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FOR the
first time, makers from a global maker space network are meeting in a
Chinese city for an annual gathering dedicated to promoting technologies
for innovation in an age when personalized production is the trend.
FAB12, the
12th annual meeting of the global Fab Lab community, kicked off its
10-day event in Shenzhen yesterday. A slew of activities, including
workshop creations, project road shows and symposiums, will be held in
the upcoming days with the participation of about 2,000 members from Fab
Lab networks, including scientists and technicians from 55 countries.
According
to the theme, "Fabricating the Future," this year's meeting not only
shares the technologies and tools necessary for innovation, but also
outlines a new direction for spreading the impact of innovation to help
build a better society: humanitarian aid for refugees.
This week,
celebrated scientists and entrepreneurs will share their ideas during
22 forums covering topics ranging from gene modification, smart
hardware, and unmanned vehicles, to maker space operation and more. Some
of the speakers include Fab Lab's founder Neil Gershenfeld, global
supply chain leader PCH International's co-founder and CEO Liam Casey,
British engineer and the inventor of the first open-source
self-replicating 3-D printer Adrian Bowyer, planetary physicist and
NASA's Kennedy Space Center retiree Dr. Philip Metzger, the youngest
robot-maker Saarang Sumesh, and the founder of the new Rossums studio
Jonathan M. Ledgard.
Makers
will visit the Hua-qiangbei commercial area, the city's maker spaces,
maker accelerators, and manufacturing and design enterprises. In
addition, several open-day events will be held, so the public can have
closer contact with the latest innovations.
Product
release Friday will see a number of new products from makers, such as
the brain-controlled automobile, interactive games, a light box with
emotion sensors, a high-precision desktop robot, a new 3-D printing
machine, and a water-saving irrigation system.
Gershenfeld,
who is also director of the Center for Bits and Atoms (CBA) at
Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), sees the new role for
Shenzhen shifting from a traditional manufacturing leader to an
innovation center through the collaborations of global makers.
"There is a very important and central role for Shenzhen — helping the world go from consumers to creators," he said.
He added
that what is needed to realize the transition is a whole new kind of
technology for personal production on a global scale, which is different
from what people already have for mass production.
"Separate
maker spaces and hacker spaces are isolated, what's special about the
Fab Lab here is the network, so each Fab Lab is more valuable when a lab
connects a network … this meeting is the network meeting: it shares and
celebrates the strength of Shenzhen," he said.
Shirley
Feng, secretary general of the Shenzhen Industrial Design Profession
Association, said it's of great significance that Shenzhen is hosting
FAB12, because it will provide a platform to match Shenzhen's resources
with global maker spaces and networks, and to form connections that
support ordinary people in turning their ideas into reality.
Feng said her association is building Fab Lab
networks in a few residential communities in Futian and Longgang
districts and will expand the program throughout the city in the future.
THE Shenzhen
airport officially launched the use of e-lanes for departing travelers
Friday, as part of the first batch of airports in China to pilot the
service.
The
e-lanes, which are installed on the third floor of the airport at the
security check area of the international departure hall, enable
travelers to pass checks in 10 seconds, compared to the 45 seconds.
Qualified travelers flying with Shenzhen Airlines, China Southern Airlines, Air Asia and Tiger Airways can enjoy the e-service.
Chinese
mainland passport holders, mainland one-year multiple-entry travel
permit holders who have registered their fingerprints with local police,
and foreigners who hold e-passports and six-month or above China
residence permits and have registered their fingerprints on the police
system can apply to use the e-channels.
Qualified
foreigners who haven't registered biological information on the police
data system can register at the checkpoint office prior to using the
e-lanes. Fingerprinting and facial registration only requires around 2-3
minutes.
The
Shenzhen airport now has four e-lanes for inbound travelers and 2
e-lanes for outbound travelers. The e-lanes will reduce transit time for
passengers taking international and domestic flights, and prompt
airline companies to open more international routes in the city.
According
to the airport, it will open four e-lanes before the end of the year to
lay an attractive foundation for international aviation businesses.
In the
first half of the year, the Shenzhen airport served 1.06 million
passengers, a 33.9-percent increase over the same period last year.
In another
development, mainland passport holders can use e-lanes when leaving and
entering the mainland at Shenzhen checkpoints starting Friday.
Foreigners who hold six-month residence permits can use e-lanes at
checkpoints when they leave the mainland.
"Previously,
only travel permit holders could use e-lanes. Now, Chinese passport
holders can use e-lanes," said Xie Peixuan, a police officer with
Huanggang Checkpoint.
In the
first seven months of this year, Shenzhen checkpoints processed 137
million border-crossing travelers, an average of 645,000 a day.
THE
mayors of Shenzhen and Scotland's capital city Edinburgh on Wednesday
promised to expand their cooperation on the first anniversary of a joint
incubator project for creative exchange.
Speaking
at the anniversary event in Edinburgh, Donald Wilson, Lord Provost of
the City of Edinburgh, hailed the city-to-city links on both sides, and
looked forward to more cooperation in the creative, and information and
communication technology sectors, among others.
Shenzhen
Mayor Xu Qin said that during the visit his delegation had explored
opportunities for cooperation in more sectors in Edinburgh including
biotechnology and informatics, as well as culture and art, noting that
Shenzhen is China's first United Nations Organization for Education,
Science and Culture (UNESCO) City of Design and Edinburgh is the world's
first UNESCO City of Literature.
Three
companies from Shenzhen producing unmanned flying vehicles, medical
equipment, electronic products, and video games won separate recognition
at the Creative in Edinburgh Competition Awards organized by Edinburgh
Shenzhen Creative Exchange.
Two
memorandum of understandings were signed between the cities to finance
and support technology startups and make preparations to operate a
co-educational school for a minimum of 1,500 pupils in Shenzhen.
Incubators were jointly established in Edinburgh
and Shenzhen in September 2015 and May 2015 respectively with up to two
years of free incubation space as well as local support and business
advice to help local creative and tech companies explore the other
city's market.
APPLE has
decided to set up a research and development center in Shenzhen, its
second facility in China after Beijing, to focus on manufacturing and
software development.
The
announcement was made by Apple CEO Tim Cook during a meeting with
Shenzhen Party chief Ma Xingrui and Mayor Xu Qin on Tuesday. He is in
Shenzhen to attend the 2016 National Mass Innovation and
Entrepreneurship Week, which opened yesterday.
Premier Li Keqiang attended the opening ceremony of the week yesterday morning.
Around
100,000 people are developing software for Apple in Shenzhen currently,
said Cook, who rated the quality of Shenzhen software developers’
products as top in the world. He said
Shenzhen is a remarkable city with
a lot of talent from many different sectors and Apple planned to seize
the manpower advantage to increase investment on research.
China is
Apple's major overseas market. But iPhones are facing growing challenges
posed by Chinese competitors like Huawei, Oppo and Vivo. During his
visit to China in August, Cook unveiled Apple's first research center in
Beijing.
Shenzhen
is China's high-tech hub, investing a whopping 4.05 percent of its GDP
into research and development, and hosting a number of top tech firms
like Huawei and ZTE.
Cook said
he "couldn't wait" to come to Shenzhen for the seven-day innovation week
and was honored to be invited to attend the Global Entrepreneurial
Leaders Forum in the city.
He also said that there's no other place like Shenzhen to be the ideal city for hosting such a large-scale maker fair.
When
speaking of the key factors that lead to the success of makers, Cook
quoted the English idiom "Falling down seven times and get up eight" to
encourage makers to be persistent and not to give up on their dreams
easily.
Shenzhen
was the first Chinese city that Cook visited when he came more than two
decades ago and the city has changed tremendously over the two decades,
he said.
Cook
praised Shenzhen's leading roles in multiple areas, which in the CEO's
eyes, were a key factor making Shenzhen an extraordinary city.
"Apple has
been focusing on innovative products with advanced manufacturing skills
and I found many factories in Shenzhen have better skills than many
other places in the world, so as more of our new products come out, we
hire more employees here," said Cook.
Cook also
visited the Apple store near Window of the World in Nanshan District and
stopped by a Starbucks coffee on Xinwen Road in Futian.
Other industrial giants including Elon Musk,
Pony Ma, Jack Ma, Kai-fu Lee and many other key figures were invited to
the Global Entrepreneurial Leaders Forum that took place at Shenzhen Bay
Inno Park yesterday afternoon.
MORE
than 300 Shenzhen-based drone makers, including the well-known DJI, are
expanding their territories around the world, making the city the hub
of the world's civilian unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV).
"Shenzhen has become the distribution hub of the drone industry
around the globe. Seventy percent of the world's civilian drone market
share has been captured by the city and more than 300 local
manufacturers are working in the sector, generating more than 20 billion
yuan (US$3.2 billion) in sales, Yang Jincai, director of Shenzhen UAV
Industry Association, told the National Business Daily on Monday, one
day after the closing of the 5th Shenzhen International Intelligent
Transportation System and Location-based Services Expo.
About 110 manufacturers displayed more than 230 latest drones,
including fixed-wing drones, multi-propeller drones and even airships,
at the expo at the Shenzhen Convention and Exhibition Center from June
17 to 19.
According to Yang, 90 percent of the world's drone products,
especially UAVs produced for civilian customers, are manufactured in
Shenzhen and shipped around the globe.
As of December last year, the number of domestic enterprises
associated with manufacturing and R&D of civilian drones has
surpassed 400, with one in four making drones for agriculture and
farming.
Statistics from the Ministry of Agriculture estimated that the
occurrence area of crop diseases and insect pests will reach 3.7 million
square kilometers, and if one-third of the farmland is able to utilize
drones to fight pests, the market scale will reach 80 billion yuan.
According to Beijing-based iResearch Consulting Group, China's
drone industry market scale could rise to as high as 75 billion yuan in
the next decade.
RISING two places from 2015, Shenzhen became the
12th most expensive city in the world for expats, Mercer's annual survey
said Wednesday.
Hong Kong
has overtaken Angola's capital to become the costliest city. After
topping the Cost of Living report for three consecutive years, Luanda
was pipped by the Asian city in 2016, owing to a stronger Hong Kong
dollar.
Singapore
(4) remained steady while Tokyo (5) climbed six places. Shanghai (7) and
Beijing (10) follow. Seoul (15) and Guangzhou (18) dropped seven and
three spots, respectively.
The survey
by the Mercer consulting group compares the cost of over 200 items in
over 200 cities, including housing, food, transport and entertainment.
It takes
New York as its base for comparison and measures currency movements
against the dollar, which has appreciated significantly over the past
year.
"Generally
speaking, prices remained stable across the world," said Bruno
Rocquemont of Mercer France, attributing steep rises or falls in cities'
rankings chiefly to exchange rate fluctuations.
A strong
yen propelled Tokyo six places higher to become the world's fifth-most
expensive expat destination, behind Zurich and Singapore in third and
fourth place respectively.
The cost of living in several U.S. cities also rose on the back of the strong dollar.
Conversely,
cities in countries whose currencies have slumped became more
affordable, with Moscow recording one of the most spectacular price
slides, falling from 17th costliest city for expats to 67th.
Bottom of the table of 209 cities was Namibia's capital Windhoek.
Just across the border from Hong Kong
on the Chinese mainland, lies the first tier city of Shenzhen, where
around 15 million people live, work and entertain themselves.
Whether
visiting or living in Shenzhen, this article will introduce some of the
better scenic spots, historic sites and themed attractions. Shenzhen is
a sprawling city covering ten districts, so you’ll need to plan
carefully to make the most of your time – places to see are listed by
district to make this easier.
Depending on your expectations, you
may find some attractions quite touristy and possibly even tacky – but
that’s the nature of Chinese entertainment. Take time to look beyond
this, and you are likely to have some great experiences and get to
sample the unique and wonderful culture that China offers.
Getting around
The
well developed public transport system is both efficient and
inexpensive. Choose from taxis, private drivers, buses and the ever
expanding metro. Check out Getting around Shenzhen and Hong Kong Border Crossings,
for more detailed information. There are also handy maps on most street
corners, that although in Chinese will give you a good sense of your
location and direction.
Tip: if you have a VPN,
Google Maps shows streets in both English and Chinese. It’s a great
resource for showing taxi drivers where you want to go and for finding
your way around.
Finally, here you find the reviews of the best hotels in Shenzhen.
When to visit
Anytime
of the year is good for a visit to Shenzhen. The climate is the same as
sub tropical Hong Kong – mild winters and hot and humid summers.
Shopping malls and larger restaurants are all air conditioned, but a
mountain hike in 30 degrees might be better attempted in the cooler
months.
It rains more in the summer months between May and
September, but you’ll also experience days of clear blue skies to make
the most of your visit. You certainly won’t experience the pollution of
cities like Beijing and Shanghai, but the skies are hazier in the
cloudier, winter months.
Plan your visit carefully around the
times of Chinese festivals. Whilst many Chinese citizens leave Shenzhen
to return to their home towns, you may find travel arrangements
difficult. Hong Kong / Shenzhen borders are crowded and can be painfully
slow to cross. Public transport is busy and sometimes even
unattainable.
Street food in Shenzhen
How long to stay
For
short visits from Hong Kong, a couple of days will certainly give you a
taste of the city. If you want to visit two or three different
districts then you’ll struggle to see everything in a week.
If you
have a full tourist visa, you might be better spending a few days in
Shenzhen followed by a trip into the neighbouring provinces to see the
“real” China. Travel in China is relatively cheap, and high speed
trains, buses and internal flights can whisk you inland quickly to more
rural scenic areas of natural beauty.
A word on visas
You
will need a valid visa to enter Shenzhen or be eligible for a five day
VOA (visa on arrival) which can be obtained at the border. For more
information on visas check out our comprehensive guide here – Chinese Visa Applications
Nanshan District
Nanshan is in the south western area of
Shenzhen and is home to many of the city’s attractions, as well as many
of the technology businesses that have made the city famous. You could
easily spend two or three days here if you enjoy theme parks, shopping,
food and drink. The most popular attractions are listed below, but other
options include the Shenzhen Safari Park, Shenzhen Bay Boulevard and
Nantou Ancient Town Museum (currently closed for renovations). Sea World
1. Sea World
In
the quieter suburb of Shekou, you’ll find Sea World – a popular plaza –
not an aquarium as the name suggests. There are a lot of western and
European style restaurants, cafes and clubs. It’s also popular for its
imported German and Irish beers, and you’ll maybe feel at home in bars
like McCawleys, The Tavern and the more upmarket Terrace – all catering
for both the Chinese and the large expat community living in this area.
Central
to Sea World is The Minghua, originally an ocean going liner, built by
the French in 1962. It’s been remodelled into a hotel, with a large
outdoor bar area and restaurants. Each evening at 7.00pm and 8.00pm you
can watch a short, ten minute water fountain display, set to music with
the ship as a backdrop. There’s an additional display at 9.00pm on the
weekends. It’s a bustling area in the evenings with occasional live
music. However, other than food, drink and promenading there isn’t much
else to do here.
There’s a lot of development underway and a new
luxury shopping mall, an arts centre and an iMax cinema are all due for
completion by 2016. You can stroll along the seafront facing Hong Kong
and there’s access to the newly constructed Hilton Hotel.
If your budget is limited, there are a number of smaller Chinese hotels
close by. I particularly like No. 6 Crystal Garden – a lovely boutique
hotel on a quiet back street between Shekou Port and Sea World.
Getting there
Metro: Shekou Line 2 (Orange) to Sea World – Exit A directly into Sea World Plaza. Nanhai E-Cool
2. Nanhai E-Cool
Just
a short walk along XingHua Road from Sea World, you’ll find Nanhai
E-Cool. This is the old Sanyo factory that has been redeveloped into
more than 100 small creative enterprises.
If coffee is your thing
then you won’t be disappointed. There are lots of small cafes serving
excellent coffee, cakes and snacks. It’s a great place to lunch, away
from the larger western chains in neighbouring Sea World. You’ll also
find restaurants, wine bars, design shops, clothes and the occasional
creative art installation. It’s beautifully shady too on a hot day as
the small streets are lined with leafy trees.
If you enjoy street
walking, you’ll have a more authentic experience if you venture just a
little further west, past Nanhai E Cool continuing along Xinghua Road,
and into Haicheng Street. You’ll find yourself very suddenly in the
thriving Chinese community at Shuiwan. There are many small Chinese
stores and restaurants serving good seafood, hotpot and Beijing duck. At
night this area comes alive with street sellers and you’ll find good
street food if you want a cheap “on the go” bite to eat. You can access
this area from either Sea World or Shuiwan metro stations.
In my
experience, you can wander quite safely here and explore the shops
selling cheap trainers, t-shirts and bags. In Shangle Street which runs
parallel to Haicheng Street, you can haggle in the small shops and get
some good deals. There are also a few smaller Chinese supermarkets if
you need to stock up on supplies.
Getting there:
Metro: Shekou Line 2 (Orange) to Sea World Exit A – follow directions for walking above.
Walking from Sea World Entrance – walk east along Xinghua Road, past Starbucks on the corner and turn left by Baking Workers. Tian Hou temple grounds
3. Tien Hou Temple, Chiwan
Built
originally in the Song Dynasty, the Tien Hou Temple has been destroyed
and rebuilt several times. But by Shenzhen standards it appears old and
is constructed in a traditional style. It’s not far from Sea World and
you can take a taxi, metro or bus.
The temple is still in use and
some of the buildings are being renovated to provide a small museum of
the temple’s history. For a 15 Yuan entrance fee, you can walk wherever
you want, climb three levels of buildings, explore the Drum Tower, take
photographs and enjoy the pungent smell of incense. The temple is
beautifully decorated, although a little worn at the edges, but it feels
authentic and un-touristy.
There’s an incense burning area in
front of a central hall where Tian Hou, goddess of the sea, dominates
the lesser god of wealth, Caishen and the bodhisattva of compassion,
Guanyin.
Metro – Shekou Line 2 (Orange) to Chiwan Exit C. Turn right – walk approx 10 minutes along the road.
Bus – M371 or 226 from outside Sea World Metro Exit C. Stops directly outside the temple. Nanshan Mountain
4. Nanshan Mountain
Stand
in the entrance to Sea World and look inland – you’ll see the lush
green hills that make up Nanshan Mountain. This is a challenging hike,
either up and down or on a circular walk. I say challenging, if you
aren’t super fit, because it comprises over 700 neatly concreted steps
to the top, generating far more of a burn on the calf muscles than a
natural climb. Allow 1 to 1.5 hours for the up and down hike, or twice
as long if you take the circular route. Look out for the map of the area
on the left as you approach the entrance.
There’s no entry charge
and the mountain is open from 6.00am – 9.00pm every day, although we’ve
never seen it gated outside these hours. There are usually food sellers
with fruit and water both on the way to the entrance and at the top of
the mountain. There are also squat toilets at the top, but remember to
take your own toilet paper!
On the way to the mountain you’ll pass
the International Conference Centre on the left. In the basement of
this building is a bowling alley with ping-pong tables. All equipment
can be hired. It’s open between 3.00 and 10.30pm.
Getting there:
By
Metro: Shekou Line 2 (Orange) to Sea World Exit D. Turn right out of
metro and walk to Minghua Road. Turn right into Minghua Road and walk
ahead to NanHai Blvd. Cross the road and turn left, then immediately
right into Yanshan Road. You’ll pass a 7/11 store – cross to other side
of road, continue past the Convention Centre until the road branches 3
ways. Yanshan Road continues left – follow this shaded road to the start
of the walks. There are two routes up – look out for wooden signage on
the way to the entrance that have maps detailing your options.
By Bus: To Haiyang Building (Haiyang Dasha)
From
the West, alight from bus and turn right to corner of Minghua Road.
Follow instructions above for Metro. From East, alight from bus and turn
left until you reach Yanshan Road. Turn right, follow instructions
above. Window of the World
5. Window of the World
Window
of the World is a large theme park (tacky alert!) providing the chance
to stroll around miniature replicas of 130 of some of the most famous
sights in the world. All of the continents are represented and you can
visit the Sydney Opera House, The Palace of Versailles, Mount Rushmore
and even journey by raft through the Grand Canyon.
The park
provides plenty of interest if you have kids, although those “well
travelled” might find this a little less exciting than the real thing!
As well as the monuments, there’s a cable car, an indoor ski slope and
an archery field. Night time entertainment and firework displays take
place at the weekends.
Tickets (2015 Prices): Adults 160 Yuan,
Children over 1.2m 80 Yuan. Children under 1.2m and seniors over 70 can
enter free of charge. Evening performances are extra.
Opening hours: 9.00am to 22.30pm
Getting there:
Metro: Take Shekou Line 2 (Orange) to Window of the World station. Take exit J and the ticket office is directly ahead of you.
6. Happy Valley
Next
to Window of the World you will find the Happy Valley Theme Park. This
park is divided into nine themed areas such as Cartoon City and Gold
Mine Town. There’s also a water park that is open in the afternoons
between May and October.
The park covers a large area (85 acres)
so be prepared for lots of walking. Unfortunately it seems that some of
the rides are closed more often than they are open, and the lines are
quite lengthy. This may be because people don’t always realise that the
ride opening times are staggered. That said there are a lot of options
here so if you enjoy thrill rides and the theme park atmosphere then
you’ll probably have a great day.
Check out Travel China’s page
here for all the directions, current admission prices, general opening
hours and ride opening times. China Travel – Happy Valley
Getting there
Metro:
Take LuoBao Line 1 (Green) to Window of the World station. Take Exit A
and walk left to Qiacheng West Street, turn left and walk until you
reach the entrance to Happy Valley.
7. Splendid China Folk Village
There
are two sections to this park. Splendid China is made up of China’s
most important historical sites in miniature (a common theme among
Shenzhen’s theme parks). They’ve also replicated some of the more scenic
sites. It provides a pleasant walk through the park, but if you’ve
visited Window of the World, you might find yourself overdosing on
miniatures!
China Folk Culture Village provides more of interest.
You can walk through 26 miniature villages and the 56 ethnic groups that
make up China’s heritage. There are live performances, craft
exhibitions and also gala parties at popular times of the year. You’ll
learn a lot about the different cultures that exist within China and it
provides a more educational day out if you have children. Ticket price
is 150 Yuan.
Getting there:
Metro: Take LuoBao Line 1
(Green) to OCT station. Take Exit D turn right along Shennan Avenue
until you reach Splendid China on this side of the road. Coffee in Gee Rosters, OCT Loft
8. OCT Loft & O-CAT (Contemporary Art Terminal)
OCT Loft
is located in the old eastern industry park and is a much larger
version of Nanhei E-Cool. The International Youth Hostel is located
here, as well as many trendy design shops, galleries, cafes and
restaurants.
For a great “cold drip” coffee experience, try GEE
Coffee Roasters – they also have art exhibitions at the back of the
cafe. La Patisserie is in the northern sector of the Loft area, and
provides a beautiful shaded garden for lunch or snacks, transporting you
far beyond the city to a peaceful calm oasis.
Check out OCAT,
a converted 2-storey warehouse with a large art space used for
temporary exhibitions and thematic art installations. Entry is free but
it is closed on Mondays. Wall art at OCT Loft
OCT
Loft area is a cool creative space where you can hang out for a
morning, afternoon, or even longer if you visit the monthly creative
market. This venue is held on the first and third weekends of each month
and if you have an interest in art and design you will thoroughly enjoy
your time here! It’s one of my favourite places.
Getting there:
Metro:
Take LuoBao Line 1 (Green) to Qiaocheng East – Exit A. Turn right and
walk along Shennan Avenue to Enping Street. There’s a large petrol
station on the corner. Walk along Enping Street for 5 minutes until you
reach Jingxiu North Street. OCT Loft is straight ahead of you.
9. HeXiangning Art Gallery
This
gallery is named after He Xiangning (1878-1972), a painter and social
activist and it displays a permanent collection of his work. It is also a
major influence in the support of the contemporary art scene in China.
Unfortunately it is now closed for renovations until 2016, but when it
reopens I would definitely recommend a visit. Situated between Window of
the World and Splendid China Folk Village, it provides a welcome
reprieve from theme parks! Check the website for reopening times.
Getting there:
Metro: Take LuoBao Line 1 (Green) to OCT Station – Exit A.
By bus to HeXiangning Art Gallery Bus Station
Futian District
Futian
is the administrative, business and financial centre of Shenzhen’s
Special Economic Zone. It connects to Hong Kong via the Huanggang and
Futian border crossings.
This is a busy commercial district and a
shoppers paradise, so be prepared for more crowded streets. But it’s
here amongst many of the city’s five star hotels, that you’ll find the
Exhibition Centre, The Civic Centre, Shenzhen Museum, the Central Book
Mall, Library, Concert Hall and Guan Shanyue Art Gallery. You’ll also
find green spaces, mangroves and popular Coco Park which combines up
market shopping with eating and drinking in some of the city’s trendiest
bars and restaurants.
10. Huaqiangbei District
This is a
much frequented area of Futian as it houses the largest electronics
market in China. From the smallest technological component to computers,
cameras, mobile phones, drones and techno gadgets – you’ll find themm
all here. Some will be genuine, many will not. I haven’t yet been able
to find a computer that displays in English – and the validity of Apple
products depends on whether they have been smuggled across the border
from Hong Kong. I did, however, buy a Canon camera that seems to be the
genuine article!
The three most popular markets are SEG
Electronics, Huaqiang Electronics and Cyber. There are hundreds of shops
and booths, spread across many floors and buildings. I find it useful
to memorise some landmarks – these places are like rabbit warrens and
once in, it’s sometimes tricky to find your way back to your original
entrance.
Shop wisely and use your common sense here. If it’s too
good to be true as they say, it probably is! And if it’s a camera or
more expensive item, make sure you see it in its original unopened box
before handing over your money. They will sometimes try and palm you off
with an unpackaged demo product.
Getting there:
Metro – Luobao Line 1 (Green) to Huanqian Road Exit A or Shekou Line 2 (Orange) to Huaqian North.
11. Shenzhen Museum, Fuzhong 3rd Road
No
city trip should be without a visit to a free museum! Shenzhen Museum
was opened in 1988 and it contains a mix of historical heirlooms,
cultural relics and archaeological finds. There are a number of
permanent exhibitions showing the history of China and Shenzhen, and a
popular children’s room with interactive games. You can easily spend a
couple of hours here exploring and as an extension to your visit you
could walk to nearby Lianhuashan Park.
Opening hours are 10:00 to 18:00 but it’s closed on Mondays. The Shenzhen Museum Website is available in English so you can check out temporary exhibitions and directions.
Getting there:
Metro: Longhua Line 4 (Red) to Civic Centre Station.
12. Mangrove Seashore Ecology Park
This
is China’s smallest national park facing Hong Kong’s Mai Po Marshes – a
bird watchers paradise. Throughout the year around 200 different birds
migrate to Mai Po and also to the Shenzhen mangroves, some from Siberia.
You’ll enjoy this relaxing green area if you’re a nature enthusiast,
but it’s a beautiful park in its own right.
There’s access to the
Shenzhen Bay area and you can enjoy shaded walks, cycling (there’s talk
of bikes for hire but I haven’t seen them yet), or you can just sit and
enjoy the views across to Hong Kong. It’s a popular place for Shenzhen
families to relax at the weekends.
Getting there:
Taxi is probably easiest as there isn’t a metro close by. Alternatively catch a bus to Mangrove Forest Bus Station.
13. Coco Park
If
your trip to Shenzhen is for shopping, wining, dining and
entertainment, then Coco Park is a good choice. In a modern mall, over
five floors, you’ll find more than 200 Chinese and international brands,
although if you’re travelling from Hong Kong, you’ll experience higher
prices. You can eat Chinese and western style foods in a wide range of
restaurants and bars. Coco Park really comes alive at night, when the
central plaza heaves with both westerners and Chinese. There’s also a
cinema if you want to catch up on a movie.
If you like things a
little more sophisticated then it’s likely you’ll find something to suit
you at Coco Park. Just don’t leave your credit card at home!
Getting there:
Metro: Luobao Line 1 (Green) or Longhua Line 3 (Blue) to Shopping Park Station.
Luohu District
Luohu
was one of the first areas of Shenzhen to be developed and the streets
feel more typically Chinese, reminiscent of some parts of Beijing. It’s a
thriving commercial zone more densely populated by shopping malls than
other district in Shenzhen. You’ll find MIXc, KK Mall, King Glory Plaza
and popular Dongmen Commericial Street. If you’re shopping for gold or
pearl jewellery, then Suibei and King Living International Jewellery
Exchange Centres should be high on your itinerary.
Accessibility
is a little more difficult but there is a new metro (line 8) which
should be completed by 2016 – making this more scenic area much easier
to travel to.
14. Wutong Shan Mountain Area
Opened in 1989
Wutong Mountain overlooks the coast and is a natural area for hiking.
If you’re heading to Dameisha Beach or the Dapeng Penninsula, this would
be a good overnight stopping point along the way. It’s a popular hiking
spot for Shenzhen citizens and has some outstanding views from the top.
At 943m it’s the highest accessible point along this stretch of
Shenzhen’s coastline.
You’ll never be able to compare Shenzhen’s
hiking with the wilderness areas of Europe or the USA, but on a clear
day this does provide a welcome respite from the city. There are rivers,
waterfalls and forests as well as some protected wildlife, such as
boas, kites and pangolins.
There’s an easy paved route or you can take a more nature route to the top. Check out this guide for more information: Every Trail – Wutong Mountain
Depending
on the route and your fitness levels you should allow 3-4 hours to get
to the top, and 2 hours to get back down. You don’t usually need to
carry much, as at weekends and busier times of the year you’ll find food
and beverages for sale along the way.
To make the most of this
trip, you can stay overnight in Wutongshan Village where you’ll find
inexpensive guesthouses and a laid back atmosphere. There are a few
shops, and some nice restaurants with river views.
Getting there
Metro
& Bus: Metro: Luobao Line 1 (Green) to Luohu Station, then pick up
the 211 bus which will take you to the bus terminus at Wutongshan
Village. Dameisha Beach angel sculptures
15. Dameisha & Xiaomeisha Beaches
Dameisha
is a fairly large coastal town. There’s a typical Chinese area to the
west but if you walk along the beach to the east you can exit into a
modern mall and an equally modern marina. Here you’ll find some larger
hotels, including a Sheraton resort style property. There are also many
seafood restaurants providing live fish and seafood. You can make your
choice from the small aquariums lined up outside the restaurants and
have it cooked while you sample the local TsingTao Chinese beer!
Dameisha
Beach is the first long stretch of fine sand that you will find in
Yantian District. It’s often snubbed by the local Chinese because it can
be incredibly busy on summer weekends and at festival times. If you
avoid these times and visit during the week, it isn’t so bad. This is a
free beach and there are a number of activities such as diving,
paragliding and we even saw jetskis for hire.
Read about my day out in Dameisha here: A day out at Dameisha Beach
Smaller
and less busy Xiaomeisha Beach is a little further along the coast and
you will need to pay an entrance fee of 30 Yuan. There’s a hiking/biking
trail between the two beaches or you can catch a local bus or get a
taxi. This is a popular camping spot and throughout the summer weekends
you’ll see many tents (rent or take your own) pitched up, literally side
by side, on the sand. You can also visit Xiaomeisha Ocean World, a huge
aquarium that is popular with families.
Getting there
Dameisha – Buses: J1, N21, M207.
You could get the metro to LuoHu Train Station and catch the train to Dameisha which takes around 40 minutes. OCT East Tea Valley
16. OCT East Park
OCT East
is set on the mountain side behind Dameisha town you can easily spend a
day wandering around this large scenic theme park. There are six resort
hotels, the Dahuaxing Buddhist Temple, two 18-hole golf courses (one
for members only), a hot springs spa, a water park, themed rides and a
beautiful tea plantation, which for me is one of the highlights. This is
a huge country park that is nicely landscaped and away from the
bustling city that offers a variety of activities for all the family.
Open daily 09:30 to 17:30 – there are a variety of ticket prices depending on what your stay involves – they start at 160 Yuan.
Getting there:
Taxis from Futian will cost around 100 Yuan each way or bus 239, J1 or Airport No 6 to OCT East Bus Station.
Longgang District
Longgang
is located in the North East of the city and as well as the city’s main
reservoir, the Qinglingjing Forest Park and the Longgang Public Golf
Course, you will also find two of the best preserved Hakka “enclosed
residences” in Shenzhen – Hehu Zinju and Maosheng Shiju. Dafen oil painting village
17. Dafen Oil Painting Village
Dafen
Village is one of Shenzhen’s top attractions, and one of the first
suggested to me when I arrived to live in the city. It’s the largest
producer of oil paintings in the world and home to thousands of artists
who paint and sell cheap copies of famous western art pieces. You can
take a picture of any piece of art and you will find any number of
artists who will transfer it skilfully and inexpensively onto a canvas
in whatever size and style you desire.
Dafen is just a short
stroll from the main road. It’s impossible to miss as you will quickly
encounter a mass of oil paintings hanging floor to ceiling in every shop
throughout the alleyways that make up the village. You won’t be
overwhelmed by people – instead it is a very pleasant area to wander
leisurely whilst browsing. You can bargain for your art, but if you’re
not looking for a Mona Lisa replica, you’ll also find modern galleries,
calligraphy, sculptures, handicrafts and lots of small boutique cafes to
make this a worthwhile visit.
Getting there:
Metro:
Longgang Line (blue) to Dafen Metro Station, Exit A1. Walk straight
ahead for 5-10 minutes until you reach Walmart. Then follow the crowds
to the entrance gate!
By bus to Dafen Village Bus Station.
Pingshan District
Pingshan
is the major industrial area in the east of Shenzhen city. Still
inhabited by many Hakka people, you can learn much about their culture
and folk traditions by visiting the enclosed villages in this district.
With 156 basketball courts, it is also known locally as the “town of
basketball”. The Pinghan River runs through the district and its
geographic environment has seen the formation of a number of ecological
parks such as Jingui (where you can walk the ancient trade path),
Julonghshan, Yanzilinng and Biling.
18. Hakka Villages
There
are around twenty or so Hakka walled villages remaining in Shenzhen,
and three are available to visit in Pingshan – each worth a visit if you
enjoy historical buildings:
a) Longtian Shiju;
b) Dawen Shiju;
c) Fengtian Shiju.
Longtian Shiju is the best preserved Hakka
village in Pingshan. Built in the Qing Dynasty, it’s surrounded on three
sides by water and on the fourth by a high wall enclosure, making its
style a little different to other Hakka villages.
Getting there:
Longtian
Shiju by bus to Kengzhi Market Station. Dawen Shiju can be accessed via
bus to BYD Maintenance Centre Bus Station, and Fentian Shiju by bus to
Lexing Furniture Square Bus Station.
Longhua District
This
is one of the newest districts in Shenzhen and it’s the main hub for
the high-speed railway connecting the city with Southern China and
beyond. The now highly rated Mission Hills Golf Club is located here but
the main attraction is Guanian Ancient Town.
19. Guanian Ancient Town
I
haven’t yet visited this area but it’s high on my list. The Shenzhen
Travel Guide indicates that Guanian Old Street comprises dozens of lanes
that provide a living museum of Hakka history. This was originally the
transfer station between China and foreign countries and was known as
the “The Little Hong Kong”. Now there are fifteen remaining watch
towers, as well as folk dwellings and shops.
Getting there:
Guanlan Ancient Town, Xinlan Community: By bus to Guanlan Central Primary School.
Quanlan Watchtower: By bus to Zhangkengjing Shangwei.
Guanlan Guihutang Old Walled Village: By bus to Gangtou Village Bus Station. Dapeng Coastline
Dapeng Penninsula
Dapeng
New District is to the southeast of Shenzhen, surrounded by sea on
three sides and facing Hong Kong’s New Territories. It’s mountainous,
forested and is trying to reinvent itself as an “ecological tourism
resort”.
It’s a stunning coastal area and a proper escape from the city, although difficult to access by public transport.
It’s
well worth a visit, and if you have time, stay a few days in
Jiaochangwei Village to really explore the coastal landscape. In Dapeng
you will also find Xichong Beach, claimed to be one of the eight most
beautiful beaches in China!
Keep an eye out for my guide to visiting the Dapeng Penninsula in the coming months!
20. Dapeng Fortress
Dapeng
Fortress was built in 1394 to defend the mainland from Japanese pirates
and later in the 19th century to ward off the British in the Opium
Wars. It’s well preserved and work is underway to restore it further.
Take
a wander around the streets, where amazingly you will that find people
still live. Along the main street you will find street sellers with
jellies of all kinds, but to really experience the history of this
fortress, take time to walk off into the many lanes away from the main
through road.
Close by is Jiaochangwei Village which was formally
home to the local fishermen and farmers. The buildings have now mostly
been transformed into trendy boutique guest houses. Many are owned by
young affluent Chinese who have a love of culture and art. There are
plenty of restaurants in the area to choose from as well.
The more
popular guest houses tend to get booked quickly at weekends, but you’ll
find rooms available on quieter week days. Some of these properties
have started to appear on popular hotel booking sites.
Getting there:
A
taxi or private driver is probably the easiest way to get here from
Shenzhen, although you’ll find some taxi drivers obviously reluctant to
travel this far out of town. You can take bus M362 from Zhu Zi Lin bus
station in Futian and get off at the very last stop. From here you can
either take a 10 min taxi to Dapeng Fort or take the 928 from Dapeng bus
station. The E11 will also take you back to the city from here.
Conclusion
Hopefully
this article gives you some inspiration for experiencing Shenzhen
beyond shopping and cafes. Please check buses as these can change from
time to time, and if you have any questions I’d be happy to answer you.
