Things to do in Shenzhen during holiday
Night market
A motorcycle trunk market, an open-air cinema, live action role-playing games, creative gadgets, accessories, snacks, drinks and more surprises are waiting for your discovering at the centuries-old Datian Ancestral Residence in Longgang District. Built in 1825 by the Chen family originally from Fujian Province, the Datian Ancestral Residence is a typical Hakka compound with three halls, several rooms, a pond and a grove.
Dates: Until Oct. 8
Hours: 10 a.m.-late night
Venue: Datian Ancestral Residence, Longgang District (龙岗区大田世居)
Metro: Line 3 to Shuanglong Station (双龙站), Exit B and then take a taxi
B. Duck funland
Indulge yourself in a B. Duck-themed funland in OH Bay. During the holiday, the funland, decorated with the cute cartoon duck images, will offer you exciting experiences in bumper cars, a little train, bowling and more games.
Venue: OH Bay, Bao’an District (宝安区欢乐港湾)
Metro: Line 5 to Linhai Station (临海站), Exit B
Roses
For lovers of natural flowers and wild fragrances, more specifically of roses, this is the ideal season to visit the rose garden in Xiangmi Park. Flamboyant roses are in full blossom there, so for this holiday, bring your cameras and admire roses with your friends or loved ones.
Park open: 6 a.m.-11 p.m.
Venue: Xiangmi Park, Futian District (福田区香蜜公园)
Metro: Line 7 to Nonglin Station (农林站), Exit C
Hairawn muhly
The hairawn muhly (粉黛乱子草) fields in some local parks are ideal destinations for people who desire to experience the true beauty of nature. The pink flowers are very feathery and add a cloudlike appearance to the top of the grass.
Venue 1: Moshanghua Park, Bao’an District (宝安区陌上花公园)
Metro: Line 6 to Guantian Station (官田站), Exit D, then take bus M310 and get off at Renda Villa Stop (任达山庄站)
Venue 2: Honghuashan Park, Guangming District (光明区红花山公园)
Metro: Line 6 to Honghuashan Station (红花山站), Exit C
Two shows
Shenzhen pianist Luo Wei who graduated from Curtis Institute of Music will play pieces from Tchaikovsky’s “The Seasons,” Mussorgsky’s “Pictures at an Exhibition” and more Tchaikovsky’s pieces Oct. 4. Two concerts featuring songs from Danish animation “Circleen, Coco and the Wild Rhinoceros” will be held in the morning and afternoon of Oct. 6.
Booking: WeChat account “cmskpac”
Venue: Mountain View Theater, inside Sea World Culture and Arts Center, Nanshan District (南山区海上世界文化艺术中心内境山剧场)
Metro: Line 2 to Sea World Station (海上世界站), Exit A
World music concerts
Chinese musicians Shi Lei and Wang Mengying will play three world music concerts with the theme of 24 Chinese solar terms. At the concerts, audience members will enjoy special tunes performed from didgeridoo, handpan, kalimba, Native American flute, Jew’s harp, fujara, bansuri, udu drum and more.
Time: 10:30 a.m., 3:30 p.m., 7:30 p.m., Oct. 1
Tickets: 320 yuan
Booking: WeChat account “深圳滨海艺术中心”
Venue: Bay Opera of Shenzhen, Bao’an District (宝安区深圳滨海艺术中心)
Metro: Line 5 to Baohua Station (宝华站), Exit A
Sand sculptures
SpongeBob, Patrick Star, Mr. Krabs, Moana, the Little Mermaid and Nemo are coming to life in an array of sand sculptures displayed on the Dameisha beach. The sand sculpture festival showcases 11 sculptures that are fascinating to see. At night the pieces are lit in special ways, adding a whole new dimension to them. Drivers to Dameisha should make reservations through Shenzhen traffic police’s WeChat account “szjjqwfb” during the holiday.
Open: 7 a.m.-11 p.m.
Venue: Dameisha Coastal Park, Yantian District (盐田区大梅沙海滨公园)
Metro: Line 8 to Yantian Port West Station (盐田港西站), Exit A1, then take bus M196 and get off at Seaside Resort Stop (海滨浴场站)
Light shows
The Guangming Farm Park is holding a light show every night through Nov. 13. Glittering light installations in the shapes of heavenly bodies, the galaxy and fireflies, and parades offer endless fun in the holiday. The night-entry ticket is 38 yuan per adult and 25 yuan per child.
Hours: 5:30-10 p.m.
Booking: WeChat account “szgmncly”
Venue: Guangming Farm Park, Guangming District (光明区光明农场大观园)
Metro: Line 6 to Guangming Street Station (光明大街站), Exit A and then take a taxi
‘Future Returns’
Artworks by 44 masters including Zao Wou-ki, Salvador Dali, Juan Miro, Andy Warhol and Rene Magritte are on display at the “Future Returns” exhibition, which is divided in five sections: Surrealism, Abstract Expressionism, Pop Art, Conceptual Art, and New Painting and Art From 1988 Onwards. The exhibition (108 yuan) runs from Oct. 1 to Dec. 31.
Venue: ARTECHALL, Cloud Park, Longgang District (龙岗区天安云谷科技艺术展览馆)
Metro: Line 10 to Gangtou Station (岗头站), Exit C2
Julian Opie, National Geographic
British visual artist Julian Opie will hold his solo exhibition “OP.VR/HEM@shenzhen” (78 yuan) from Oct. 1 to Jan. 31, 2023. Opie is best known for his unique conceptual art installations and his ability to capture the essence of the human form in motion. The artist’s minimalist renderings, sculptures and mixed media works appear around the world. A total of 170 classic photos from the National Geographic magazine are also on display at an exhibition (78 yuan) running until Nov. 13. The visual feast shows the world’s diverse cultures and human history through the images taken by some of the world’s best photographers.
Venue: The MixC World, Nanshan District (南山区万象天地)
Metro: Line 1 to Hi-tech Park Station (高新园站), Exit A
Sanxingdui art, ancient books
Relics from Sanxingdui, including replicas, are on display at a free exhibition running until Oct. 23 and ancient Chinese books collected by Shenzhen Museum are also on display through Oct. 30.
Booking: WeChat account “iszbwg”
Venue: Shenzhen Museum (of Ancient Art), Futian District (福田区深圳博物馆古代艺术馆)
Metro: Line 9 to Hongling South Station (红岭南站), Exit A
Woodcarvings, old objects
Exquisite gold-coated woodcarvings and gold lacquer items made in Guangdong are on display until Oct. 16. Old daily items with links to Shenzhen’s history since the 1980s are also on display at the “Home in Shenzhen: Stories of Time in Old Objects” exhibition until Dec. 4.
Booking: WeChat account “iszbwg”
Venue: Shenzhen Museum (of History and Folk Culture), Futian District (福田区深圳博物馆历史民俗馆)
Metro: Line 2 or 4 to Civic Center Station (市民中心站), Exit B
V&A exhibits, Jiangnan lifestyle
A free exhibition running until Oct. 30 features 90 gold, silver, portrait miniatures, snuffboxes, mosaic paintings and dresses on loan from the Victoria and Albert Museum (V&A) in London. Another free exhibition running until Oct. 16 presents the elegant lifestyle in Jiangnan, the regions south of the lower reaches of the Yangtze River, that spanned thousands of years. Incense materials, tea sets, chinaware, guqins and embroidery fans are on display.
Booking: WeChat “nanshanmuseum”
Venue: Nanshan Museum, Nanshan District (南山区南山博物馆)
Metro: Line 1 to Taoyuan Station (桃园站), Exit B
Jinling paintings
Jointly organized by the Nanjing Museum and the He Xiangning Art Museum, “From Dong Qichang to Fu Baoshi: Special Exhibition of Jinling Paintings Over 400 Years,” running until Oct. 12, showcases 180 paintings from the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) to now, created by Jiangsu-based masters.
Booking: WeChat account “hxnartmuseum”
Venue: He Xiangning Art Museum, Nanshan District (南山区何香凝美术馆)
Metro: Line 1 to OCT Station (华侨城站), Exit C
New OCAT space
Two exhibitions are being held at OCAT Shenzhen’s new space at B10 in OCT-LOFT. “Participating Sculptures: Memories From the OCAT Biennale,” running until Nov. 8, is a brief retrospective of the OCAT Biennale’s previous editions, and “Field Neuron,” running until Nov. 20, features works by young artists Yao Mingfeng and Wang Yezi. Visitors can enjoy art while resting at a coffee shop.
Venue: OCAT Shenzhen Hall B10, North Area, OCT-LOFT, Nanshan District (南山区华侨城创意文化园北区OCAT深圳馆B10新馆)
Metro: Line 2 to Qiaocheng North Station (侨城北站), Exit B
Artworks inspired by games, fairy tale
Fifteen groups of artists use videos, games, installations, performance art, paintings and photography to present the diverse relationship between contemporary art and the concept of “game” at an exhibition running until Oct. 20. Meanwhile, Chinese artist Lu Pingyuan is exhibiting contemporary artworks inspired by the German fairy tale “Hansel and Gretel” in another exhibition running until Oct. 30.
Venue: OCAT Shenzhen Hall A, B, South Area, OCT-LOFT, Nanshan District (南山区华侨城创意文化园南区OCAT深圳馆A、B展厅)
Metro: Line 1 to Qiaocheng East Station (侨城东站), Exit A
Guan Shanyue’s art
A painting exhibition running until next year features Jinggangshan-themed paintings created by master Guan Shanyue (1912-2000).
Booking: WeChat account “gsyart”
Venue: Guan Shanyue Art Museum, Futian District (福田区关山月美术馆)
Metro: Line 3 or 4 to Children’s Palace Station (少年宫站), Exit F
Artworks by Cao Yuxi, Zhou Yuan
New media artist Cao Yuxi’s “Solidified Dimension” exhibition (58 yuan), running until Nov. 19, consists of installations and new media works based on AI algorithm. Shenzhen artist Zhou Yuan’s free exhibition “One Falls Another Rises,” running until Nov. 29, features pottery and porcelain pieces as well as ink paintings, most of which feature exaggerated human faces and bodies.
Booking: WeChat account “GCACArtMuseum”
Venue: Art Museum, Guangming Culture and Art Center, Guangming District (光明区光明文化艺术中心美术馆)
Metro: Line 6 to Fenghuang Town Station (凤凰城站), Exit B
Shen Shaomin’s art
The “Shen Shaomin’s Brief History of Science” exhibition reflects Chinese contemporary artist Shen Shaomin’s understanding of the world including his doubts on scientific development. This free exhibition not only extends his early exploration of the relationship between art and science, but also presents the artist’s unique interdisciplinary perspective.
Booking: WeChat account “PingshanArtMuseum”
Venue: Pingshan Art Museum, Huide Road, Pingshan District (坪山区汇德路坪山美术馆)
Metro: Line 3 to Shuanglong Station (双龙站), Exit D and then take a bus or taxi
Ukiyo-e
Ukiyo-e woodblock prints by renowned Japanese masters, including Katsushika Hokusai, Utagawa Kuniyoshi, Utagawa Hiroshige and Kitagawa Utamaro, as well as immersive multimedia screens, are on display at an exhibition (119 yuan) running until Oct. 16.
Venue: Art Center, China Resources Tower, Nanshan District (南山区中国华润大厦美术馆)
Metro: Line 2 or 11 to Houhai Station (后海站), Exit G
Fashion, doodle and more
The “Metafashion” exhibition (128 yuan) running until Oct. 8 displays iconic collections by Dutch fashion duo Viktor & Rolf. At the “Wish You Were Here” exhibition (128 yuan) running until Oct. 16, Maurizio Cattelan presents more than 20 playful and thought-provoking works. The “Chirping in the Forbidden City” exhibition (48 yuan) running until Oct. 8 presents a selection of bird species endowed with animated figures. And Sam Cox, known under the moniker Mr Doodle, is displaying his graffiti works at the “Abstract Doodlism” exhibition (58 yuan) running until Nov. 20.
Venue: Sea World Culture and Arts Center, Nanshan District (南山区海上世界文化艺术中心)
Metro: Line 2 to Sea World Station (海上世界站), Exit A
‘From Mucha to Sendak’
Enjoy works from the Post-Impressionism, Fauvism, Surrealism, Ukiyo-e, Cubism and other genres by 50 masters at the “Masterpieces of Illustration: From Mucha to Sendak” exhibition (118 yuan) running until Oct. 30. Featured artists include Jules Chéret, André Derain, Rene Gruau, Enid Blyton, Alphonse Mucha, Freddy Wittop and Maurice Sendak.
Venue: Yealife Art Space, 4/F, Yitian Holiday Plaza, Nanshan District (南山区益田假日广场四楼Yealife艺术空间)
Metro: Line 1 or 2 to Window of the World Station (世界之窗站), Exit L
‘The Siløs Metaverse’
More than 60 artists are presenting digital artworks to create a futuristic world at “The Siløs Metaverse” exhibition (188 yuan) running until March 31, 2023.
Venue: I-Factory, Nanshan District (南山区价值工厂)
Metro: Line 2 or 5 to Chiwan Station (赤湾站), Exit D and then take a taxi
‘Wow! These Newborn Education’
The exhibition (30 yuan) running until Nov. 20 displays eight cases on children’s fine art education, using architecture, music, yoga, sculptures, paintings and videos to trigger thoughts on education and to explore unleashing children’s imagination.
Venue: OCT Art & Design Gallery, Nanshan District (南山区华•美术馆)
Metro: Line 1 to OCT Station (华侨城站), Exit C
‘Variation’
Lisson Gallery is cooperating with ArtBay to present the “Variation” exhibition, featuring works by Anish Kapoor, Tony Cragg, Ryan Gander, Shirazeh Houshiary, Jason Martin, Julian Opie, Liu Xiaodong, Nathalie Djunberg & Hans Berg, Rodney Graham, Christopher Le Brun and Tatsuo Miyajima. The free exhibition runs until Nov. 6.
Booking: WeChat account “ArtBayCulture”
Venue: ArtBay, South Area, OCT-LOFT, Nanshan District (南山区华侨城创意文化园南区艺湾)
Metro: Line 1 to Qiaocheng East Station (侨城东站), Exit A
Gemstones, jewelry
An exhibition featuring peridot, from its basic form of the olivine mineral to the glorious form of polished gemstones, is being held at the Jewelry Museum of Shenzhen until Oct. 9. In the museum, visitors can also explore other natural gems, precious metals and jewelry designs.
Booking: WeChat miniprogram “宝博票务预约”
Venue: Jewelry Museum of Shenzhen, 3-4/F, Gold Plaza, Luohu District (罗湖区金展珠宝广场三四楼深圳珠宝博物馆)
Metro: Line 3 or 7 to Tianbei Station (田贝站), Exit F
Note:
Currently, most venues in Shenzhen require visitors to show nucleic acid test results issued within 24 hours.