A photograph of Shenzhen

City guide · China

Shenzhen

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 commerci...

Photograph · Charlie fong · CC BY-SA 4.0

3,880 Places
Suggested stay
Not recorded
Getting around
Walking, metro and rail

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

Reviewed by Elena Voss · Roavina Travel Editor

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.

Checked 2026-08-26

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

Planning a visit

September · Shenzhen Meteorological Bureau identifies September as part of the July-to-September late flood season, when an average three to four tropical cyclones affect the city.

  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

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. Happy Valley Shenzhen Happy Valley Shenzhen
    03 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

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.