Stand on the promenade at Shenzhen Bay Park in the late afternoon and the city shows you its two faces at once: the low green line of the Futian mangrove forest on one side, and the skyline of Nanshan rising on the other. Shenzhen is a city that was farmland and fishing villages within living memory, and the museums downtown and in Bao'an tell that story directly.
It suits travellers who are curious about how a city is built, who like hiking and birdwatching, and who want a base for spas and massage at prices well below Hong Kong's. It rewards early starts and a tolerance for crowds on weekends.
This guide covers the sights and experiences the source material supports, with practical notes on timing and what to pair with what.
Top things to do in Shenzhen
1. Shenzhen Bay Park
This Nanshan park is one of the best places in the city for birdwatching in winter, when migrating birds fly south to Shenzhen. Pair it with the nearby mangrove forest in Futian, which sits along the same stretch of coast.
Set off early. Unless it is winter, Shenzhen's heat and humidity make midday walking unpleasant, and in summer you will want to start before dawn while it is still relatively cool.
2. The mangrove forest in Futian
A second winter birdwatching spot, close enough to Shenzhen Bay Park to combine in a single outing. The two together make a half-day of coastal walking and watching.
Arrive early in the morning to avoid the worst of the crowds as well as the heat.
3. Wutong Mountain
A forested mountain with hiking trails generally paved with hundreds and hundreds of steps. The lower parts can be so crowded on a holiday that you might as well be in a queue.
Choose a workday, or start at first light, and expect company regardless — Shenzhen's population means a walk of quiet solitude is unlikely.
4. Tanglang Mountain
The back trails here are the other end of the spectrum: on a workday you may find nobody in sight. A good choice if you want the hiking without the queue-like conditions.
Go on a workday rather than a weekend or holiday, and set off early to beat the heat.
5. Historic sites in Nanshan
Shenzhen's historic sites are concentrated in Nanshan and the eastern parts of the city, and some are of great national significance, dating back to the twelfth century. The area was caught up in the collapse of the Southern Song Dynasty, the last stand of the Ming Dynasty and the Opium Wars.
Residents will tell you Shenzhen has no history; the sites here are the correction to that. Combine a Nanshan history stop with a coastal walk at Shenzhen Bay Park.
6. Traditional Hakka villages in eastern Shenzhen
Eastern Shenzhen has several well-preserved traditional Hakka villages, a contrast to the technology-and-commerce story told elsewhere in the city.
Since the best beaches are also in eastern Shenzhen, this is the part of the city to give a full day rather than an afternoon.
7. History museums downtown and in Bao'an
These museums tell the story of modern Shenzhen's rapid development from farmland and fishing villages to a global hub for technology and commerce. They are the clearest introduction to how the city came to look the way it does.
Many museums in Shenzhen are closed on Mondays, so plan this for another day of the week.
8. Museums of design and industry
As a centre of design and manufacturing, Shenzhen has a variety of museums of design and industry. Some are downtown, but most are scattered through the city's industrial suburbs.
Check the day of the week before travelling out to the suburban ones, since many museums are closed on Mondays.
9. Art galleries downtown and in Nanshan
Shenzhen has a surprisingly rich array of art galleries, mostly downtown and in Nanshan but also some in the suburbs. They pair naturally with the design and industry museums.
Keep the Monday closures in mind when grouping galleries with museums in a single day.
10. The theme parks
Shenzhen has many theme parks, popular with Chinese tourists, many of whom come to Shenzhen mainly for these. Reactions of Western visitors vary widely, from enjoying them immensely to finding them amazingly tacky. Most are operated by Overseas Chinese Town (OCT, 华侨城, Huáqiáochéng), and most are in Nanshan, with one in Yantian.
You can get discounts to the parks using the Smart OCT (花橙旅游) website or app, which is only in Chinese.
11. Mission Hills
In Longhua, this is the world's largest golf course and the scene of leading international tournaments. Shenzhen boasts some of the earliest golf courses in China and is one of the world's great golfing destinations.
It sits in Longhua, away from the Nanshan and downtown clusters, so give it its own slot in your plans.
12. The beaches of eastern Shenzhen
The best beaches are in eastern Shenzhen. The popular Dameisha and Xiaomeisha beaches are crowded and dirty, so go past them to the more peaceful beaches further east.
Combine the beaches with the Hakka villages on the same side of the city, and start early to avoid the heat.
13. A spa and massage complex
Shenzhen is a popular place for Hong Kong people to go to get a massage, and prices are low compared with Hong Kong. For an entrance fee of around ¥100, waived if you purchase around ¥160 of spa and massage services, you get 24 hours of access to a spa pool, saunas, showers, baths and other amenities depending on the facility, such as a gym or pool. Foot massage (洗脚 xǐ jiǎo) costs ¥25–50 for 60–80 minutes, and a full-body massage (按摩 àn mó or 松骨 sōng gǔ) ¥50–150 for 90–120 minutes.
Complexes cluster in downtown Shenzhen around the border crossings with Hong Kong. In the basement of the Luohu customs and immigration building, not the LCC mall, free shuttles run to various spas, and some spas have representatives handing out discount tickets, often ¥20. Massages tend to be rather painful, especially on the feet; say "Téng! Téng!" if it is too much. Tipping is common here, unlike most of China — you will be presented with a slip listing amounts, usually starting from around ¥60, to circle. Some spas also have communal sleeping facilities where you can spend the night if public transport has stopped.
14. The Shenzhen International Marathon
Held in mid-December annually, this is the city's set-piece event for runners and spectators alike.
If your trip falls in December, check the date before booking accommodation, as the city fills around it.
If you only have one day
Morning: Start before dawn, while it is still relatively cool, and walk Shenzhen Bay Park in Nanshan, continuing to the nearby mangrove forest in Futian for winter birdwatching. If you would rather climb, take a workday-morning trail on Tanglang Mountain instead, where you may find nobody in sight.
Afternoon: Move on to the historic sites in Nanshan, then spend the rest of the afternoon in the history museums downtown or in Bao'an, which tell the story of Shenzhen's development from farmland and fishing villages to a technology and commerce hub. Remember that many museums are closed on Mondays.
Evening: Finish with a spa and massage complex downtown near the border crossings, where an entrance fee of around ¥100 buys 24 hours of access to the spa pool, saunas and baths, and a foot or full-body massage can be had for ¥25–150 depending on what you choose. If you are out late and public transport has stopped, some spas have communal sleeping facilities.
Frequently asked questions
When is the best time of day to hike in Shenzhen?
Unless it is winter, set off early to avoid the city's oppressive heat and humidity. In summer, start before dawn when it is still relatively cool. Arriving early also helps you avoid the crowds on weekends and holidays.
When can I go birdwatching in Shenzhen?
Winter, when migrating birds fly south. Shenzhen Bay Park in Nanshan and the nearby mangrove forest in Futian are the places to try.
Are museums open every day?
No. Many museums in Shenzhen are closed on Mondays, so plan museum visits for other days of the week.
Do I need to tip for a massage in Shenzhen?
Tipping is common in the massage and spa industry here, largely because of the tipping habits of Hong Kong tourists. At the end of a massage you will be presented with a slip listing monetary amounts, usually starting from around ¥60, to circle, and this is charged to you at checkout. Mainlanders themselves typically go to places advertising "no tipping" (免小费) or "tip included" (含小费), where listed prices are often slightly higher.
Pick your season, decide whether you are here for the trails or the spas, and start mapping the days above onto your dates.