Shenzhen Travel Guide

Ping An Finance Center is the world's fifth and China's second tallest skyscraper. Its observation deck, Ping An Finance Center - Free Sky (also known as "FREESKY Observation Deck"), is located on the 116th floor of this fifth tallest building globally. Towering at 547.6m above sea level as Shenzhen's new landmark, it features a suspended glass viewing platform offering 360° panoramic views of Shenzhen's diverse landscapes and urban scenery. The attraction includes multiple functional spaces: transparent viewing zones, VR interactive areas, mirror mazes, light tunnels, and the Shenzhen Miracle exhibit. Through advanced smart multimedia facilities, it showcases Shenzhen's vibrant youth culture, celebrates the city's remarkable development since China's reform and opening-up, and presents its historical transformation. Visitors can take a multimedia elevator that reaches the 116th-floor cloud deck at 547.6m in approx. 55 seconds, enjoying sweeping views of both Shenzhen and Hong Kong. Experience cutting-edge damper technology, capture stunning green vistas with smart photography, and witness the dynamic blend of urban and natural landscapes across southern China from this new vantage point.

OH BAY is located on the southern coast of Bao'an Central District, with a coastline of 45 kilometers in the west of Shenzhen. OH BAY was formerly known as Bao'an Binhai Cultural Park. It is a contemporary art and cultural block integrating sea view, park, ecology and commerce. The total area of the project is about 380,000 square meters, including the seaside cultural park with an area of about 270,000 square meters, the "Light of the Bay Area" Ferris wheel with a height of 128m, and the "Voice of the Bay Area" with a construction area of 20,000 square meters. "Performing arts center, the east bank with a construction area of about 80,000 square meters, the sea-friendly experiential commercial district on the west coast, and the JW Marriott Hotel Light Wing with a construction area of about 10,000 square meters, etc. In the future, it will be built into a "creative place for coastal life in the heart of the international bay area" integrating coastal leisure, cultural tourism, art experience, and ecological office.

The Xiaomeisha Ocean World covers an area of approximately 60,200 square meters, with a total building area of about 132,500 square meters. This includes an above-ground building area of around 94,000 square meters and two basement levels totaling about 50,000 square meters. The complex consists of five buildings: an aquarium, a whale and dolphin pavilion, a fun theater, a mixed sea lion exhibit, a visitor service center, and a display service center. Xiaomeisha Ocean World houses over 200 rare and precious terrestrial animals, pinnipeds, cetaceans, and fish species. It focuses on themes of marine animal exhibitions, technological performances, and multimedia interactive science education, aiming to create a joyful atmosphere that brings people closer to nature and enhances family happiness. The new facility holds approximately 40,000 tons of water, with 74 display tanks containing 20,000 tons of water, several tanks exceeding 1,000 tons, and the largest tank, the Ocean Pool, holding 4,700 tons. Upon completion, the new facility will rank among the top ten marine animal exhibition venues in China in terms of total water volume. The venue employs advanced multimedia technology both inside and out, integrating ocean culture and technology concepts to provide an immersive park experience. The diverse technological displays of sound, light, and electricity enhance themed entertainment, improve visitor experience through information technology, meet the needs of niche market customers, and create diverse entertainment scenarios, establishing a new model for ocean-themed park entertainment.

Xiaomeisha Ocean World has introduced the South China Mecha (Bionic) Whale Shark, allowing visitors to experience the charm of ocean giants up close while exploring the integration of bionic technology and artificial intelligence. This mecha (bionic) whale shark incorporates 27 patents, including 3D printing, integrated underwater motors, and bionic jaw mechanisms, showcasing innovation and technological prowess. It not only inspires students' interest in technology and the ocean but also reduces interference with wildlife by replacing live whale sharks. Additionally, its low-energy design consumes only 3 kilowatt-hours of electricity per day, with annual electricity costs of around 1,000 yuan, significantly lower than the cost of maintaining live whale sharks, reflecting an eco-friendly approach. Furthermore, the mecha (bionic) whale shark can collect key ocean data, aiding scientists in researching and protecting marine ecosystems.

Shenzhen Safari Park, located by scenic Xili Lake, spans 600,000+㎡ as China's pioneering open-range wildlife park. This AAAA-rated national attraction combines conservation, exhibition, breeding, and environmental education. Housing 10,000 animals from 300+ species, it shelters global rarities like giant pandas, Siberian tigers, Asian elephants, and golden snub-nosed monkeys.

▲Panda Manor: China's iconic bears in playful displays

▲Jellyfish Kingdom: Millions of pulsating marine wonders

▲Other highlights feature African wildlife zones, primate islands, penguin habitats, and aquatic exhibits with dolphins and seals. The park offers dual terrestrial-marine experiences through its strategically designed habitats, creating an immersive journey through global ecosystems within a single destination

Shenzhen Science & Technology Museum stands like a colossal "interstellar ark" from the cosmos, firmly anchored in the heart of Guangming District. Designed by Zaha Hadid Architects, the exhibition hall draws inspiration from natural forms, with the entire structure showcasing fluid, organic curves. Its dual-toned metal facade features over 80,000 uniquely shaped stainless steel panels, creating a futuristic technological aesthetic. The 17m-high glass curtain wall acts as its giant viewfinder, resembling a "stellar ark" voyaging through the universe.

Dameisha Coastal Park is located in the eastern part of Shenzhen, on the coast of the South China Sea. Surrounded by mountains on three sides and facing the sea on one side, it features a vast 1,800 m stretch of sandy beach. The park boasts vibrant subtropical coastal scenery, making it a favorite spot for both Shenzhen residents and travelers to enjoy seaside leisure time.

The center of Dameisha Coastal Park features the sun plaza and moon plaza, connected by a "sunlight corridor." The corridor has polished stone benches for travelers to rest, and many couples come here for walks and dates.

Dameisha Coastal Park is divided into several sections including swimming areas, sports zones, leisure spaces, entertainment districts and barbecue sites, with recreational options such as jet skis and beach buggies available. It's a great place to gather with family and friends for ocean views, swimming or water activities.

If you plan to swim in the sea, Dameisha Coastal Park provides hot and cold showers and bag storage services. Please note that you must not go beyond the shark nets for safety reasons. The park offers 24-hour voluntary lifeguard services within the shark nets.

Dameisha Coastal Park offers convenient dining and accommodation options, ranging from high-end restaurants to roadside eateries, and from ordinary hotels to five-star hotels. The signature dishes are seafood and pigeon. In addition, Dameisha is often crowded. If you prefer a quieter experience, you can walk along the boardwalk by the beach, where it's more peaceful and pleasant to listen to the waves and feel the breeze.

Walk approx. 2 km east along the coastline, and you'll reachXiaomeishaDone,XiaomeishaThere is an extra charge but fewer visitors, and the environment is also better.XiaomeishaNext to it is Xiaomeisha Sea World, which you can visit if interested.

Qianhai snow world is one of the world's largest indoor ski resorts at low latitudes, located in Shenzhen's Qianhai area. It covers a construction area of 100,000 square meters, equivalent to 14 standard football fields, with a vertical drop of 83 m and the longest single run stretching 463 m. The resort utilizes a photovoltaic ice storage system that reduces carbon emissions by 43%, with steel structure usage reaching 47,000 tons. Maintaining a constant temperature of -6°C year-round, it features 5 professional ski runs (totaling 1,569 m in length) capable of hosting international skiing competitions.

Shenzhen Bay Park is a coastal leisure belt stretching over 10 km along the north shore of Shenzhen Bay. It consists of two main areas: the Mangrove Coastal Ecological Park and the Shenzhen Bay Coastal Leisure Belt, covering over 100 hectares. Walking or cycling are both great ways to explore, and it is a popular spot for locals to relax. The park's defining feature is its ecology, with a thriving mangrove ecosystem. The mudflats provide a habitat for benthic organisms, and the artificial islands offer a place for birds to rest during high tide. As a result, it attracts a large number of migratory birds every winter, making it one of the most famous bird-watching spots in South China.

"Sea World" was originally a cruise ship built by France. It was later renamed "Ming Hua Lun" and built into a maritime tourism center integrating tourism, food, entertainment, shopping, art and hotels.

The Sea World is anchored at Liuwan on the Shekou coast. In addition to the "Minghua", there are also Nuwa Coastal Park, the 15-kilometer coastal promenade, Time Square, China Merchants History Museum, Tianhou Temple, Zuo Fort, the Mausoleum of the Young Emperor of Song, the bronze statue of Lin Zexu and other attractions. If you are interested, you can take a look.

The night view of Sea World is very beautiful. It is brightly lit at night and there is a musical fountain show, which is well worth seeing.

Chung Ying Street is a century-old street straddling the border between Shenzhen and Hong Kong. It is less than 500m long and only a few meters wide. The east side of the street belongs to Shenzhen, and the west side belongs to Hong Kong. The two sides are separated by the center of the street, earning it the reputation of "one street, two systems." In the late 19th century, when Britain leased the New Territories and surveyed the border at Sha Tau Kok, the boundary line happened to run along the Sha Tau Kok River. The riverbed later dried up and turned into a street, with shops on both sides facing each other across the street, which is how Chung Ying Streetgot its name. After Hong Kong's handover in 1997, this layout of one street spanning two regions has been preserved to this day. Standing next to the boundary marker in the middle of the street, with one foot in Shenzhen and the other in Hong Kong, is a unique experience rarely found elsewhere.