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30 Best Things to Do in Shenzhen (in 2026)
👉 Jump to: Best Things to Do | Sites and Attractions | Museums and Culture | With Kids | Outdoors | Free Things
I’ve been living in Hong Kong since 2008 and have regularly popped across the border to Shenzhen during that time. I’ve created this guide to point you to the best things to do in Shenzhen, a city that’s morphed from a small fishing village to the tech-driven modern metropolis that it is today.
This list includes the main attractions and things to do here, plus some off-the-radar places that other tourists will not know about. I’ll cover the best museums and cultural experiences, things to do outdoors, what to do with kids, and a handful of free activities, too.
Bookmark my guide to where to stay in Shenzhen and use it alongside this list so you can plan the best possible trip.
30 Best Things to Do in Shenzhen
Ping An Finance Centre
Crane your neck up at one of the world’s tallest buildings.
📍 Google Maps | Hours: 10 am – 10 pm | Entrance: 180RMB | 👉 Book a Private & Flexible Shenzhen Day Tour with Guide on Viator
Currently the second-tallest building in China and number five in the world, the Ping An Finance Centre still manages to soar above a skyline that is filled with high-rises.
As with most super tall buildings, there is an obligatory observation deck called Free Sky 116, which offers dazzling views of the city and as far as Hong Kong on a clear day. You can add this must-see stop to your itinerary on this flexible Shenzhen day tour.
The Ping An Finance Centre is still worth visiting, even without ascending to the observatory, though. Come here to look up and feel very small standing beneath it.
Splendid China Folk Village
Search out different customs and traditions in this Chinese cultural park.
📍 Google Maps | Website | Hours: 10 am – 10 pm daily | Entrance: 220RMB | 👉 Book Splendid China Folk Village Half Day Tour on Viator
If you have limited time to visit the various ethnic groups scattered around China, then head to the Splendid China Folk Village. This unique attraction gives an interesting insight into the lives of many people in the countryside.
Faithful replicas of traditional homes and buildings dot the park, and there are people dressed in traditional clothes, ready to give demonstrations. There is also a model village focusing on places in China.
Shenzhen Bay Culture Plaza
Visit the hub of the technology revolution.
📍 Google Maps | 👉 Book Shenzhen Tech Tour on Viator
Looking as though a giant dropped an earbud on the landscaped lawns, the Shenzhen Bay Culture Plaza is a new addition to the Nanshan area. It’s the perfect place to visit for those wanting a stroll through the undulating man-made hills with a hint of technology.
Exhibitions and displays focusing on the latest technological advances often take place in the subterranean halls. There’s always the chance of seeing a humanoid robot outside being tested. You’ll have the chance to experience all of the innovation firsthand on this Shenzhen tech tour.
Qianhai Ice and Snow World
Go skiing in the middle of a huge city.
📍 Google Maps | Website | Hours: 10 am – 10 pm daily | Entrance: From 348RMB
Ever wanted to go skiing when it’s a hot and humid 35 degrees (Celsius) outside? Qianhai Ice and Snow World allows you to do just this. Or snowboard, if that’s your preference.
Located north of the airport, Qianhai Ice and Snow World is perfect for those wanting ski or boarding lessons and for beginners wanting to hone their skills in the world’s largest indoor ski run. The temperature drops dramatically once inside, so wrap up warm. There are a couple more ski places near the Window of the World.
Massages
Relax and unwind in one of the many massage chairs around the city.
📍 Multiple Locations
One of the main reasons many Hong Kongers make the trip across the border is that massage services are a great value in Shenzhen.
There’s a range of services and prices for everyone, from simple foot massages to full-blown all-day spa experiences, such as at Tangqi Tangquan Life in Futian. Some of the less salubrious hotels might host massage parlours that provide “extra” services, so always check out the place to ensure it’s reputable and professional before booking.
📚 Related Reading: Where to Stay in Hong Kong (7 Best Places & Areas, By a Local)
Shenzhen Sites and Attractions
Sea World
Visit a docked cruise ship and eat at international restaurants.
Shenzhen’s Sea World is not a place with aquariums full of captive dolphins and whales, but a restaurant and entertainment hub in Shekou. There is a definite international flavour to the whole area, and if you’re craving Western food, this is the place to come.
Smack bang in the middle of the complex is moored an old cruise ship named the Minghua, which you can board and explore. The pathways meander towards the grassy area, the sea, and the Sea World Culture and Arts Centre.
Bao’an Binhai Culture Park
Stroll along the curved walkways and admire the sea views.
The Bao’an Binhai Culture Park is a park that seamlessly blends into the Huanle Harbour Mall. This multi-layered park provides plenty of walking space and greenery before you head for some shopping, food, or a ride on the Ferris Wheel.
Footbridges curve their way over and around the trees, and pathways extend to the rooftop of the mall, where viewpoints of the bay can be had.
Coco Park
Spend hours eating, drinking, shopping, and movie watching.
📍 Google Maps | Hours: 10 am – 10 pm Sunday to Thursday, 10 am – 10:30 pm, Friday and Saturday
Four blocks are covered by the commercial and entertainment space that is Coco Park and the adjacent PA Mall. A day can easily be spent here. The mall houses a wealth of shops, restaurants, cafes, and a cinema, and is located at the foot of the towering Ping An Finance Centre. Nearby is the Futian High Speed Railway Station, so Coco Park could be your first taste of Shenzhen.
KK100 (KingKey) Skyscraper and Mall
Look up at the second-tallest building in Shenzhen.
📍Google Maps | Hours: 10 am – 10 pm daily
The KK100 Skyscraper and Mall (formerly the KingKey skyscraper, renamed due to its 100 floors) is currently the second-tallest building in Shenzhen.
Standing tall over the nearby Lizhi Park and lake, its unique slim design offers a slightly different take on the hundreds of other high rises around the growing metropolis. The mall below offers the usual shopping, drinks, and food. It’s a good place to go if some respite is required from the heat or humidity.
Museums and Culture in Shenzhen
OCT Loft
Wander shady lanes looking for hidden artistic surprises.
📍 Google Maps | Website
The area comprising OCT Loft was once a warehouse and factory district, but it’s been regenerated into an artist’s haven with workshops, exhibitions, and displays scattered around the tree-lined lanes. There is also a wide range of cafes, bakeries, and restaurants dotted amongst the shady areas. This makes it a good choice for a leisurely lunch and stroll while spotting artistic pieces.
Shenzhen Concert Hall
Listen to classical music in a world-class venue.
📍 Google Maps | Phone: (86) 755-8284-1888 | Website
Fans of classical music and performances can head to the Shenzhen Concert Hall. Housed within an angular and spacious glass exterior, it hosts visiting orchestras from around the world and provides a world-class performance hall inside. Tickets for performances can be booked online.
Sea World Culture and Arts Centre
Browse artistic galleries and exhibitions.
📍 Google Maps | Phone: (86) 755-2667-1187 | Website | Hours: 10 am – 10 pm daily | Entrance: 62RMB, adults, $144, family (2 adults, 1 child 6-14 years old)
If you’re searching for a slice of culture amongst the slightly brash Sea World, then head southeast from the restaurants, and you’ll find Sea World Culture and Arts Centre.
This space is more of a modern art museum, and the building hosts a range of displays and artists’ work. It even has a space dedicated to the V&A Museum in the UK. The outside lawn is a great place to soak in the sea views.
G and G Creative Community
Hang out in a renovated former factory.
Located inside a repurposed factory and warehouse complex, the G and G Creative Community is a trendy and artistic hangout spot. Restaurants, cafes, handicraft stores, and even plant shops enliven the interior, with the bare concrete walls giving it an austere atmosphere. It’s the perfect place to visit on a rainy day to sip coffee and enjoy a leisurely lunch.
Grand Theatre
Watch an international or Chinese show.
📍 Google Maps | Phone: (86) 755-2590-6000 | Website
Located opposite Lizhi Park and next to KK100, the Grand Theatre is an entertainment venue that hosts Chinese and international shows and musicals. The Phantom of the Opera was playing when I last checked.
If you fancy seeing a show, then try to navigate the website or go to the box office at the Grand Theatre to purchase tickets.
Museum of Contemporary Art and Urban Planning
Discover how Shenzhen has grown into a modern metropolis.
📍 Google Maps | Website | Hours: 10 am – 6 pm daily, Mondays closed | Entrance: Free
If you’re interested in learning how Shenzhen grew from a tiny fishing village to a sprawling metropolis in the space of 40 years, then you’ll want to visit the Museum of Contemporary Art and Urban Planning.
The stunning exterior and interior design is worth the visit alone, but there is plenty of information on how Shenzhen was planned, and about the already completed, as well as ongoing, buildings and projects. There is often a (paid) art exhibition showing, but other art is displayed on the opposite half of the museum.
Things to Do in Shenzhen With Kids
Window of the World
Bring children to a massive, miniature theme park.
📍 Google Maps | Hours: 9 am – 10 pm daily, (until 10:30 pm on public holidays) | Entrance: 220RMB adults; 110RMB children between 1.2 and 1.5m, free, children under 1.2m under 13 | 👉 Buy Window of the World Theme Park Entry Ticket on Get Your Guide
If you fancy visiting the world’s most famous landmarks in miniature, then the Window of the World will literally give you a great oversight of some very well-known places. From European architecture to ancient ruins and temples, kids and adults alike will have fun spotting and naming as many places as they can at this incredible theme park.
Science Museum
Introduce children to the wonders of science.
📍 Google Maps | Hours: 10 am – 6 pm daily, Closed Mondays | Entrance: Free
The Science Museum may be a bit outdated, but kids can have fun here for an hour or two with the interactive displays and games. Most displays and activities are in both Mandarin and English, with scientific topics such as the planetary system, 3D shapes, mathematical puzzles, and robotics. There’s also an outdoor play area, and best of all, it’s free!
Ferris Wheel
Ride the wheel and admire the views.
📍 Google Maps | Website | Hours: 10:30 am – 9:30 pm daily, Closed Tuesdays | Entrance: 150RMB, adults, (180RMB, public holidays), 80RMB, children between 1 metre and 1.4 metres
The Ferris Wheel towers over Bao’an Culture Coastal Park and looks remarkably similar to the London Eye in both size and design. As you would expect, it gives uninterrupted views of the bay and skyscrapers of Bao’an. With fairly expensive ticket prices, a clear day might be required to justify the entrance fee.
Guiwan Park
Search for wildlife in the wetlands along the river.
Guiwan Park is located on either side of the estuary that feeds inland from Qianhai Bay, and this lovely stretch of greenery feels very tranquil despite its proximity to the skyscrapers.
Winding pathways and manicured lawns make a perfect place for a weekend picnic, and the child-friendly wetland areas are informative, providing footbridge access. There are even sections of the pond that have tadpoles in them during the springtime.
Outdoors in Shenzhen
Talent Park
Walk a lap of the bay with the Nanshan skyline in the background.
Squeezed between the newly erected skyscrapers of Nanshan and the water of Shenzhen Bay, Talent Park makes a great place for a stroll, a picnic, or a relaxing time away from the busy city. You can complete a circular route right around the bay, crossing over a footbridge on the way. There are plenty of shaded and lawn areas from which to admire the skyline of Nanshan.
Nanshan Park
Hike through tree-lined paths and up stairs
Yes, there are hiking trails in Shenzhen, and one of the most accessible is up to the peak of Nanshan Park. The easiest access to the trailhead is to go up Guishan Road, then turn left onto the trail pathway. It’s pretty much up the whole way with a lot of steps to manage.
This hike is best attempted during the cooler winter months, and the reward is a sweeping view of Shekou and Nanshan districts.
Lizhi Park
Stroll around Li Lake and admire the skyline.
Lizhi Park, meaning Lychee Park in English, has plenty of shaded pathways, footbridges, and a large lake that often has boats and pedaloes for hire. With the Luohu skyline, including the KK100, lining one side of the lake, Lizhi Park offers a pleasant contrast to the gleaming steel and glass.
Lianhuashan Park
Escape the high-rises of Futian with this slice of greenery.
Covered in large expanses of lawn with ancient banyan trees providing shade, Lianhuashan Park offers a place to rest after the walk north from Civic Square. A 15-minute ascent up the hill to the viewing platform affords panoramic views of the Futian skyline. Aim to be up there for sunset as the city begins to illuminate.
Shenzhen Bay Park
Walk along the bay, passing mangroves along the way.
This waterfront walk, which begins from exit C of Shenzhen Bay Park metro station, can lead you all the way to Talent Park in Nanshan if you have the energy. There are mangroves dotting the shoreline and the occasional cafe and snack stall if you need some food and drink.
If you’re interested in mangroves, further east of Shenzhen Bay Park is the Futian Mangrove Nature Reserve.
Free Things to Do in Shenzhen
Gangxia North Metro Station
Marvel at the ceiling design and intersection of one of Shenzhen’s busiest stations.
Locally named the “Eye of Shenzhen,” the Gangxia North Station is an engineering and architectural marvel. Four metro lines intersect here, so if you need to change trains, you can’t miss the eye staring down from above. You’ll have to pay the 2RMB ticket fare if you enter the station and just want to have a look. Make sure to avoid morning and evening rush hours.
Citizen Square
Marvel at the grandiose scale of this open public space.
Citizen Square sits in front of the huge wavy arch that is the Civic Centre. The square operates primarily as a huge park where locals can wander, fly kites, or hang out.
Views of the Ping An Finance Centre and skyline can be seen from the stairs leading up to it and the massive public square in front. Continue walking north, and you’ll pass the Shenzhen Library, Shenzhen Concert Hall, and the Museum of Contemporary Art and Urban Planning on the way to Lianhuashan Park.
Zhongshuge Bookshop
Browse for literature in this uniquely designed bookstore.
China certainly has a talent for designing eye-catching bookshops and libraries, and the Bao’an branch of Zhongshuge is no exception. A twisty book tunnel leads you into the shop proper. It’s mostly for display, but effective nonetheless. The maze-like store is enhanced by the clever use of mirrors and lighting.
The Zhongshuge Bookshop caters mainly to Chinese readers, but there are a few English books hidden amongst the shelves.
Dongmen Commercial Street
Wander the shopping streets of Dongmen for some bargains.
Covering most of the area between and around Laojie and Dongmen metro stations, the Dongmen Commercial Street winds its way through a shopper’s paradise. There are shops aplenty, with foot massages, snack stores, and drink stalls lining the surrounding lanes. Exit from either Laojie or Dongmen metro stations and wander the streets for some cheap bargains.
K11 Ecoast
Enter an artistic shopping mall.
As with its namesake in Kowloon, Hong Kong, the K11 Ecoast is a shopping mall that focuses on art, design, and innovation. Part of a wider K11 complex that stretches south towards the sea, K11 Ecoast is newly opened, and there are still a few vacant shop spaces. The central design piece is worth the trip alone. The easiest access is from the Shekou Port metro station.
Shenzhen Library
Seek out a quiet corner in this sleekly designed library.
📍 Google Maps | Phone: (86) 755-8284-1211
Shenzhen Library is another piece of dazzling modern architecture that offers a quiet sanctuary from the city or a place to check out the interior design. High, glass ceilings and windows allow plenty of light in for study, reading, or just relaxing in the space. It’s located just west of Citizen Square and next to Shenzhen Concert Hall.
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I hope I’ve helped you figure out exactly what to do in Shenzhen! The city offers a wealth of activities to choose from, whether it be pampering at a spa, strolling around numerous parks and shorelines, or taking in the cutting-edge architecture and technology. If you have a question, feel free to ask me in the comments below.
Looking to explore another nearby metropolis? Up next, take a look at my guide to the best things to do in Hong Kong!