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Shenzhen · Attraction Guide

Lianhuashan Park (莲花山)
A 20-minute walk to the best free CBD view in the city

A low hill in the middle of Futian, where the path ends at a summit plaza, the Deng Xiaoping statue, and the entire CBD axis — anchored by the 599-metre Ping An Tower — laid out neatly below you. Free, every day.

What it is

Why locals bring visitors here first

Picture this: you walk up a gentle, tree-shaded hill for about twenty minutes, and as you clear the top, the whole CBD skyline of Shenzhen opens up in front of you — the 599-metre Ping An Finance Centre standing dead centre, flanked by the wing-roofed Civic Center, the city library, and rows of Futian towers running away from your feet in a single straight line. Everything is arranged so precisely that it looks as though someone designed this exact viewpoint on purpose.

This is Lianhuashan Park (莲花山公园, "Lotus Hill Park"), a hilltop park in the middle of Futian, open since 1997 and covering roughly 150 hectares. It sits right at the northern tip of the CBD axis, and although the hill is only about 100 metres high, its position at the head of that axis is exactly what makes the view from the top so hard to beat anywhere else in the city — and it costs nothing, with no observation-deck ticket to buy.

What sets Lianhuashan apart from Shenzhen's other sights is that it is not a theme park or a staged attraction — it is a real local park. People jog and practise tai chi in the morning, families bring kids to fly kites on the lawn in the afternoon, and couples and photographers gather at dusk to wait for the last light and the city switching on. Everyone comes for the same reason: the view is genuinely that good.

Futian CBD skyline seen from the summit of Lianhuashan Park, Shenzhen — the 599-metre Ping An Tower and surrounding skyscrapers on the city axis
The view from the Lianhuashan summit — the full Futian CBD skyline, with the Ping An Tower as its high point
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Entry
Free
Open 6 am–11 pm, every day
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Best time
Late afternoon to dusk
5–7 pm — sunset plus city lights
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Metro
Children's Palace (少年宫)
Lines 3/4 · near the south gate
⛰️
Walk to summit
~15–20 minutes
Hill ~100 m high, gentle slope
🕐
Time needed
1–2 hours
Walk up, the view, and the kite plaza
🗿
Summit highlight
Deng Xiaoping statue
6-metre bronze, unveiled in 2000
Three things to do

The summit view, the Deng statue, and the kite plaza

It is a big park, but these three are the reason people come to Lianhuashan.

Making the most of it

The walk up, the view, and timing the light right

🚶 The walk up — easier than it sounds

The word "hill" might sound daunting, but Lianhuashan is only about 100 metres high, and the walk from the south gate to the summit takes just 15–20 minutes. The path is shaded by mature trees the whole way, with a choice of stone steps or a paved ramp you can push a stroller up, and rest spots and pavilions along the way. Comfortable walking shoes are all you need — no hiking boots required.

Allow 1–2 hours for the whole park: roughly 20 minutes up, half an hour at the top for the view and photos, then an easy walk back down via the kite plaza.

🌇 Get the dusk timing right

The single most important tip here is about timing. Aim to reach the summit around 5–6 pm (adjust for the season). You catch the CBD towers in warm late-afternoon light first, then watch the sky turn through blue to purple as the city lights come on one building at a time. That short 20-minute window — natural light and city lights together in one frame — is far better than visiting in flat midday sun.

The air is clearest on a bright day just after rain, when you can see right across to Hong Kong. On hazy or smoggy days the view softens — checking the weather before you go makes a real difference.

Tip: The park stays open until 11 pm, so you can comfortably stick around after sunset for the full night view. The CBD towers are fully lit after about 7 pm, and on some nights there is a light or drone show over the Civic Center as a bonus.
The 599-metre Ping An Finance Centre in Futian, Shenzhen — the tallest tower in the frame from the Lianhuashan summit
The 599-metre Ping An Finance Centre — the high point in the view from the Lianhuashan summit, and home to an observation deck

📸 Photo angles and pairing your visit

The classic frame is from the summit plaza, facing down toward the CBD so the city axis runs straight into your shot. Include the Deng Xiaoping statue in the foreground and you get every element that tells the Shenzhen story in a single image. A wide-angle lens captures the full axis best.

Because Lianhuashan sits in the heart of Futian, it pairs easily with other sights. Walk down the hill and you reach the Civic Center and city library; for a view from up high, continue to the Ping An Free Sky observation deck on the same axis, or carry on to Shenzhen Bay Park for a waterfront sunset walk.

Getting there

How to reach Lianhuashan Park

Shenzhen has an extensive metro network across the whole city, and Lianhuashan sits right in central Futian — whichever station you use, it is a short walk to a park gate.

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Metro Lines 3 / 4
Children's Palace station (少年宫)
The easiest option — comes out near the south gate and the kite plaza, so you can start the walk up straight away
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Metro Line 3
Lianhuacun station (莲花村)
Walk north for about 10 minutes to reach the park; enters from the western side
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Taxi / DiDi
Ask for 莲花山公园 南门
Easiest via the DiDi app — tell the driver you want the south gate (南门) if you plan to walk to the summit
Planning your day: To make the most of a day in Futian, start at the Civic Center and city library in the afternoon, go up the Ping An Free Sky deck in the late afternoon, then finish by walking up Lianhuashan for sunset and the city lights — every stop is on the same CBD axis, a short walk or a few metro stops apart.
Where to stay

Hotels in the Futian CBD

Stay in central Futian, within walking distance of Lianhuashan, the Civic Center and several metro lines.

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Frequently asked

FAQ · Lianhuashan Park practical

Is Lianhuashan Park free, and what are the opening hours?
Yes, the park is free with no admission charge. It is open every day from 6 am to 11 pm (last entry around 10.30 pm). The walk to the summit, the Deng Xiaoping statue and the kite plaza are all free. The only thing you might pay for is buying or renting a kite at the kite plaza.
How long is the walk up to the viewpoint?
Not long. From the south gate to the summit (Peak Square, where the Deng Xiaoping statue stands) takes about 15–20 minutes on a gentle slope, with a choice of steps or a paved ramp. The hill is only about 100 metres high, so comfortable walking shoes are all you need. Allow 1–2 hours for the whole park.
When is the best time to visit Lianhuashan Park?
Late afternoon into dusk is best. Aim to reach the summit around 5–6 pm: you catch the last warm light on the CBD towers, then watch the city lights switch on one building at a time. The 599-metre Ping An Tower and the Civic Center line up on a single axis directly below you. Weekdays are much quieter than weekends, so avoid Saturday and Sunday evenings if you want fewer crowds.
Which metro line goes to Lianhuashan Park?
The easiest stop is Children's Palace (少年宫) on Line 3 or Line 4, which comes out near the south gate and the kite plaza. Alternatively, take Line 3 to Lianhuacun (莲花村) and walk north for about 10 minutes. Shenzhen has an extensive metro network across the city; pay by scanning an Alipay/WeChat QR code or buy a single-journey ticket at the machine.
What is the Deng Xiaoping statue at the summit?
It is a 6-metre-tall, 6-tonne bronze statue of Deng Xiaoping at the summit (Peak Square), unveiled on 14 November 2000 for the 20th anniversary of the Shenzhen Special Economic Zone. It was the first Deng Xiaoping statue in China erected as a public city sculpture. He is shown mid-stride, walking forward, looking down over the CBD he set in motion — Deng is the leader who turned Shenzhen from a fishing village into a tech megacity. It doubles as a photo spot and viewpoint.
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