Things to do in Shēnzhèn
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Dapeng Fortress
East of Shenzen is Dapeng Fortress. This preserved walled town, still a lively village, was built 600 years ago and was a key battle site in the Opium Wars in the 19th century. To get here, board bus 360 at Yinhu bus station; the bus also stops near China Regency Hotel at Sungang Lu. The journey takes about 90 minutes. Alight at Dapeng bus station (Dàpéng zǒngzhàn; 大鹏总站 ) and change to bus 966. Faster and easier is the Sha Tau Kok Express ($60, 90 minutes, hourly departure between 7am and 6.30pm) at Suffolk Rd (MTR Kowloon Tong, exit C). At the Dapeng bus station change to minibus 966.
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Minsk World
Some 12km east of Shenzhen City a 40,000-ton decommissioned Soviet aircraft carrier and military theme park called Minsk World, complete with choppers, MiG fighter planes, and a troupe of Russian dancers in military costumes (and hot pants) performing bizarre erotic dances.
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OCT East
Some 20km east of Shenzhen City, a whopping Y3.5 billion went into making OCT East, an upmarket and incredibly beautiful theme-park-cum-resort that will certainly awe you. It feels like a supersized Universal Studios plus Chinese Disneyland, with a mock Swiss village, a golf complex, a tea valley and luxurious hotels to keep you entertained and pampered. The park offers some stunning views that make it worth a couple of days to explore, and you can rent a car from inside the park to tour around. To get here, an express bus (Y65, one hour) leaves hourly at exit E, Kowloon Tong MTR station in Hong Kong, between 8.15am and 5.15pm. In Shenzhen, Sightseeing Bus 1, which leaves…
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Shēnzhèn Museum
A good introduction to this incredible city is this hulking new complex. Through spectacular life-sized dioramas and massive interactive multimedia presentations, it showcases the city's short yet dynamic history of social transformation before and after Deng Xiaoping's policies of reform. Take metro line 4 to Shìmín Zhōngxīn station (Civic Centre Station), exit B.
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OCT-LOFT Art Terminal
The city’s cultural ambition is obvious, especially in the Overseas Chinese Town, 15km west of Shenzhen City. The OCT-LOFT Art Terminal is an ambitious project intended to attract artists to gather and explore, discuss and consume. This excellent museum complex exhibits works of international and local contemporary Chinese artists. Some communist-era warehouses have been converted into artists’ studios, hip cafes and bars.
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Dàfēn Village
You shouldn't miss Dàfēn Village in Bùjí, Lónggǎng district. Even just walking around is an eye-opening experience. With 600 art-packed stores and 8000 skilled artists, this village generates thousands of freshly painted Van Goghs and any famous masterpiece you can imagine, every week. Bus 306 from Luóhú takes you to the village in an hour. A taxi ride costs around Y50.
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West Lake Spring
This Hángzhōu restaurant gets the thumbs-up from locals. There’s an English-less menu with pictures. The signature dishes, Lóngjǐng Xiārén ( 龙井虾仁; stir-fried freshwater shrimp with Longjing tea leaves; Y78) and Sòngsǎo Yúgēng ( 宋嫂鱼羹; yellow croaker fish soup; small/large Y38/48), deserve savouring.
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Window of the World
Travellers with kids may consider visiting this theme park in the OCT, where diminutive famous monuments of the world are admired. This and other OCT theme parks can be reached by metro line 1 to the Window of the World station (Shìjiè Zhīchuāng Zhàn).
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OCT Art & Design Gallery
Just one metro stop from the Art Terminal is He Xiangning Art Gallery.Adjacent is the Beijing Water Cube–like OCT Art & Design Gallery. The focus of this new gallery is on fresh, mainland avant-garde designers. A marvellous collection of innovative design pieces in various art forms is on display. Exhibits change frequently.
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China Folk Culture Village
Splendid China is home to miniature replicas of China’s own famous sights. Included in the admission is China Folk Culture Village, which has two-dozen faux minority villages complete with minority-culture demonstrations. A mini-monorail run by the Shenzhen Happy Line Tour Co links the parks, along with several other sights.
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Queen’s Spa & Dining
Shenzhen offers all sorts of body-perfecting services, from massage to manicure. Try the Queen’s Spa & Dining near Guómào metro. This spa wonderland offers aromatherapy and different types of massages (Y168 to Y218; a minimum tip of Y30 is mandatory). The pools, fruit bar and sleeping capsules allow you to lose days inside.
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He Xiangning Art Gallery
Just one metro stop from the OCT-LOFT Art Terminal is He Xiangning Art Gallery. It has an esoteric collection of hybrid Japanese/Chinese water paintings by the legendary late master of modern Chinese art, He Xiangning. Pick up a pamphlet in English at the ticket office, as there are no English descriptions by the displays.
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Luóhú Commercial City
This overrated covered market greets visitors as they emerge from customs and immigration. You'll find five storeys of shopping insanity, with corridor after corridor of stalls selling knock-off handbags, clothing, wigs, knick-knacks, massages and DVDs.
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Jian Fu Mei Health & Beauty Centre
At Jian Fu Mei Health & Beauty Centre in Luohu Commercial City, you'll pay around Y88 to around Y100 for a massage and from around Y90 for a facial. The place is a bit decrepit but the massages are great value. The new branch at the south wing basement has a slightly cheaper rate.
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Summer Tea House
Tucked away in an office building near Xīhú Bīnguǎn is this veggies’ favourite in Shenzhen, with good-for-you ingredients, a relaxing tea-tasting area and a smoke-free dining hall (hurrah!). No English menu, but colourful pictures illustrate the dishes.
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Splendid China
Splendid China is home to miniature replicas of China’s own famous sights. Included in the admission is China Folk Culture Village, which has two-dozen faux minority villages complete with minority-culture demonstrations.
reviewed
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Old Shenzhen Museum
The old Shenzhen Museum in Litchi Park (Lìzhī Gōngyuán) has been converted into a museum of ancient arts that has less interesting displays of some 20,000 jade, porcelain and bronze artefacts.
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Mang Bing Massage Centre
In addition to shopping, Shenzhen offers all sorts of body perfecting services, from massage to manicure. Try Mang Bing Massage Centre, where you can expect to pay between around Y45 to around Y120 for an hour's massage.
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Base Bar
For blues or punk rock, the absolutely pop music-free Base Bar is where rebellious local bands jam every night. The music usually starts at 22:00. It's about a 10-minute walk south from the metro and Citic City Plaza.
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Made in Kitchen
With a sleek ambience, this restaurant serves some of the best Asian fusion dishes. The menu is a feast for the eyes and palate, with over 400 diverse choices such as samosas, sashimi and steak.
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Huaqiang Bei Commercial St
For electronics, Huaqiang Bei is a living, breathing eBay, with shops and malls for blocks on end selling the latest tech gadgets, hi-tech audiovisual equipment and computer components at rock-bottom prices.
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Dōngmén Market
Another chaotic market popular for tailored suits and skirts, and cheap ready-to-wear clothes, with competitive prices. Be extremely careful of pickpockets. By metro, get off at Laojie station and leave from exit A.
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Wong Kong Oil Painting and Art Plaza
Near the entrance to Dafen Village, this is the founding shop of this mass production painting kingdom. Bus 106 from Luohu takes you to the village in an hour's ride. A taxi ride costs around Y40 to Y60.
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C:Union
This warehouse-turned-Bohemian-style drinking haunt is where rebellious local bands jam every night after 10pm. It has a good mix of blues and punk rock, and is absolutely pop-music-free.
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True Colour
Clubbers should check out this night-time playground of young Shenzhenians. Its watering-hole-plus-dancefloor formula attracts city slickers and trendy young adults alike.
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