Citadines Universiade Centre Longgang Shenzhen — A Serviced Apartment With Kitchens, a Longgang Long-Stay Base by the Universiade Center
Picture this: you're in Shenzhen with the family, settling in for a longer stay to work in the eastern tech belt, or you've flown in for a concert at the Universiade Center (大运中心), and you want something bigger than a standard hotel room — a little kitchen to boil noodles in, a washing machine in the unit, and a balcony to step out onto. Citadines Universiade Centre Longgang Shenzhen (深圳龙岗大运中心馨乐庭服务公寓) is the name long-stay travellers in Shenzhen keep mentioning. It's a 4-star serviced apartment on the Citadines (馨乐庭) brand from The Ascott / CapitaLand, the big Singapore-based serviced-residence group, set in Building 3 of Jingji Smart Science Park on Qingxia Road, in Longgang (龙岗) on the city's east side. It scores 9.5/10 from around 618 real guest reviews. If you're after a base that feels like a second home in Shenzhen at a price you can stomach — and you don't mind a metro ride into the centre — this is a strong-value pick.
The first thing guests agree on is that the units are new, clean, spacious and better value than expected. This isn't a cramped hotel room — it's a real serviced apartment built for living. Units start at a studio of around 35 sqm and run up to a one-bedroom of around 70 sqm, and every one comes with an in-unit kitchenette (fridge, microwave, electric cooker, kettle, crockery) so you can rustle up a simple meal or reheat takeaway, plus a washing machine and a private balcony in each apartment, with a separate wet-and-dry bathroom. Reviews describe warm, home-style furnishings, fresh fittings and comfortable beds — a setup that suits families with kids, couples who want space, and anyone staying several nights who'd rather not eat out for every meal.
One guest recalls: "Overall a great experience and excellent value for money. The room was clean and comfortable with brand-new furniture, housekeeping was prompt, and there are plenty of restaurants and attractions nearby. It's also really close to the Universiade Center, which was handy for a concert. Having a kitchen and a washing machine in the room made a longer stay easy, the staff were helpful, and breakfast was tasty with lots of choices."
Service and breakfast are the other things that lift the score to 9.5/10. Reviews mention staff who are friendly and helpful and housekeeping that's quick to respond, while the free buffet breakfast (served roughly 7:00–10:00, with both Chinese and Western dishes) is praised as tasty, varied and generous. The property also has a 24-hour gym with a fresh-air system, a restaurant, laundry and concierge services, and free parking with EV charging. It's a complete package for both a family holiday and a business trip out here — at a rate that stays within reach.
Location is the thing to get straight before you book. The hotel sits in Jingji Smart Science Park on Qingxia Road, in Longgang (龙岗) — which is on Shenzhen's east side, not the city centre (Futian, Luohu and Nanshan are all over to the west). The upside is that Huanggekeng station (Metro Line 16), Exit D, is about a 460 m walk away — ride Line 16 and change for other lines to get into town. The real draw of this address is being close to the Universiade Center (大运中心), which hosts plenty of concerts and big events, along with Tianan Cyber Park (天安数码城) tech offices, Longcheng Park (龙城公园), the Universiade World mall and Longgang Children's Park — there are restaurants and shopping all around. It's ideal if your business is on the east side, you're heading to an event at the Universiade Center, or you want a spacious, well-priced base and are happy to ride the metro into town.
But let me pass on the gripes honestly, gathered from real guest reviews, because they're real and worth knowing first. The biggest thing to weigh is that it's far from the city centre — if your plans centre on Futian, Luohu, Nanshan or crossing to Hong Kong, you're looking at a fairly long metro ride (Line 16 is a newer outer line and you'll change for the centre), so this suits travellers with business on the east side more. Second: despite the "Universiade Centre" in the name, the Universiade stadium itself is around 2 km away, not at the front door — close by metro or a short taxi, not a quick walk. Third, a few reviews flag cleanliness in spots, the odd pest, and front-desk responsiveness at times — not everyone hits this, but if something's off, ask the desk to sort it. And lastly, there's no pool, so if you've come to swim you'll need to look elsewhere.
Standard rates start at around ~¥400 (฿2,000) per night for a studio, with a typical range of roughly ฿2,000–4,000 depending on season and room type — larger units like the Studio Executive (~51 sqm) and the One-Bedroom Deluxe (~70 sqm) climb higher, but still read as strong value once you factor in the kitchen, the washing machine and apartment-sized space, and the per-person cost drops further on a longer stay or with a group. Note that concert and major-event dates at the Universiade Center, plus China's long holidays — Golden Week (October 1–7), Chinese New Year, Labour Day (May 1–5) — and big conventions or expos (especially around the Canton Fair in nearby Guangzhou) tend to send rates up and fill rooms fast, so book ahead and take a free-cancellation rate. One reassuring point: Citadines is an Ascott brand from Singapore that takes foreign guests as a matter of course, though always bring your physical passport to check in.
The honest summary, friend to friend: Citadines Universiade Centre Longgang Shenzhen is for travellers who want a spacious second-home base with an in-unit kitchen and washing machine, out in Longgang near the Universiade Center, at a price you can stomach. If you're on a longer stay, travelling with kids, have business on the city's east side, or have flown in for a concert at the Universiade Center and want to sleep nearby, it's excellent value. But if your trip centres on the downtown or crossing to Hong Kong, and you want a pool and full hotel-style service, compare it against west-side picks on our list like Conrad in Qianhai or Atour S in Nanshan, which sit closer to the metro and the heart of the tech district.
Summary from Booking & Agoda
- ✓ New, spacious, clean serviced-apartment units — strong value
- ✓ Every unit has a kitchenette, washing machine and private balcony
- ✓ Tasty, generous free buffet breakfast and helpful service
- ✓ Close to the Universiade Center — handy for concerts and long stays
- ! Out in Longgang, far from the city centre — a metro ride into town
- ! A few reviews flag cleanliness in spots, the odd pest, desk responsiveness
- ✓ Apartment-sized units with kitchens — great for families and long stays
- ✓ About a 460 m walk to Huanggekeng Metro Line 16, Exit D
- ✓ Near the Universiade Center, Tianan Cyber Park and Longcheng Park
- ✓ Citadines, an Ascott brand that takes foreign guests as standard
- ! No pool
- ! Rates spike and rooms fill fast on event dates and Chinese long holidays
- 💡If your trip centres on the downtown or Hong Kong · The hotel is out in Longgang (east), far from Futian/Luohu/Nanshan, with a fair metro ride (Line 16 plus a change) into town · Fix → if your business is downtown or near Hong Kong, look at Conrad in Qianhai or Atour S in Nanshan on our list, both closer to the heart of the tech district and the metro
- 💡If you want a pool or full hotel-style service · This is a serviced apartment built around spacious units with kitchens — there's no pool · Fix → see a 5-star hotel with a pool on our list, such as The Ritz-Carlton (outdoor pool) in Futian or Futian Shangri-La (indoor pool)
- 💡If you expect to walk straight to the Universiade stadium · The name says Universiade Centre, but the stadium itself is about 2 km away · Fix → allow for a short metro hop or taxi to the venue, or if you want to be right next to the stadium, compare a hotel directly beside the Universiade Center first