With its hundreds of cities and thousands of villages, China is unsurprisingly a favourite among travellers who seek everything from urban hustle to rural calm.
Shenzhen, one of the major prefecture cities in China’s Guangdong Province, may be known more for the former and not quite the latter. But visit it in person and you’ll see some of its 10 districts do have countryside charms too.
Travelling there is even more convenient now as Malaysia Airlines has recently launched its direct services from Kuala Lumpur.
Undecided on where to go for your Shenzhen exploration? Here are a few suggestions that include attractions both modern and traditional.
You’ll want to begin from the city centre, which spans the Futian and Luohu districts. In Futian, you will find the second tallest building in China (after the Shanghai Tower): the 599.1m-tall Ping An Finance Centre.
On this skyscraper’s 116th floor is the Free Sky observation deck – no free entry, though.
After paying for your ticket, you will get access to not just 360° views of the city but also neighbouring Hong Kong.
Time your visit to include nighttime views. You will see why urban photographers love the city’s lit-up skyline. Vanke Cloud City and the Galaxy Twin Towers are among the skyscrapers you will see adding to its futuristic flair and cyberpunk aesthetic.
Shenzhen may boast the most skyscrapers – over 620 of them! – in mainland China, but you’ll want to appreciate the city’s natural beauty too.
Head to Fairy Lake Botanical Garden in the Luohu district. Located at the foot of Wutong Mountain, you can even go hiking here or visit the garden’s Hongfa Temple.
For a more coastal escape, visit Dameisha Beach in the Yantian district. It is one of Shenzhen’s largest public beaches, perfect for water sports and cycling.
Nanshan district is where you’ll find Nantou Ancient City. This historical enclave has existed for over 1,700 years, making it a great place to learn about Shenzhen’s heritage.
Another historical place that might interest you is the Dapeng Fortress, which is a preserved military fortress built in 1934 for protection against pirates.
As the Hakka people are one of the original Indigenous inhabitants of Shenzhen, you can find plenty of Hakka-themed attractions here. For example, the well-preserved Pingshan Hakka Village and Guihutang Traditional Hakka Village.
In the Longgang district, visit Dafen Oil Painting Village, which is said to have produced over half of the world’s oil paintings during its peak.
Circling back to modern times, Binhai Cultural Park in the Bao’an district is an urban park that is popular for evening walks and sunset views.
It also has the 128m “Bay of Light” Ferris wheel, which is recognised as the fourth-largest cantilevered observation wheel in the world.
In the Guangming district, take a stroll at Hongqiao Park. The name means “red bridge park”.
You’ll understand why once you set eye on the 4km bright red pedestrian bridge that lets you wander through the park from a height of eight metre above the ground. Guangming is also where the airport is located.
