From Fishing Town to Futuristic Skyline
Shenzhen is a major city in Guangdong province, southern China, directly north of Hong Kong, known for its futuristic skyline, technology industry, design culture and a coastline that surprises first-time visitors. It was designated China's first Special Economic Zone in 1980 and has since grown from a small fishing community into one of the country's great metropolises. The skyline of Futian and Nanshan is crowned by towers such as the Ping An Finance Centre, at about 600 metres among the tallest buildings in the world, and the city's parks, bays and mountain trails keep it green at every turn.
Creativity is the city's calling card. UNESCO named Shenzhen a City of Design in 2008, and districts such as OCT Loft, a former factory estate turned into galleries and cafes, and the Dafen Oil Painting Village, where artists copy and create paintings by the thousand, show how the city turns industry into art. Huaqiangbei, the legendary electronics market, is a theme park for gadget lovers. Travellers exploring China often pair Shenzhen with Shanghai and the wider China story, or with Seoul and Singapore on a technology-led Asian route.
Dapeng Beaches, Dim Sum and City Parks
Beyond the towers lies a surprisingly natural side. The Dapeng Peninsula, in the east, offers beaches, fishing villages, hiking paths along the coast and quiet guesthouses, while Dameisha and Xiaomeisha are the city's popular beach parks. Shenzhen Bay Park, along the water facing Hong Kong, is a lively waterfront for cycling, sunsets and skyline views, and Lianhuashan and Wutong Mountain give walkers a close-up view of the city from above. Theme parks including Window of the World, with miniature world landmarks, round out a family-friendly offer.
Cantonese cuisine anchors the table, with dim sum, roast goose, congee, claypot rice and fresh seafood, and the city is also home to restaurants serving cooking from every region of China, thanks to its population of newcomers from across the country. Hotels range from international brands in Luohu and Futian to boutique stays in creative districts, so a hotel group can present a clear business and leisure offer. It is also a joy for shoppers, with malls, markets and an ever-changing food scene found within a short metro ride.
Read the full Shenzhen guide on Visit Travel Group, or see VisitShenzhen.co.uk on Visit Travel Group.