Shenzhen reinvented itself from a fishing village of 30,000 in 1980 to a megacity of 17 million. Its attractions are deliberately built: theme parks, observation decks, and modern cultural centers. Here are the specific sights worth your time with practical details.
Things to Do in Shenzhen: Attractions and Activities
Window of the World
Window of the World at 9037 Shennan Avenue, Nanshan District, is a 48-hectare theme park with 130 reproductions of world landmarks at scales of 1:1 to 1:15. The Eiffel Tower (108 meters, 1:3 scale) has an observation deck and is the park’s centerpiece. The Grand Canyon and Niagara Falls have water features. The park is open daily 9am to 10:30pm (9pm in winter). Entry: 220 CNY (adults), 110 CNY (children 1.2m to 1.5m). The nightly dance show “Fervorous Paris” at the Eiffel Tower starts at 7:30pm (included in ticket). Metro: Window of the World station (Lines 1 and 2), Exit I. Allow 4 to 5 hours. Buy tickets online (Meituan or Ctrip) for 10% to 15% discount.
OCT Loft Creative Culture Park
The Overseas Chinese Town (OCT) Loft at Enping Street, Nanshan District, is Shenzhen’s arts and creative district built in a repurposed 1980s industrial complex. The area has 40+ galleries, design studios, bookstores, and independent cafes spread across brick warehouses. The OCT Contemporary Art Terminal (OCAT) has free rotating contemporary art exhibitions (open Tuesday to Sunday 10am to 5:30pm). The OCT Art and Design Gallery hosts international design shows (30 CNY). The weekend creative market (Saturdays and Sundays 10am to 7pm) sells handmade crafts, prints, and vintage items. Metro: Qiaocheng East station (Line 1), Exit A, then 10-minute walk. Free entry to the overall district. Allow 2 to 3 hours. The area has some of Shenzhen’s best independent coffee at Gee Coffee and BRANDBLACK.
Ping An Finance Centre Observation Deck
At 599 meters (1,965 feet), the Ping An Finance Centre in Futian District is the fifth-tallest building in the world. The observation deck “Free Sky” on the 116th floor (541 meters) offers 360-degree views across Shenzhen Bay to Hong Kong’s New Territories on clear days. Located at 5033 Yitian Road, Futian. Open daily 9am to 10pm (last entry 9:15pm). Entry: 200 CNY (adults). The glass floor panels at the edge of the deck let you look straight down. Visibility is best November through March when humidity is lower; check the Shenzhen weather forecast before booking. Allow 1 hour. Metro: Shopping Park station (Line 1), Exit D. Buy tickets online for 180 CNY.
Dafen Oil Painting Village
Dafen, located in Longgang District (Buji area), is the world’s largest oil painting reproduction center with 800+ galleries and workshops in a compact village. Artists produce hand-painted reproductions of Van Gogh, Monet, and classical Chinese works alongside original contemporary art. Prices start at 50 CNY for a small reproduction and 200 to 500 CNY for a larger work. Custom commissions (provide a photo) take 2 to 3 days and cost 300 to 1,000 CNY depending on size. Open daily, most galleries operate 9am to 7pm. Free entry to the village. Metro: Dafen station (Line 3), Exit A1, then 500m walk. Allow 2 to 3 hours. Bargaining is expected for reproductions (offer 50% to 60% of the asking price). The village has framing shops that can pack and ship internationally.
Shenzhen Museum of Contemporary Art and Planning (MOCAPE)
MOCAPE at 184 Fuzhong Road, Futian District, is a striking architectural complex combining the Museum of Contemporary Art and the Urban Planning Museum under one sculptural roof. The Contemporary Art section has rotating exhibitions of Chinese and international artists. The Urban Planning section has a massive scale model of Shenzhen showing the city’s layout and future development. Open Tuesday to Sunday 10am to 6pm (last entry 5:30pm). Free entry but you must reserve a time slot via the “Shenzhen Museum” WeChat mini-program 1 to 7 days in advance. Passport required for foreign visitors. Metro: Children’s Palace station (Lines 3 and 4), Exit B. Allow 2 hours. The adjacent Lianhuashan Park has a bronze statue of Deng Xiaoping and good city views.
Splendid China Folk Village and China Folk Culture Village
These two adjacent parks at 9003 Shennan Avenue, Nanshan, cover Chinese history and ethnic culture. Splendid China has 1:15 scale models of 82 famous Chinese sites including the Forbidden City, Great Wall, and Terracotta Warriors. The Folk Culture Village has life-size recreations of 25 ethnic minority villages with demonstrations of crafts and performances. Open daily 9am to 9:30pm. Combined ticket: 220 CNY. The “Dragon and Phoenix” evening show at 7pm features 300 performers. The “Oriental Colorful Garments” show at 5pm displays traditional costumes. Metro: OCT station (Line 1), Exit D. Allow 4 to 5 hours for both parks. Visit on weekdays to avoid the domestic tour groups that flood the park on weekends.
Dameisha Beach and OCT East
Dameisha Beach in Yantian District is Shenzhen’s main public beach, a 1.8km stretch of sand on Mirs Bay. It reopened in 2023 after renovation with new facilities, boardwalks, and water sports. The beach is free but requires reservation via WeChat during peak season (May to October). Open 7am to 10pm. Swimming zones are marked with buoy lines. Water quality is moderate; avoid swimming within 48 hours of heavy rain due to runoff. OCT East, 5km inland from Dameisha, is a resort with the Tea Stream Resort Valley (hot springs, tea culture) and Knight Valley (rides, theme park). OCT East entry: 200 CNY for one park, 270 CNY for both. Bus 387 from Luohu to Dameisha (1 hour, 7 CNY). Sea temperature peaks at 29°C in August as detailed in the weather data.
