# Things to do in Shenzhen: top sights and where to go > Shenzhen is a skyscraper city on the Hong Kong border: in the Futian business district the Ping An Finance Centre with its observation deck, Lianhuashan Park with the Deng Xiaoping statue and the Huaqiangbei electronics market are close together, while the Window of the World and Splendid China miniature parks, Talent Park on Shenzhen Bay and the walled Nantou old town lie 20–30 minutes west by metro. Spend the first day in Futian with an evening on Dongmen pedestrian street; keep the theme parks, the bay and the Bay Glory ferris wheel for the second. Web page: https://yesgo.io/china/shenzhen ## Ready itineraries - [One day in Shenzhen: an itinerary in the best order](https://yesgo.io/china/shenzhen/in-1-day.md): Huaqiangbei's electronics malls, Lianhuashan Park's view of the centre, the Ping An deck on level 116 and Talent Park's light show — in order, with lunch. ## All 10 places with the YesGo score - [Ping An Finance Centre](https://yesgo.io/china/shenzhen/ping-an-finance-centre.md): YesGo score 45/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 1 h 15 min · ¥200 at the counter, from ¥180 online. Ping An Finance Centre is Shenzhen's tallest building — 599 m in the Futian business district. Its Free Sky observation deck is on floor… - [Lianhuashan Park](https://yesgo.io/china/shenzhen/lianhuashan-park.md): YesGo score 42/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 1 h 15 min · Free. Lianhuashan Park (莲花山公园, Lotus Hill Park) is a hilltop park in Futian, right north of Shenzhen’s CBD. Entry is free; it’s open daily… - [Huaqiangbei](https://yesgo.io/china/shenzhen/huaqiangbei.md): YesGo score 41/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 1 h 30 min · Free entry. Huaqiangbei (华强北) is Shenzhen’s electronics district in Futian: a pedestrian street lined with multi-storey malls selling components… - [Dongmen Pedestrian Street](https://yesgo.io/china/shenzhen/dongmen-pedestrian-street.md): YesGo score 36/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 1 h · Free. Dongmen (东门, also called Laojie, 'Old Street') is Shenzhen's oldest shopping quarter, in Luohu: a grid of pedestrian streets packed with… - [Shenzhen Talent Park](https://yesgo.io/china/shenzhen/shenzhen-talent-park.md): YesGo score 30/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 1 h · Free. Shenzhen Talent Park (深圳人才公园) is a free lakeside park in Nanshan, facing the Houhai skyscrapers and the 'Spring Bamboo' tower. It's open… - [Nantou Ancient City](https://yesgo.io/china/shenzhen/nantou-ancient-city.md): YesGo score 28/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 1 h 30 min · Free, museum included. Nantou Ancient City (南头古城) is a Ming-era walled town in Nanshan District — the oldest corner of Shenzhen. Entry is free and the lanes… - [Window of the World](https://yesgo.io/china/shenzhen/window-of-the-world.md): YesGo score 27/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 4 h · ¥220, evening ¥120. Window of the World (世界之窗) is a theme park in Nanshan with about 130 scale replicas of world landmarks, led by a 108 m Eiffel Tower. A… - [Bay Glory Ferris Wheel](https://yesgo.io/china/shenzhen/bay-glory.md): YesGo score 24/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 1 h · ¥140–150, more on holidays. Bay Glory (湾区之光) is Shenzhen’s 128 m observation wheel on Qianhai Bay in Bao’an. One rotation in a glass capsule takes about 30 minutes… - [Splendid China Folk Village](https://yesgo.io/china/shenzhen/splendid-china-folk-village.md): YesGo score 24/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 4 h · ¥220, evening ¥120. Splendid China Folk Village (锦绣中华民俗村) is two joined parks in Nanshan: 82 miniatures of China’s landmarks plus life-size ethnic villages… - [Fairy Lake Botanical Garden](https://yesgo.io/china/shenzhen/fairy-lake-botanical-garden.md): YesGo score 21/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 2 h 30 min · ¥15; free early morning and evening. Fairy Lake Botanical Garden (仙湖植物园, Xianhu) is a vast garden at the foot of Wutong Mountain in eastern Shenzhen, home to Hongfa Temple… ## Shenzhen travel guide Before you go: Ping An tower and the parks, Huaqiangbei market, Window of the World, crossing from Hong Kong, the airport, weather. ## Trip essentials - How many days: 2–3 days: city, parks, market - When to go: October–December: warm and dry - Visa: Depends on your passport — many get 30 days visa-free - Paying: Alipay or WeChat Pay with a foreign card - Airport: Bao’an (SZX) ≈ 30 km from Futian — metro - Hong Kong: Border crossings in the city: Luohu, Futian, Shenzhen Bay - To Guangzhou: ≈ 30–40 min by high-speed train - Metro: Cheap and fast; tap Alipay QR or a card - Internet: Google, WhatsApp, YouTube blocked — roaming eSIM - Time zone: UTC+8 all year ## Key facts - **599 m** — height of the Ping An Finance Centre, among the world’s tallest buildings (source: Wikipedia, “Ping An Finance Centre”) - **1980** — Shenzhen became China’s first Special Economic Zone (source: Wikipedia, “Shenzhen”) - **Huaqiangbei** — one of the world’s largest electronics markets (source: Wikipedia, “Huaqiangbei”) - **≈ 130** — replicas of world landmarks at Window of the World (source: Wikipedia, “Window of the World (Shenzhen)”) ## Things to do in Shenzhen The top things to do in Shenzhen are the Ping An Finance Centre observation deck, the city views from Lianhuashan and Talent parks, the Huaqiangbei electronics market, Dongmen Street and Nantou Ancient City. Families head to Window of the World and Splendid China; nature lovers to Fairy Lake Botanical Garden. Every place with its YesGo score is in the list above. | Where | What to see | Time | | --- | --- | --- | | **Futian** | [Ping An](https://yesgo.io/china/shenzhen/ping-an-finance-centre), [Lianhuashan](https://yesgo.io/china/shenzhen/lianhuashan-park) | ½ day | | **Huaqiangbei** | [Electronics market](https://yesgo.io/china/shenzhen/huaqiangbei) | 1.5 h | | **Luohu** | [Dongmen](https://yesgo.io/china/shenzhen/dongmen-pedestrian-street), [Fairy Lake](https://yesgo.io/china/shenzhen/fairy-lake-botanical-garden) | ½ day | | **Nanshan** | [Talent Park](https://yesgo.io/china/shenzhen/shenzhen-talent-park), [Bay Glory](https://yesgo.io/china/shenzhen/bay-glory) | evening | | **Nantou** | [Ancient city](https://yesgo.io/china/shenzhen/nantou-ancient-city) | 1.5 h | | **Theme parks** | [Window of the World](https://yesgo.io/china/shenzhen/window-of-the-world), [Splendid China](https://yesgo.io/china/shenzhen/splendid-china-folk-village) | 1 day | Rather not plan it yourself? The list above has ready itineraries for 1–2 days, with places in a sensible order. ## Hong Kong to Shenzhen and the airport From Hong Kong to Shenzhen you can walk across the border at Luohu or Futian, take the high-speed train from West Kowloon, or a ferry to Shekou. Flights land at Bao’an (SZX), ≈ 30 km from Futian, with Metro Line 11 into the centre. | How | From | Time | | --- | --- | --- | | **Metro Line 11** | Airport — Futian | ≈ 40–50 min | | **DiDi taxi** | Airport — centre | ≈ 40 min | | **Walk across the border** | Hong Kong — Luohu | ≈ 1 h from central HK | | **High-speed train** | Hong Kong — Futian | ≈ 15–20 min | | **High-speed train** | Guangzhou | ≈ 30–40 min | Hong Kong is a separate border zone: re-entering mainland China needs a valid visa-free basis or a multiple-entry visa. ## Shenzhen weather by month Shenzhen is subtropical: the best time to visit is October to December, ≈ 22–29 °C by day and dry. May to September is hot and humid with downpours and typhoons. Winter days are ≈ 20 °C — too cool to swim at Dameisha, but pleasant for walking. - **January in Shenzhen**: day ≈ 20°C, night ≈ 13°C, rainy days: 6. About 20°, dry. - **February in Shenzhen**: day ≈ 21°C, night ≈ 15°C, rainy days: 9. About 21°, Spring Festival. - **March in Shenzhen**: day ≈ 23°C, night ≈ 18°C, rainy days: 11. About 23°, damp. - **April in Shenzhen**: day ≈ 27°C, night ≈ 22°C, rainy days: 11. About 27°, rain. - **May in Shenzhen**: day ≈ 30°C, night ≈ 25°C, rainy days: 14. About 30°, downpours. - **June in Shenzhen**: day ≈ 32°C, night ≈ 27°C, rainy days: 18. Hot and rainy. - **July in Shenzhen**: day ≈ 33°C, night ≈ 27°C, rainy days: 16. Heat ≈ 33°, beach season. - **August in Shenzhen**: day ≈ 33°C, night ≈ 27°C, rainy days: 17. Hot; typhoons. - **September in Shenzhen**: day ≈ 32°C, night ≈ 26°C, rainy days: 13. About 32°. - **October in Shenzhen** (best time): day ≈ 29°C, night ≈ 23°C, rainy days: 6. About 29° — the best month. - **November in Shenzhen** (best time): day ≈ 26°C, night ≈ 19°C, rainy days: 4. About 26°, dry. - **December in Shenzhen** (best time): day ≈ 22°C, night ≈ 15°C, rainy days: 4. About 22°, clear. ## Where to stay in Shenzhen Where to stay in Shenzhen: Futian for the CBD, parks and the high-speed station; Luohu near the Hong Kong border and Dongmen; Nanshan and Shekou for the bay, restaurants and the ferry to Hong Kong. | Area | Best for | Keep in mind | | --- | --- | --- | | **Futian** | CBD, parks, trains | Business-like | | **Luohu** | Border, Dongmen, budget | Older area | | **Nanshan, Shekou** | Bay, dining, ferries | ≈ 30 min to Futian | ## What to eat in Shenzhen Shenzhen eats Cantonese food plus dishes from every province — it is a young city of migrants. Try dim sum, seafood in Shekou, Chaoshan beef hotpot and fiery Sichuan cooking. - **Dim sum** — for morning tea, as in Guangzhou. - **Chaoshan beef hotpot** — fresh-cut beef in clear broth. - **Seafood** — in Shekou and by Dameisha beach. - **Milk tea** — many big chains started here. ## Shenzhen ticket prices Lianhuashan and Talent parks, Dongmen, Huaqiangbei and Nantou Ancient City are free. You pay for the Ping An deck, the Bay Glory wheel, Window of the World, Splendid China and the botanical garden. - [Ping An Finance Centre](https://yesgo.io/china/shenzhen/ping-an-finance-centre) — ¥200 at the counter, from ¥180 online - [Lianhuashan Park](https://yesgo.io/china/shenzhen/lianhuashan-park) — Free - [Huaqiangbei](https://yesgo.io/china/shenzhen/huaqiangbei) — Free entry - [Dongmen Pedestrian Street](https://yesgo.io/china/shenzhen/dongmen-pedestrian-street) — Free - [Shenzhen Talent Park](https://yesgo.io/china/shenzhen/shenzhen-talent-park) — Free - [Nantou Ancient City](https://yesgo.io/china/shenzhen/nantou-ancient-city) — Free, museum included - [Window of the World](https://yesgo.io/china/shenzhen/window-of-the-world) — ¥220, evening ¥120 - [Bay Glory Ferris Wheel](https://yesgo.io/china/shenzhen/bay-glory) — ¥140–150, more on holidays - [Splendid China Folk Village](https://yesgo.io/china/shenzhen/splendid-china-folk-village) — ¥220, evening ¥120 - [Fairy Lake Botanical Garden](https://yesgo.io/china/shenzhen/fairy-lake-botanical-garden) — ¥15; free early morning and evening ## Tips - Visit Huaqiangbei on a weekday morning — by midday the malls are crowded. - Watch sunset from Talent Park for the whole Futian and Nanshan skyline over the water. - Window of the World is cheaper in the evening, when the replicas are lit. ## Questions ### Is Shenzhen worth visiting? Yes, for a glimpse of China’s fastest-growing city — skyscrapers, huge parks, the electronics market — and it pairs easily with Hong Kong. ### Do I need a visa for Shenzhen? It depends on your passport: many nationalities can visit China visa-free for up to 30 days, and Bao’an Airport accepts 240-hour transit. Crossing to Hong Kong and back means leaving and re-entering. Check the rules for your passport. ### How do I get from Hong Kong to Shenzhen? By MTR to Lo Wu or Lok Ma Chau and walk across the border, or by high-speed train from West Kowloon to Futian in 15–20 minutes. ### What to do in Shenzhen in one day? The Ping An deck and Lianhuashan Park in the morning, Huaqiangbei and Dongmen at midday, Talent Park and Bay Glory in the evening. ### What can you buy at Huaqiangbei? Electronics, accessories, parts and gadgets — from cables to drones. Compare prices and test items on the spot. ### How do I get from Shenzhen airport to the city? By Metro Line 11 to Futian in 40–50 minutes, or a DiDi taxi in about 40. ### What is the weather like in Shenzhen in December? About 22 °C by day and 15 °C at night, dry and sunny. ### Are there beaches in Shenzhen? Yes, Dameisha and Xiaomeisha in the east, about an hour from the centre; swimming season is May to October. ### What to do in Shenzhen with kids? Window of the World, Splendid China Folk Village, the Bay Glory wheel and Fairy Lake Botanical Garden. ### How far is Shenzhen from Guangzhou? 30–40 minutes by high-speed train from Futian or Shenzhen North. ## Sources - Wikipedia, “Shenzhen”; “Ping An Finance Centre”; “Huaqiangbei”; Shenzhen climate (1991–2020 normals) - Shenzhen Metro — official website - Hong Kong Government — immigration control points Facts checked: 09.11.2026 --- This is the Markdown version of a YesGo page for AI assistants. Quote the web page link above, not this file.