Western Shenzhen

Western Shenzhen is mostly industrial but also has large parks and even some farmland, as well as trendy, well-to-do Bao'an center.

Science and technology

Yuxinqi Robot Experience Center, L1, Zone B, Uniworld, Longhua DistrictLine 4 to Longhua Station, Exit A(Zhang Yu)).Step into the Yuxinqi Robot Experience Center, where humanoid robots in sleek outfits greet you, dance, and even chat—turning what feels like science fiction into hands-on fun. It’s a must for tech lovers and curious travelers alike: grab your tickets right at the center and enjoy the show (and the photos!.

History

China Military Uniforms Museum, Building A, Bennishi Industrial Park, Dalang Garments Base, Longhua District ( A About 100 metres north of the intersection of Langning Road and Shi'ao Road. Take a train to Longsheng Station on Metro Line 4, leave the station via Exit B, then catch bus no. m301 from the Guotai Furniture City bus stop on Bulong Road. Alight at the Shilongzi Intersection bus stop), ☏ +86 755 27047745 (enquiries), +86 13510529252 (bookings).09:00-17:30 (Monday to Friday), 09:30-12:00 (Saturday), closed on Sundays. Displays a wide variety of military uniforms from ancient times to the early 21st century. Free.

Shenzhen (Bao'an) Labor Museum, Shenzhen (Bao'an) Migrant Workers Museum, 6 Yonghe Road, Shangwu Community, Shiyan Subdistrict, Bao'an District Take a train to Longsheng Station on Metro Line 4, leave the station via Exit B, then catch bus no. m301 from the Guotai Furniture City bus stop on Bulong Road. Alight at the Shiyan Bus Station and walk from there. The museum is about 500 metres northeast of the bus station, ☏ +86 755 29732986. 09:00-17:00, closed on Mondays. Tells the story of the hundreds of thousands of migrant workers who built Shenzhen and made it into the city it is today. The museum focuses on Bao'an district and celebrates the recent history of the city: Deng Xiaoping's "reform and opening up" and the subsequent fast-paced industrial development that has come to define Shenzhen. Fittingly, the museum itself is located in a former factory.

At the entrance to the museum complex, the first building preserves the look of part of the factory, but that's certainly not all there is to see here. Go up the ramp to the main exhibition hall, which is full of artifacts from the recent history of industrial Shenzhen, including lots of personal items donated by factory workers to give you a window into their lives—love letters, dorm room decorations, and so on. Most of the labels are bilingual in Chinese and English. The second floor, accessible by a staircase around the right side of the building, has a display of lots of beautiful Chinese calligraphy. Free.

Parks and mountains

Fenghuang Mountain, Fènghuáng Shān, Fuyong Subdistrict, Bao'an Districtbus 650, 782, b711, m333, or m334 to Fènghuáng Shānjiǎo station, the end of the line for most of them).06:00–19:00. Literally "Phoenix Mountain", this forested mountain in northwestern Shenzhen is covered with a network of well-maintained hiking trails paved with steps. The main point of interest is Fengyan Temple (Fèngyán Gǔmiào, a Buddhist temple partway up the mountain, dating back to the Yuan Dynasty. At the trailhead there are various shops selling food and drinks, including bottled water, which you should definitely buy for the hike if you didn't bring any. Then plan to hike 30–40 minutes (all uphill) to get to the temple complex. The complex has lots of interesting spots scattered around, including fortune tellers, lots of shrines, and a big pool full of turtles and a few lazy fish, surrounded by people pestering them by throwing coins. There are lots of shops selling food, incense, jewelry, and other traditional items for the many pilgrims who make their way up to pray and leave offerings. For more serious hikers, the trails continue higher up on the mountain past the temple. A partial map of the trails can be found at the temple complex, though it's only in Chinese. The trail up to the temple is crowded, especially on weekends, but the trails higher up on the mountain aren't so bad.

Both the temple and the rest of the mountain have views of the surrounding area. Don't miss the two-story lookout tower (Wang Hai Lou) in the temple complex. The views make for an incredible contrast between the traditional temple in the middle of the woods and the unending high-rises down below. From the right spot you can make out ships floating in the Pearl River.

The temple complex also has a vegetarian buffet restaurant, Fenghuang Mountain Vegetarian Restaurant. This is not the little place with the signs saying "Vegetarian Restaurant" in English (though the food there isn't bad either)—the buffet is located at the other end of the complex; look for signs that say " Su Cai Guan". The buffet costs ¥28 for breakfast, ¥58 for lunch—pay before you enter, at the Ticket Counter outside. If you want to skip the hike, the restaurant (and therefore the temple complex) are also accessible by road. Free. Shiyan Lake Hot Spring Resort; Shíyánhú Wēnquán Dùjiàcūn), Shiyan Town, Bao'an District (; Bǎo'ān Qū Shíyán Zhèn), ☏ +86 755 27164148. 06:00-21:00. This has been a popular attraction since the 16th century when it was named as one of the "Eight Great Views of Xin'an County" (the county of which Hong Kong and Shenzhen were part. It's on a man-made reservoir at the back of Yangtai Mountain, and is not easy to get to but it is worth the trouble. Water springs from the ground at over 60 °C, but is cooled to about 40 °C before being fed into pools. There are public and private, indoor and outdoor pools.¥15.

Yangtai Mountain Forest Park Yángtái Shān Sēnlín Gōngyuán), Bulong Road, Dalang Subdistrict, Longhua District. This is a forest park administered by the water and forestry administrations of Guangdong Province. The mountain, 500 metres high, lies around an attractive reservoir. It is heavily wooded with native and exotic vegetation and abounds with wildlife. As elsewhere in Shenzhen, the hiking paths are well paved with steps. The climb to the top is moderately difficult and very rewarding. Not much for sale on the trail, so bring water and snacks or buy them at the convenience stores near the trailhead. As of December 2019, there's a lot of construction going on along the trail; hiking is still possible but not particularly quiet or enjoyable. Consider hiking somewhere else in Shenzhen for the time being. Free. Lixin Lake Lìxīn Hú, Fuyong, Bao'an District. An attractive reservoir in northeastern Shenzhen surrounded by parks with trees and well-manicured walkways. Adjacent to the lake is Wangniuting Park ( Wàngniútíng Gōngyuán, with hiking trails on a small hill. The area is very green and good for a lakeside walk—it's not worth making the trip all the way from the city center just for this, but stop by if you're in the area. Free.

Waterlands Resort Hǎishàngtiányuán, Shajing, Bao'an Metro line 11 to Shajing Station, then take bus b931 to the last stop, ☏ +86 755-27259888. 09:00–20:00. A much-hyped 1.6 square kilometer park by the water, way on the outskirts of the city, full of trees, streams, ponds, and walking paths. The activities scattered around are fun, including obstacle courses, boats, strawberry picking, and a lookout tower. If you like hills this is not the park for you, but it allows for a nice few hours walking around and exploring whatever attractions you stumble across. For travelers who are a bit adventurous, the highlight is surely the obstacle courses, some of which go over water and will get your heart racing. This park is connected to the metro network via 2 line 12 stations, Waterland Resorts East (terminus of line 12) and Waterland Resorts South.¥60 for adults; ¥48 for seniors 60–64; ¥30 for children 1.2m–1.5m, seniors 65–69, and students; free for children under 1.2m and seniors 70+. Tickets only ¥40 after 17:00, and discounts are sometimes available for special events. Honghua Mountain Hónghuā Shān) Gongming Town, Guangming District).It's a stretch to call this a mountain – it's really just a hill – but the view of the nearby neighborhoods from the top is nice, so it's worth a visit if you're in Gongming anyway. The pagoda on top is nice but not old (built in 2009. From the main (south) entrance the walk to the top takes ten minutes if that, but the steps are steep. From the north and east entrances there's a more leisurely set of trails that take you slowly up through the woods. Arrive via line 6 of the metro. Free.

Bao'an West Bay Mangrove Forest Park several bus stops nearby; the closest is. The nearest metro station is Bihaiwan a couple of kilometers away).A park protecting an area of fascinating mangrove forest along the water, with some nice boardwalks and paved walking paths. There's an adjoining park to the north with a big sandpit which is fun for kids. It's not too big, but nice for an hour or so walking around, though the peaceful atmosphere is spoiled by the screeching noise of metro line 11 trains passing by and the sound of planes taking off from the airport. Avoid coming in the middle of the day—it gets hot. Free.

Golf

Mission Hills Golf Course Along the intersection of the Meiguan Expressway, the Guanshen Expressway and the Jinhe Expressway, ☏ +86 755 28020888. The world's biggest golf course with 216 holes. Each course is designed by a different world champion golfer. The Golf World Cup has granted a twelve-year franchise to Mission Hills

Skiing

Huafa Snow World☏ +852 5311 4690. This indoor ski arena brings skiing to the tropics, offering a surreal alpine escape in balmy southern China. Covering 10 hectares with five slopes, including one with an 83-metre drop, it’s one of the world’s largest indoor ski resorts. A perfect place to swap flip-flops for skis, even in the middle of summer.350-1000 CNY.

Buy

Bao'an Book City, 89Shajing, ☏ +86 755-2300 0666. The Bao'an branch of Book City, Shenzhen's local chain of large bookstores.

Shopping malls

Uniwalk Shopping Mall Yìfāngchéng, 99 Xinhu Road, Bao'an District 99 Bao'an Center Metro Station – the station is attached to the mall; take exit F).A very elegant, very upscale shopping center in Bao'an. Lots of nice restaurants and fancy shops, and the bookstore next to the food court on the third floor has a selection of paperbacks in English. On the lowest level (B1) are a few shops with beautiful traditional Chinese products like statues, porcelain, and inkstones. Even if shopping here is beyond your budget, it's an interesting place for people-watching—see how the wealthy and fashionable live in suburban Shenzhen.
HaiYa Mega Mall, 99 Jian'an First Road, Xin'an Subdistrict, Bao'an District 99. A high-end six-story mall. Brand-name clothes, expensive electronics and handbags, edible bird's nests, elegant porcelain. The first floor is mostly cosmetics and jewelry, second floor mostly brand-name clothes, and the shops gradually get more varied as you ascend to higher floors. Restaurants are clustered on the top levels and on the basement level. The top few floors also have various games and activities for kids, including a Toys 'R' Us. On the second floor you'll find an expensive supermarket with lots of foreign products, from baguettes to vegan chocolate bars.

Eat

Shajing ( Shājǐng) in the far north of Bao'an district is famous for oysters ( shēngháo)—they're said to be the "milk of the ocean floor", and the local ones are delicious and high in protein. You can get oysters on the half shell at street food carts in Shajing at five for ¥10 (2019), or find them cooked lots of different ways at restaurants in the neighborhood.

Eat Streets

Fenghuang Taiwan Street Fènghuáng Táiwān Jiē, Fenghuang Mountain Avenue, Bao'an District bus 650, b837, m251, m252, or m264 to the stop named after the eat street, or just walk straight after descending Fenghuang Mountain).At the foot of Fenghuang Mountain on an avenue of faux-traditional architecture with light brown shingled roofs and red pillars. The specialty is Taiwanese food, but there are various other restaurants with the usual variety of Chinese cuisines as well. Good place to stop for a snack or a meal after you finish hiking down the mountain.
Pingzhou Eat Street, Haicheng Road, Bao'an District Pingzhou Station exit B or C).Quiet during the day but a happening area in the evening. A variety of Chinese restaurants, including seafood and barbecue, as well as a slightly hidden but authentic Mexican restaurant (across from KFC.
Xinsha Rainbow Eat Street Xīnshā Tiānhóng Měishí Jiē).A bustling area in the industrial suburb of Shajing, the area around Xinsha Rainbow and Jingjibaina shopping centers has lots of restaurants. Between the two malls and the streets around them, you can find cuisine from more than a dozen provinces and a few foreign countries. No one specialty predominates; you'll find all the usual suspects plus some less common ones like Henan, Hubei, and Yunnan, as well as Shajing's specialty, oysters. Take the bus from Shajing or Ma'anshan metro station, or a 15-minute walk from Shajing West railway station. If you're driving, don't come around rush hour unless you like sitting in traffic.
Fanshen Road eat street, from the metro station at Chuangye First Road down to Xinghua First Road Fanshen metro station, exit B).During the day, this block of Fanshen Road is a busy street with lots of restaurants, tea shops, and a small branch of the Rainbow shopping mall chain. But at night is when it really gets going: every evening from 17:00 to midnight, the sidewalk becomes Lefan Night Market, a bustling row of stands and carts selling tasty snacks and greasy dinners. Dumplings, oysters, Xinjiang flatbread, stinky tofu, chow fun, sushi, fruit, bubble tea, wraps, a few desserts, and all sorts of fried things.

Mid-range

Hakka ecru Kèjiā běnsè, 44 Shiyan Avenue, Bao'an District 44. 10:00–21:30. Authentic Hakka cuisine—the proof is in the snatches of conversation in Hakka dialects that you'll hear from nearby tables. Try some tofu stuffed with meat, or eggplant with basil.
Chetian Doufu Fang, 68 Fanshen Road, Xin'an Subdistrict, Bao'an District 68 1 km from Fanshen metro station).Delicious Hakka food. The specialty is Chetian-style tofu (Chetian being a town out in Heyuan, Hakka country to the northeast of Shenzhen). Good vegetarian options, though if you're vegetarian you should order carefully as Hakka-style tofu is sometimes stuffed with meat! Recognize the restaurant from across the street with the big white characters spelling its name, or from close up with the words " " ("Hakka restaurant in red on yellow.¥35–70.

Splurge

Wosan Yauso Héshān Yǒusù, 95 Qianjin First Road, Bao'an district 1 95 Xin'an Park metro station exit C1).11:00–21:00 daily. Vegetarian restaurant overlooking the attractively manicured Xin'an Park. The menu has both Western-style and Chinese-style vegetarian food (veggie burgers and mapo tofu, salad and mushroom stew. Not too heavy. On the ground floor is a little coffee shop, and the restaurant itself is up a flight of stairs.¥50–120.

Mid-range

Kaijia Hotel Kǎijiā Jiǔdiàn, 2109 Xihuan Road, Shajing Subdistrict, Bao'an District 2109 across from Rainbow ( Xīnshā Tiānhóng) shopping mall, ☏ +86 755-27289888. Check-in: 14:00, check-out: noon. Large hotel with WiFi and a delicious buffet breakfast. Popular with business travelers visiting Shajing. From ¥270.
TianHe Hotel Tiānhé jiǔdiàn), 1 Xinghua Road, Bao'an District 1. Check-in: 14:00, check-out: noon. Airport hotel. To get there from the airport, take bus m416 and get off at the third stop,. Has a Chinese restaurant and a Western restaurant inside, and there are also a bunch of restaurants and stores just down the street (right past the intersection. They can provide transportation to the airport in the morning. Free breakfast from 6:30 to 9:30, free but slow Wi-Fi. From ¥370. ¥800 deposit required when checking in.

Splurge

Baolilai International Hotel, Fuyong Avenue, Fuyong Subdistrict, Bao'an District, 107, ☏ +86 755-27388888. A Shenzhen institution, Baolilai Hotel has long been a popular choice for international business travellers visiting this part of the city. Restaurants serve Chinese, Japanese, and Western cuisine. Excellent massage center on the fifth floor.

Go next

Take the metro south to Nanshan or downtown. Alternatively, head north to Dongguan and its suburbs, or take a ferry from Fuyong terminal to Zhongshan or Zhuhai.