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Header image courtesy of Robert Bye (via Unsplash)
In need of a quick getaway? The city of Shenzhen has a lot to offer. From a glamorous rooftop bar overlooking the glistening cityscape, to a theme park filled with miniature landmarks from all over the world, we share with you some of our favourite things to see and do in Shenzhen.
Coffee shops, boutiques, art galleries, restaurants—you name it, this place has got it. Located just a short 5–10 minutes’ walk from the Qiaocheng East station (Shenzhen Metro Line 1, Exit A), OCT-LOFT is a regular gathering ground for all culture vultures across the city. Not only is the park filled with a ton of Insta-worthy hotspots, but there is also a regular creative market held every first and third weekend of each month, where visitors will get to shop for everything from handmade jewellery, to decorative pieces for your home. If you do decide to make a visit, we'd advise you to put on some comfy shoes because there will be lots of walking around!
OCT-LOFT Creative Culture Park, Kaiping Street, HuaQiaoCheng, Nanshan District
Spread across the 18th floor of the Fraser Suites Shenzhen in the Futian District (Shenzhen Metro Line 1, Huaqiang Road Station), the Ding Sky Bar is the perfect place to be if you want to watch the sunset, sip on a cocktail or two, and munch on delicious nibbles. With an infinity pool overlooking the Shenzhen cityscape, this bohemian-style rooftop bar is a popular spot for city dwellers to retreat to after a long day. We highly recommend arriving just before 5.30pm so you have plenty of time to enjoy the gorgeous sunset.
Ding Sky Bar, 18/F, Fraser Suites Shenzhen, 183 Zhenhua Lu, Futian District
With over 100 miniature-scale replicas of some of the most iconic landmarks from around the world, the Window of the World theme park is divided into eight different parts, with each area featuring an impressive collection of miniature attractions from particular regions of the world. Covering roughly 480,000 square metres, the park is easy to get to. Simply hop on Line 1 or 2 on the Shenzhen Metro, stop at the Window of the World station, and take Exit J.
Window of the World, 9037 Shennan Road, Nanshan District
Even if you haven’t been to Shenzhen, you’ve most likely heard of the hugely popular shopping mall, COCO Park (Shenzhen Metro Line 1 or 3, Shopping Park station, Exit C/G). Featuring over 200 international and local brand names, a plethora of indoor and outdoor dining options, and two large scale children’s playgrounds, COCO Park has everything under one roof. Perfect for a family day trip.
COCO Park, 268 Fuhua 3rd Road, Futian CBD, Futian District
Shenzhen Safari Park is another great option for families. Located near the Xili station (Shenzhen Metro Line 7, Exit B), the park is home to a huge kingdom of animals. From rare majestic white tigers to cute fluffy llamas, visitors will have the chance to get up close with exotic wild animals and learn about their habitats in true safari style. Don’t forget to catch an animal show at one of the performance stages and halls too—you can check out the full schedule here.
Shenzhen Safari Park, 465 Xili Road, Nanshan District
With three different outlets dotted around Shenzhen, the IH Cafe is well known for its aesthetically-pleasing decor, Insta-worthy nibbles, and genuine laid-back vibes. Depending on personal preference, each outlet has its own unique theme. While both outlets in Nanshan and Bao’an district have a more colourful summertime feel, the Futian store is on the opposite end of the spectrum with a low-key classic Moroccan vibe. Either way, we guarantee you won't be able to stop snapping away for the ‘gram!
IH Cafe, 10 Tai Zi Lu, SheKou, Nanshan DistrictBlock C5, Yintian Originality Park, Xixiang, Bao’an District28 Kaifeng Road, Futian District
Located just a short distance away from the China/Hong Kong border, Dongmen is a fascinating part of town that is often overcrowded with both locals and tourists. Apart from offering insanely cheap buys and funky souvenirs to bring back to your nearest and dearest, Dongmen is also a great place to sink your teeth into all kinds of delicious nibbles from the numerous stalls along the Dongmen Food Street. Here you will find everything from fresh fruit smoothies, to authentic Jianbings (Chinese crêpes), and more. And the best part is, they’re all ridiculously cheap!
Dongmen Food Street, Laojie station, Dongmen Middle Road, Louhu
If you're looking to wind down on your trip, then a visit to Queen’s Spa is a must (there is a free shuttle bus from Queen Spa shopfront at Lo Wu Shopping Centre). Opening its doors 24/7 all year round, this magical spa will attend to your every need. Whether you’re after a straightforward massage or need a good ear canal cleaning, there will be a member of staff to help you out. Afterwards, you can also head to the sleeping areas for a quick power nap, take a dip in the swimming pool, fuel up on food at the Chinese restaurant, or even play some mindless video games to pass the time.
Queen’s Spa, B1/F-4/F, Golden Metropolis Building, Chunfeng Road, Luohu
Born in Hong Kong and raised in the UK, Jenny grew up with the best of both worlds. She loves just about anything to do with music and doesn’t shy away from belting out a tune or two when it comes to karaoke. If she’s not out and about exploring the city and practising her photography skills, she’s probably tucked up in bed with a book or glued to her laptop doing her online shopping.
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