Top Things to Do in Shenzhen: Best Activities & Must-Sees

Shenzhen is a young and remarkable city, built almost from scratch. Its skyscrapers, seaside vibe and fast-paced rhythm create a unique blend where technology and creativity are palpable around every corner.
In this guide you’ll discover what to see and do in Shenzhen: the most interesting neighbourhoods, the latest experiences, tranquil hideaways and the best day trips to make the most of a day off.

If you want to understand why Shenzhen is so captivating, this is where the journey begins.

What to Do in Shenzhen Based on Your Stay

Your Shenzhen experience can change depending on how much time you have and, above all, who you’re travelling with. Because, no, it isn’t the same to explore the city on your own, letting yourself be swept along by its tech neighbourhoods, as it is to come with the family in search of relaxed activities or to make the most of the night with a group of friends.

In the end, every traveller discovers a different rhythm here.

To give you a quick idea, here’s a sample itinerary based on the length of your trip and the type of plan that suits you best.

Must-Visit Districts in Shenzhen

Shenzhen is a city that doesn’t reveal itself at first glance. Each district has its own vibe: some are packed with skyscrapers and offices, others are all about cutting-edge tech, and then there are those where, almost unexpectedly, a vast park or a seafront promenade appears, inviting you to slow down.

What’s most interesting is hopping from one neighbourhood to another and watching the city change as you walk.

To help you navigate all those names, we’ve gathered the Shenzhen neighbourhoods that best sum up its personality. Shall we?

Futian District

Futian is Shenzhen’s most recognisable showcase. Here, everything seems designed to impress: soaring skyscrapers, shopping centres where you could lose yourself for a good while, and broad avenues where there are always people going in and out of offices.

Amid all that glass, it’s surprising to find beautifully maintained parks that feel like little islands of calm. If you want to understand why Shenzhen is one of the country’s most modern cities, this district makes it quite clear.

Nanshan District

In Nanshan, you can tell straight away that you’re in the city’s most high-tech neighbourhood. It’s where massive headquarters like Tencent’s are tucked away, but also cafés full of young people working on their laptops as if it were the most normal thing in the world.

What’s really surprising is that, just a stone’s throw from all that corporate buzz, Shenzhen Bay Park appears—a waterfront promenade offering gorgeous views over to Hong Kong. That blend of urban life and coastline is one of the district’s most delightful features.

Luohu District

Luohu retains that more classic feel that’s disappearing in other neighbourhoods. Here, traditional markets, small food stalls and streets where people do their daily shopping without much fuss are still very much alive.

Dongmen Street, always buzzing, is perfect for grabbing a quick bite or simply window-shopping with no particular plan. If you’re keen to see a side of Shenzhen that’s less futuristic and more down-to-earth, this is the place for you.

Bao’an District

Bao’an offers a welcome respite within the city. It doesn’t have the noise of Futian or the technological ambition of Nanshan; here, life moves at a slower pace, with waterfront areas, vast parks, and spaces that were once industrial and are now filling up with cultural centres and creative initiatives.

At weekends, you’ll usually find a family-friendly vibe, bike rides, and groups who get together simply to chat in the open air.

Longgang District

Longgang is sprawling and residential, a district where Shenzhen reveals its most everyday side. You’ll see—there are huge parks, quite modern museums, and a laid-back pace that invites you to spend a day without rushing.

This neighbourhood is a favourite with travellers seeking a more direct connection with local life. That’s because here everyday Chinese routines unfold unfiltered: children playing in the squares, neighbours exercising, and older locals sitting out to catch the breeze as if it were the most natural thing in the world.

Top 5 Activities and Landmarks in Shenzhen

Shenzhen has something very special about it: it blends tranquil beaches, vast green spaces and modern attractions that wouldn’t look out of place in any futuristic capital.

One day you’re strolling by the sea, and the next you’re hopping on a gigantic Ferris wheel or stepping into a theme park that sums up half the world in miniature. That distinctive blend is part of what makes the city so captivating for first-time travellers.

Now, if you want to avoid the classic ‘so what do we do now?’, here are five stop-offs that work brilliantly for both short trips and longer stays.

Shenzhen Safari Park

Shenzhen Safari Park is one of the first wildlife parks in China, where animals roam spacious areas rather than small cages—a difference you’ll notice as soon as you start your tour.

It boasts over 300 species, including red pandas, white tigers and giraffes, and a drive-through-style area where you can see animals from a little train that takes the route at a leisurely pace. By the way, if you’re going in summer, bring water: the heat in Nanshan can be fierce at midday.

👉 Book your Safari Park ticket from £20.05 on Trip.com

Shenzhen Bay Ferris Wheel (Bay Glory)

The Shenzhen Bay Ferris Wheel, known as Bay Glory, is relatively new, but it has become one of the city's most-photographed sights. It stands 128 metres tall and has fairly spacious, air-conditioned cabins, something everyone appreciates in the more humid months.

The best time to head up is as the sun goes down: the views over Hong Kong and the bay are incredible, and if you catch a clear day you’ll see the light reflecting off the whole skyline.

👉 Book your experience at Bay Glory from £14.86 on Trip.com

Xiaomeisha Sea World

Xiaomeisha Sea World is a firm favourite with families, but it also captivates anyone who loves a good aquarium.

It has huge tunnels with rays and sharks, tropical areas bursting with colour, and carefully curated educational exhibits. Practical tip: it’s right next to Xiaomeisha Beach, an urban beach that’s very popular at weekends, so you can combine sea and aquarium in the same outing without going far.

👉 Book your ticket to Xiaomeisha Sea World from £24.40 on Trip.com

Shenzhen Bay Park

Shenzhen Bay Park is the friendliest part of the city. It’s a very long, very flat seafront promenade, perfect for walking, running, or hiring a bike and just going with the flow.

What’s curious is that, despite being right in the heart of Nanshan, the pace slows right down here: families having picnics, buskers practising, older people doing tai chi… If you want to see how the locals live day-to-day with no frills, this stroll shows it just as it is.

👉 Discover activities and tours at Shenzhen Bay Park on Trip.com

Window of the World

Window of the World is one of those parks best enjoyed with a sense of humour and curiosity. It brings together over 130 replicas of famous landmarks from around the globe, from the Taj Mahal to the Eiffel Tower, and lets you “go around the world” in a couple of hours. There are shows, continent-themed zones, and a night-time performance that’s more surprising than you’d expect. It’s a very straightforward option if you’re travelling with limited time or fancy something different without any hassle.

👉 Book your ticket to Window of the World from £12.20 on Trip.com

Shenzhen, the tech capital of southern China

Shenzhen is known as China’s Silicon Valley, and the moment you set foot there you understand why: everything moves faster than in other cities, with new skyscrapers, entire neighbourhoods dedicated to innovation, and a youthful energy you can feel on the street.

Amid futuristic architecture and creative neighbourhoods, the city seems to reinvent itself endlessly. If you want to see up close how China’s great technological engine works, Shenzhen is the perfect example.

📡 Exploring the best technology centres in Shenzhen

The Nanshan area is perhaps the best example of that innovative spirit. This is where you’ll find the Tencent complex, two towers joined by skybridges that seem to float midway up. At certain times of day it fills with employees carrying takeaway coffees, and the scene has a cinematic feel.

If you slip away for a few minutes, you'll see small squares with well-kept gardens and spaces where people sit to chat or review prototypes, which is perfectly normal here.

A little further afield, around the OCT district, the vibe changes: fewer skyscrapers and more creative studios, galleries and cafés where young designers and entrepreneurs mingle.

It’s a great spot to slow down and get a feel for how the city is imagined from the inside. And if you fancy something more visual, the observation deck at the Ping An Finance Center offers a panorama that impresses even on cloudy days.

🧰 Electronics markets you can’t miss

Anyone who has heard of Shenzhen will surely know Huaqiangbei, the famous electronics district.

There, each building operates almost like a little ecosystem: one dedicated to lighting, another to mobile phones, another to loose components that only a technician would recognise at first glance. Even if you’re not planning to buy anything, the atmosphere is worth the visit.

The corridors are full of tables with tiny components, cables, cameras and prototypes you might never see again anywhere else.

Sometimes the vendors let you have a little poke around so you can compare the quality, and that really helps you get your bearings among so many options. It’s a good idea to set aside a morning, because the place can be a maze if you don’t know the area.

Best Time to Visit Shenzhen

Shenzhen has a subtropical climate you’ll notice from your very first stroll. You’ll find, for example, high humidity almost all year round, intense summers, and warm springs that beckon you outdoors.

The city changes quite a lot with the seasons, and that really shapes the kind of activities you feel like doing. That said, in any month there’s always something interesting to discover, whether it’s a local festival, a night market, or a coastal park where you can catch a bit of sea breeze.

To help you get organised, here’s a simple table with the key highlights of each season.

Best Day Trips from Shenzhen

One of the advantages of getting around Shenzhen is how easy it is to get a change of scenery when you fancy seeing something different.

In a matter of minutes, you can go from a futuristic city to a tranquil bay, to a historic fortress, or even cross over to a completely different destination like Hong Kong.

The city is so well connected that planning a getaway is almost as easy as deciding where you want to go.

Hong Kong

• Average time: 25–45 minutes, depending on the border and mode of transport.
• Transport: Take the metro to Futian Checkpoint. It's the quickest way.
• Unmissable: Hong Kong offers an immediate change of pace. You can wander through Central, surrounded by skyscrapers and stylish cafés, or head up to Victoria Peak for one of Asia’s most famous views.

If you're into browsing shops or getting lost in markets, Tsim Sha Tsui and Mong Kok are a sensory overload. That said, keep your passport to hand and check the border crossing hours, as it can get a bit crowded at certain times.

Dapeng Fortress

• Average time: 60–90 minutes.
• Transport: Take a direct bus from the city centre or, failing that, a taxi along the coastal road.
• Unmissable: Dapeng Fortress is a lovely little surprise for all tourists. It preserves Ming-dynasty walls, stone gates, traditional temples and a maze of narrow alleyways where local families still live.

Just a short stroll away, you’ll find Dapeng Bay and several wonderfully tranquil beaches—perfect for rounding off the day with some time by the sea. An ideal getaway if you’re after history, without sacrificing that coastal vibe.

Huizhou or Dongguan

• Average time: 45–70 minutes by train.
• Transport: High-speed train from Shenzhen North or Futian.
• Unmissable: Huizhou is renowned for West Lake, a lake surrounded by paths, temples and green spaces that are very pleasant for unhurried walks.

Dongguan, by contrast, is known for its hot springs—an especially tempting option in winter or on overcast days. Both cities have a much more relaxed pace than Shenzhen, so they’re ideal for a break between more urban days.

If any of these getaways take your fancy, you can book your train journey from Shenzhen with Trip.com and enjoy a hassle-free journey.

Explore More Travel Guides