Shenzhen/East Travel Guide

Complete travel guide to Shenzhen. How to get there, where to go, what to see, where to eat and sleep.

Source: wikivoyage·Updated: 2026-05-21
Table of Contents

Eastern Shenzhen

Eastern Shenzhen has some of the best of Shenzhen's nature, including beaches and mountains, dotted with Hakka villages and other historic sites.

Get in

More metro lines are under construction. Pingshan railway station is in Pingshan, providing services to Xiamen, Fuzhou, Hong Kong and express trains to Shenzhen North station, and Shenzhen East station is in Longgang, providing long-haul slow services to further places in China.

Art and design

Dafen Oil Painting Village; Dà​fēn​ Yóu​huà Cūn​), Dafen Village, Buji, Longgang District Dafen Metro Station, Metro Line 3, ☏ +86 755 84732622. In 1988, a Hong Kong businessman called Wong Kong, who had a business specialising in reproduction art, decided that there was no future in Hong Kong and set up in Dafen, even though it was not in the SEZ. Soon he was joined by artists from all over China, some classically trained but many just talented amateurs fresh from the paddy fields. And so Dafen was born. It is set in what was once a Hakka village and consists of street after street of studios, galleries, and shops selling oil paintings, watercolors, and embroidered paintings. Examine things carefully, as some of the artwork is machine printed, rather than hand made. Much of it is rubbish but some of China's best artists also have studios in Dafen. For a few hundred yuan you can commission an artist to copy your favorite piece of art, your wedding photo, or photos of your family. Insist on "A" quality - it costs a little more but it's worth it. You can also get incredibly rapid framing while you wait and inexpensive art supplies. Drink tea with an artist in their studio, or learn a bit of Chinese calligraphy from an expert. There is also a handsome modern gallery exhibiting works by Dafen local painters.[Hechangyuan Museum](http://www.hemuseum.com/, Building 9, COFCO Yipin Lanshan, Danzi Avenue, Pingshan District take a train from Shenzhen North to Pingshan, then go to the station's south plaza and catch bus no. m325. Get off the bus at Guangzu Park; or catch bus no. m427 from the Pingshan Railway Station bus terminal and alight at Kengzi Central Primary School, ☏ +86 755 89998116,502389771@qq.com. Tu-Sa 09:30-17:30, closed on Mondays. A private art museum specialising in paintings, calligraphy and ceramics. Free.

History and culture

  • Dongjiang Column Memorial, East River Column Memorial Museum, 1/230 Dongzong Road, Pingshan Subdistrict, Pingshan District ( 230 -1) take a train from Shenzhen North to Pingshan, then catch bus no. m426, m479 or HSR Pingshan Express Shuttle Bus 2; alight at the Pingshan People's Hospital, ☏ +86 755 84642252. Tu-Sa 09:00-12:00, 14:00-16:30, closed on Mondays. A museum devoted to telling the story of the Dongjiang Column, a column of Guangdong-based Communist guerrila fighters who fought the Japanese in World War Two. All information is in Chinese only. Free.
  • Shenzhen Traditional Chinese Medicine Museum, Longgang District Museum of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Level 2, Science Education Building, Longgang District Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, 1 Dayun Road, Tiyu Xincheng, Longgang District bus routes m219, m280, m315, m320, m322, m367a, m367b, m386 and Express Bus 168; you can catch bus nos. m320 and m322 from outside Ailian Station on Metro Line 3, ☏ +86 755 28338833. Su-F 08:00-12:00, 14:00-17:00, closed on Saturdays. Free.

Historical sites

Dapeng Ancient Fort; Dà​péng​ Suǒ​chéng​, direct buses to the fort are available from the public bus terminal outside Shenzhen North Station; look for Dapeng Holiday Route No. 3, ☏ +86 755-88883333, dpsc@chinaoct.com. M-F 09:30-18:00. Dapeng Fort is an amazingly well-preserved Ming Dynasty Fort. Founded in 1394, it shared with various other forts the duties of guarding the entrances to the Pearl River and was prominent in the defense of the river during the Opium War. It is extremely well preserved and undergoing restoration as a museum. The old buildings in the adjacent village have been turned into shops selling souvenirs, food, and clothes, and nearby is a popular beach and a huge Buddhist temple (; Dōngshān Sì).Free. Longgang Museum of Hakka CultureCrane Lake Fortified Hakka Village, No. 1 Luoruihe Street North, Nanlian Community, Longgang Subdistrict, Longgang District Nanlian Metro station, Line 3 – take exit C1, go straight, and turn left at the big traditional gate, ☏ +86 755 84296258, hakkas1817@21cn.com.09:00-17:30. Half of Shenzhen City was originally of Hakka ethnicity. This came about after the 17th-century Kangxi Emperor depopulated the coastline to a depth of 30 km as part of his campaign against Ming loyalists in Taiwan. When the coast was repopulated, the Hakka (descendants of 13th-century immigrants from north China) were quickest to come. Relations between the Hakka and the Cantonese were often strained. During the 19th century, half a million people lost their lives in civil strife between the Hakka and the Cantonese. Accordingly, most Hakka settlements of any size were heavily fortified. The most common form of fortification in southern China is the "wei" ( wéi) and one of the biggest of them anywhere is the Crane Lake Wei in Longgang. It doubles as a semi-open-air museum of Hakka culture, which is very quiet without too many visitors, maybe because it's located way out in Shenzhen's suburbs.¥10. Dawanshiju Hakka Fortified Village Dàwànshìjū).10:00–18:00. Might take a lunch break 11:30–14:30, but check all three doors because sometimes two are closed while one is open. Another well-preserved and enormous Hakka wei. It is of a similar scale to the Crane Lake wei, but pretty run down and without as many informative signs. Still, an interesting look at traditional Hakka life in what is now Shenzhen. Free.

  • Gankeng Hakka Small Town Gānkēng Kèjiā xiǎo zhèn, Gankeng Village, Jihua Subdistrict, Longgang District Gankeng Metro Station).Another Hakka town with lots of traditional buildings: walk down the old narrow alleys, see the museums of household tools and artifacts, go inside the huge round house on the hill with views overlooking the town, and sample Hakka cuisine from various shops and restaurants. Free (including the museums.

Amusement parks

OCT East.M-F 09:30-17:30, Sa Su and holidays 09:00-17:30. An amusement park built by the same company that brought you Window of the World. Located on the mountainside behind the Dameisha beach neighborhood, it features thrill rides, shows, a water park, and a replica of a European town, not to mention beautiful views of the mountains, forest, and ocean. To reach all the different rides or attractions, be prepared to climb a lot of stairs or escalators, as well as gondolas and funicular railways (included in the price of your ticket). There are a few themed hotels.

The park is divided into two main sections: Knight Valley and Tea Stream Valley, with separate tickets. There's also a Buddhist temple, Huaxing Temple, but if you've been to other temples in Shenzhen it can be skipped without missing much. And there's a good golf club on the hilltop called Wind Valley Golf. Be warned that if it rains, the roller coasters, gondolas, and funiculars all stop running. If you get stranded at the top of the mountain as a result, the park will arrange cars to take you back down. Food in the park is reasonably tasty but a little overpriced.¥200 for Knight Valley, ¥180 for Tea Stream Valley, ¥250 for a combined ticket.

Parks and mountains

Dapeng Peninsula National Geopark, Dapeng Peninsula National Geological Park), 1 Geopark Road, Nan'ao, Dapeng New District there are various ways to get here. From Central Shenzhen, one way to get here is to catch bus no. e26 from the Huangbeiling Metro Station (on Lines 2 and 5, then get off at the Dapeng Centre and transfer to bus no. m423, which terminates at the park, ☏ +86 755 84425119. There is a geological museum at the entrance to the park, displaying lots of different rocks, minerals, and fossils, mostly from China with a focus on Guangdong. The museum's information panels are mostly bilingual in Chinese and English, and nearby are trailheads for hikes into the park. The park is open all day; the museum is open Tu-F 09:30 to 16:00, Sa Su 09:30-17:00, closed on Mondays. Free.

  • Qiniang Mountain Qīniáng Shān, Dapeng. The second tallest mountain in Shenzhen, at 867.4 meters. Free.

Golf

  • Longgang Public Golf Course, Next to the International Velodrome, He Keng, Henggang Town, Longgang District, ☏ +86 755 28937188. This course was the brainchild of a former official of the Shenzhen Government who wanted to bring golf to the masses. It is as an eighteen-hole 72 par course, situated on rolling hills in the Longgang District. The founders of the course wanted to keep green fees at 20-30% of commercial golf courses.
  • OCT East Golf Club, OCT East, Dameisha Buses 53, 239, 103, 360, 364).Shenzhen's newest and poshest golf course. It has two 18-hole courses, each with its own luxury clubhouse. Set in spectacular mountains overlooking Dameisha and Mirs Bay.
  • Century Seaview Golf Club, Yangchou Bay, Nan' ao Town, Longgang, ☏ +86 755 84400888. An 18-hole PGA golf course set in beautiful mountain and sea surroundings near Nan'ao Town, Dapeng Peninsula.

Beaches

Dameisha Beach. The most well-known beach in Shenzhen. Easily accessible from downtown, but it's often crowded and the water is dirty.

  • Xiaomeisha Beach. Close to Dameisha. Also crowded and the water is also dirty. Especially avoid going on the weekends and during summer vacation (July and August).
  • Beizaijiao Beach Bèizǎijiǎo).Closes at 19:00. A small beach, a few hundred meters long, not far past Dameisha and Xiaomeisha, but less developed, less crowded, and cleaner.
  • Jin Sha Wan Beach. From Shenzhen take one of several buses (e.g. 364, E11, or H92) to Dapeng Station in Wangmu Village in Dapeng. Then you can take a quick shuttle bus south to JinSha Beach. Entry is ¥10. On weekends and holidays the beach can be quite crowded. The sand is rather coarse and not particularly clean, but it can be fun to go here and people watch. Also it is interesting that you can look out and see East Ping Chau island just two miles off the coast, which is part of Hong Kong's New Territories.
  • Judiaosha Beach Júdiàoshā).¥35.
  • Shuitousha Beach Shuǐtóushā.
  • Xichong Beach. Beautiful Xichong beach is far from the downtown core, well past Dameisha. Less developed, this beach is much more peaceful and clean than other beaches in Shenzhen. Visit Sun Sailing for watersports or local fine dining.

Buy

  • Longgang Book City, Cultural Center Area C, 8028-4 Longxiang Boulevard, Longcheng Subdistrict 8028-4 C, ☏ +86 755-2890 3001. The Longgang branch of Book City, Shenzhen's local chain of large bookstores. Look for a big red building.

Eat

Fried rice with sea urchin, served on Haigang Road Sea urchins ( hǎidǎn) are a specialty of Nan'ao ( Nán'ào) town, way out on Dapeng Peninsula. They're best around April and May.

Eat Streets

  • Haigang Road, Nan'ao Town take express bus E11 from Liantang Checkpoint metro station exit D to Nan'ao Moon Bay. Way out on Dapeng Peninsula, famous for fresh seafood with bay views. Sea urchin is a specialty. On the expensive side; expect to pay upwards of ¥50 per person.
  • Yantian Seafood Street, Seafood Street, Yantian. Dine among the container cranes. The theme is Hong Kong style seafood, allegedly fresh from the markets next door. Seafood Street itself, right on the water near the port, has several middle-to-high-end seafood restaurants—you choose the fish from the tanks, they cook it how you like it: oysters, clams, crab, fish, eel, shrimp, snails.... If you're on a budget or not in the mood for fish, there are various other restaurants on the perpendicular Beishan Road ( Běishān Dào). On the way, enjoy views of one of the world's busiest container ports, and of the green mountains behind it. You might spot people fishing too.

Mid-range

  • Crowne Plaza Shenzhen Longgang9009 Longxiang Ave, Longgang, ☏ +86 755 3318 1888. Good quality rooms. Number of restaurant options in the hotel and in the nearby streets.

Splurge

Go next

Back to downtown Shenzhen, or east to the beaches of Huizhou "Huizhou (Guangdong) or north to the suburbs of Dongguan.

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