Things to Do in Shenzhen
Ping An Free Sky, the Sea World fountain, Shenzhen Bay & a 14-minute train to Hong Kong

If you want a photo with the Eiffel Tower, the pyramids, the Taj Mahal and Niagara Falls all in one day, this is the place. Window of the World is a theme park that gathers more than 130 famous landmarks from around the world, shrunk down into a single park. The scaled Eiffel Tower stands about a third of full height, and you can climb it for a view over the whole park — great fun with kids or anyone who loves a photo. The real highlight is the evening, when the Eiffel Tower and the buildings light up and a big stage show goes on. The evening ticket is noticeably cheaper than the daytime one, and every corner is set up better than you would expect. Walking the whole park takes most of a half-day. The metro runs to the gate, and you can book ahead on Klook.

If Window of the World is the world in miniature, this is all of China in miniature. Splendid China gathers scaled models of China's great landmarks — the Great Wall, the Forbidden City, the Terracotta Army, the karst peaks of Guilin — laid out to walk in a single morning. Joined to it is the Folk Culture Villages, recreating the villages of China's 56 ethnic groups, with folk performances and a grand evening show that is genuinely spectacular: dance, acrobatics and processions. Anyone into history and culture will love it, and children stay entertained too. Entry drops a lot after 5 pm if you only want the evening show. Walking both parks takes most of a day, and you can book ahead on Klook.

Come to Shenzhen with kids or a group of friends and Happy Valley is what many people call the most fun. It is a large theme park in the OCT district right in the middle of the city — no long drive out. Inside it splits into several zones, from looping coasters that rank among Asia's most intense and a classic wooden coaster, through to gentler children's rides and a summer water park. Thrill-seekers get their fill, while families have easier zones for younger kids. A full day is easy to fill. The evening ticket is cheaper if you want the rides lit up. The metro runs to the gate, and booking ahead on Klook saves queuing at the window.

The Ping An Finance Center rises 599 metres — the tallest tower in Shenzhen and one of the tallest in China. On floor 116 sits the Free Sky observation deck at around 547 metres, one of the highest indoor decks in the country. Inside there is a transparent glass floor to stand and pose on, 360-degree viewpoints and an exhibition tracing the city's astonishing growth. On a clear day you can see all of Shenzhen stretching across the bay to Hong Kong. Go in the late afternoon to evening to bank both the daytime view and the city lights in one visit. The tower is in the heart of the Futian CBD, an easy walk from the metro, and you can buy tickets ahead on Klook to skip the queue.

Sea World is a seafront plaza in Shekou, in the Nanshan district, built around an old cruise ship called the Minghua that sits as a landmark in the centre. Around it are international restaurants, bars and cafés — this is the city's expat and going-out quarter, and it has a lively buzz. What people come to see is the music-and-light fountain show, columns of water shooting high to music with laser lighting, each show running about 10 minutes, held every evening around 7, 8 and 9 pm. It is free, with no ticket needed, so it pairs perfectly with dinner here and waiting for the show. Come straight out of Sea World metro station; the best spot is the plaza in front of the fountain, so arrive a little early to get a place.

If you want the easy-going side of Shenzhen that locals love, Shenzhen Bay Park is it. It is a seafront park running about 13 kilometres, with both a promenade and a cycle path along the bay. The sea breeze is cool, and across the water you can clearly see the hills and towers of Hong Kong. In the late afternoon people come out to walk, run, cycle and shoot the sunset. There are bike-hire points in the park, so you can pedal along taking in the view for an hour or more. In winter (October–December) migratory birds also gather at the bay's mouth. It is free all day, and it makes a lovely break from the towers and theme parks. It is not far from Sea World Shekou, so the two pair up nicely.

OCT-LOFT is the place that proves Shenzhen is not just towers and theme parks. It was once an industrial zone in the OCT district, redeveloped into a creative quarter — the old red-brick buildings and steel frames were kept, then filled with stylish cafés, art galleries, design bookshops, homeware stores and creative studios. You can wander and shoot photos for a whole day. The feel is like a hip quarter in any big city, but with a Shenzhen flavour of its own. At times there are art fairs, design markets or rotating exhibitions. It is free, and it suits anyone who likes cafés, art and good design. Half a day is plenty, and it pairs well with Happy Valley or Window of the World in the same district.

A lot of people do not realise Shenzhen has good beaches too. Dameisha is the biggest and most accessible public beach, on the city's eastern coast in the Yantian district. The sand curves in a long arc looking out at the South China Sea, with a wide plaza to sit and stroll and seafront sculptures to photograph. It gets very busy on weekends and in summer, while weekdays are much quieter and more relaxed. It is free (at peak times you may need to book an online entry slot in advance, so check first). It suits a day when you want to escape the city's bustle and sit by the sea for a few hours. Just along from it is the quieter Xiaomeisha. Take the metro then a bus or taxi, and allow extra travel time as it is out toward the edge of the city.

The biggest advantage of basing yourself in Shenzhen is that Hong Kong is right next door. Futian Station, deep underground in the CBD, runs the Guangzhou–Shenzhen–Hong Kong high-speed rail (XRL) straight to Hong Kong's West Kowloon Station in about 14 minutes, with tickets around ¥68 (~฿340) — far faster and more comfortable than crossing on foot. That makes a morning-out, evening-back day trip to Hong Kong genuinely easy. The other option is to cross the land border at Luohu or Futian and take the MTR into the city. Both routes need your passport and two immigration checks (leaving mainland China and entering Hong Kong). Remember your China visa for re-entering Shenzhen on the way back — the full route details are in the day-trips guide.

For anyone who likes hiking and exercise, Wutong Mountain is the highlight ordinary tourists rarely know about. It is Shenzhen's highest peak at about 943 metres, on the eastern side of the city. On a clear day the summit looks out over all of Shenzhen, the South China Sea and the hills of Hong Kong. There are several routes up; the shortest and steepest is the Xiutong Trail, about 2.6 km, taking roughly 1.5–2 hours to the summit, while the paved road is longer but easier going. Locals come out to exercise here in numbers, especially on weekend mornings. It is free — bring water and trainers, and go early to avoid the afternoon heat. It is not ideal if you rarely walk far. Take the metro, then a bus or taxi to the park entrance, and check the route on Amap first.