The city of Shenzhen is one of the world’s true megacities. Bridging the gap between mainland China and Hong Kong, it is hard to believe that just 40 years ago it was a rural farming community, made up of villages clustered on the banks of China’s Pearl River.
With its range of museums, burgeoning art district, and an impressive, diverse population of innovators and entrepreneurs, the city has a lot to show off. Here are the reasons why travelers should pay this Chinese city a visit.
It is one of the world’s leading design cities
Shenzhen became a UNESCO City of Design in 2008 and has been making its mark as one of China’s most innovative cities ever since.
Stroll the streets and you will find architecture that looks like it is from the future, as well as a number of world-class galleries, from an outpost of London’s V&A Museum to Shenzhen’s own Art and Design Gallery, the first gallery dedicated solely to design in China. Every April, the city also hosts a Design Week at the OCT-LOFT, a 37-acre creative culture park made up of leafy lanes and open squares with exhibition spaces, large-scale installations and alfresco coffee shops.
Inspiring ‘maker’ culture
Building on its former reputation as ‘the world’s workshop,’ Shenzhen has become a leading light in the modern ‘maker’ movement. Its residents have accrued considerable manufacturing and electronics know-how, ingraining a DIY mindset that has been driving progress and drawing attention worldwide.
It is a haven for book-lovers
Shenzhen's techy, but it is also a place for bibliophiles. In the heart of Futian District sits Shenzhen Book City, the largest book mall in
China.
Here, you will find bookstores that never close alongside 24-hour ‘book bars’ where you can grab a drink and a book all night long. The city is also home to nearly 200 libraries, the pinnacle of which is the six-storey Shenzhen Library that can seat a whopping 2,500 people.
Easy to get to other places
Shenzhen is part of a cluster of cities across the Pearl River Delta. Travelers visiting this exciting city can also squeeze in trips to
Hong Kong,
Macao and Guangzhou, which are only a stone’s throw away, as well as other cities in Guangdong and beyond. An inexpensive, seven-hour bus journey can take you north, to experience the ethereal karst peaks of Yangshuo.
Shenzhen's rugged coastline and surprise beaches
Shenzhen is blessed with a rugged coastline and 23 beaches. Dameisha, the closest beach to the city (and consequently the busiest) is lined with coconut and palm trees, with hazy blue-mountains as a backdrop and views of Hong Kong across the ocean in the distance.
For a beach a little more off the beaten track, make the trek out to Xichong Beach. In autumn and winter, it is especially good for surfing. Xichong is part of the protected Dapeng National Park, and rising up in the north is Qiniang, the second highest peak in the city. There is also a 10km hiking trail running along the coast.
Great for spas
This city of excitement and ambition can leave newcomers and visitors a tad frazzled. Luckily, inexpensive day spas have sprung up across the city. With a reputation for quality pampering treatments, Hongkongers often pop over for a massage. A spa visit in
Shenzhen will leave you feeling reinvigorated and ready to take on your next adventure in bustling South China.
Read more:
Visit attractions in Shenzhen, China
Source Internet
