shenzhen Museum Ancient Art Museum
    55 1 hr 30 min

    Shenzhen Museum Ancient Art Museum

    深圳博物馆古代艺术馆

    Shenzhen Museum of Ancient Art presents Chinese historical art and archaeological heritage in a museum setting. It offers a quieter, object-focused counterpoint to Shenzhen’s technology districts and contemporary attractions.

    • Must see
    • Museum
  55. Shenzhen Bay Mixc Shenzhen Bay Mixc
    56 45 min

    Shenzhen Bay Mixc

    深圳湾万象城

    MixC Shenzhen Bay is a major shopping complex in Shenzhen, a city in southern China adjacent to Hong Kong. It forms part of the MixC portfolio developed by China Resources Land, a prominent mainland property developer.

    • Must see
    • Market
  56. Qianhai Snow World Qianhai Snow World
    57 45 min

    Qianhai Snow World

    前海冰雪世界

    Qianhai Snow World is an indoor snow and ice entertainment complex in Shenzhen’s Qianhai area. It offers a winter-themed leisure experience in a subtropical coastal city where natural snow is not part of everyday life.

    • High
    • Market
  57. Nanshan Mountains (Shenzhen) Nanshan Mountains (Shenzhen)
    58 20 min

    Nanshan Mountains (Shenzhen)

    大南山

    Dananshan Mountain, or 大南山, is an urban green hill in Shenzhen’s Nanshan District near the Shekou peninsula. Its trails lead through subtropical vegetation to elevated viewpoints over Shenzhen, Shenzhen Bay, and the surrounding built-up landscape.

    • High
    • Viewpoint

Source: OpenStreetMap contributors, Wikidata ·

How the city is laid out

Treat Futian, Luohu and Nanshan as separate day clusters linked by metro. Civic Centre, Lianhuashan and the central skyline fit together in Futian; Dongmen and the border area define Luohu; OCT, Shekou and the bayfront spread across Nanshan. Dapeng Peninsula and eastern coastal sites require a dedicated outward journey.

Checked 2026-08-26

Getting around

Shenzhen Government Online describes a broad rail-transit network and four high-speed railway stations, including a direct rail connection to Hong Kong. Use rail for movement between the city's widely separated districts and walk within one selected cluster at a time. The official guide does not provide a single universal route for every attraction, so consult current station and service information separately before a cross-city journey or onward travel to Hong Kong.

Checked 2026-08-26

Common questions

How many days should I spend in Shenzhen?

A fixed stay length is not recorded. Build the visit around Futian, Luohu and Nanshan, then add Dapeng and the eastern coast only when the available time supports a separate journey.

What is the best way to organise sightseeing in Shenzhen?

Group places by district instead of crossing the city repeatedly. Start with Futian, Luohu and Nanshan; treat Dapeng and the eastern coast as separate routes with their own travel allowance.

How do I get around Shenzhen?

Walk within one district cluster and use the metro or rail network for longer journeys. Consult current official station and service information before relying on a particular connection.

Can I explore Shenzhen mainly on foot?

Only within individual neighbourhood clusters. The main visitor areas are separated by distances, waterways, major roads or regional approaches, so longer links normally need public transport or a licensed vehicle.

Which Shenzhen sights need separate transport planning?

Plan Dapeng and the eastern coast separately from Futian, Luohu and Nanshan. Check the current route, return connection and any access requirements on the official source before departure.