Exploring Shenzhen for signature souvenirs

Theme parks, natural coastal landscapes, diverse hiking experiences and modern urban vibes are known as the signature attractions of Shenzhen. But what options do you have when considering signature souvenirs to take home at the end of your trip to Shenzhen? Here are some recommended Shenzhen souvenirs that are perfect as personal keepsakes or gifts:

Guangming pigeon

Guangming pigeon, with its 30-year history and reputation for excellence, has a crispy skin and succulent meat with an impressive lingering flavor. Perfectly marinated and lightly fried, this renowned dish infused with Chinese herbs provides a hearty, non-greasy experience that will leave you wanting more. 

Photos from the official WeChat account of the Culture, Radio, Television, Tourism and Sports Bureau of Shenzhen Municipality except otherwise stated

Vacuum-sealed packs are available to take home as souvenirs. 

However, often cited as Shenzhen's most popular signature dish, it is best enjoyed on the premises rather than to go. To indulge in Guangming pigeon, visit Guangming Guesthouse or Nanyue Food Park in Guangming District.

Guangming Guesthouse

Add: 26 Fazheng North Road, Guangming District (光明区法政北路26号)

Metro: Line 6 to Guangming Street Station (光明大街站), Exit B then walk for around 400 meters

Nanyue Food Park

Add: 9 Tiyugongyuan Road, Guangming District (光明区体育公园路9号)

Metro: Line 6 to Guangming Street Station (光明大街站), Exit B then take a taxi for a 2.3-kilometer ride

Shajing oysters

Dapeng abalones and Shajing oysters shine as Shenzhen's seafood gems. Known for their large size and exquisite tenderness, Shajing oysters offer a distinct savory experience unmatched by other varieties. These delicious, nutritious treats are the perfect souvenir for food lovers.

Photo by Liu Xudong

Shajing, nestled in Shenzhen's Bao'an District, boasts a rich heritage as a "thousand-year oyster town." Its famous oysters are prized locally and internationally and embody the culinary essence of the region. The time-honored practices of local oystermen are a revered intangible cultural heritage, preserving Shenzhen's cultural heritage.

Photo by Liu Xudong

Fresh oysters and related products are available from fresh markets and online platforms such as Taobao and Jingdong. 

Durian

With its significant advantage in cold chain logistics, Yantian District has guaranteed "durian freedom" for locals and tourists. In November 2023, the Greater Bay Area Durian Industry Base was launched at Yantian Port Smart Cold Chain Industrial Park, boosting the trading of durian between Shenzhen and the Southeast Asian region.

Yantian is home to the world's largest self-service durian buffet, a pioneering concept in Shenzhen. For 165 yuan (US$23) per person, guests can enjoy over 200 varieties of ripe durian at the buffet restaurant. As well as enjoying the fresh and sweet flesh, there are unique durian products that can only be tasted here.

Similar durian buffet restaurants can also be found in Luohu and Futian. 

Photo from the restaurant's Zhihu account

Kaihuang Malaysian Durian Buffet Restaurant (Yantian)

Add: Room 31, Building C, Phase 1, Yantian Modern Industry Service Center, 3018 Shayan Road, Yantian District (盐田区沙盐路3018号盐田现代产业服务中心一期C座3I)

Metro: Line 2 to Haishan Station (海山站), Exit A2 then walk for around 600 meters

Kaihuang Malaysian Durian Buffet Restaurant (Luohu)

Add: 4/F, Dongmen Center City, 2088 Dongmen Middle Road, Luohu District (罗湖区东门中路2088号东门中心城四楼)

Metro: Line 3 to Shaibu Station (晒布站), Exit A2

Kaihuang Malaysian Durian Buffet Restaurant (Futian)

Add: B203, Meilin Life Center, 1 Meicun Road, Futian District (福田区梅村路1号梅林生活中心2楼B203)

Metro: Line 9 to Meicun Station (梅村站), Exit C1 then walk for around 600 meters

Shuibei gold

In China, Shenzhen is known as a hub for jewelry production and trade. Within Shenzhen, people specifically look to Shuibei for notable developments, trends and products in the jewelry industry.

Shuibei in Luohu stands out as a leading gold and jewelry hub in the country, renowned for its size, advanced infrastructure, and strategic positioning. As a key upstream supply source for numerous jewelry brands, it offers wholesale prices on every item, making it a haven for treasure seekers. To make the most of your visit, explore the area, assess the cost of processing and compare the craftsmanship of different shops.

The Tellus Gold Jewelry Industrial Park in Shuibei links seven trading centers including the Tellus Diamond Plaza, Tellus Jewelry Plaza, Shuibei International Center, The Gold Plaza, The Silver Plaza, Xinglong Plaza, and The One Plaza, creating the largest underground gold and jewelry trading center in China.

Exiting from the Shuibei Metro Station and crossing the pedestrian bridge leads you straight to this bustling area. The lower level of the industrial park is interconnected, offering a vast array of gold, gold-plated items, diamonds, and more — all within a sprawling 42,300 square meters of industrial space to explore to your heart's content.

Tellus Gold Jewelry Industrial Park

Add: Beili North Road, Luohu District (罗湖区贝丽北路)

Metro: Line 3 to Shuibei Station (水贝站), Exit B

Electronic products from Huaqiangbei

Huaqiangbei, known as the main hub of China's electronics industry, is located in Shenzhen's Futian District and stretches from Shangbu Middle Road to Huafu Road, and from Hongli Road in the north to Shennan Road in the south.

Photo by Lin Jianping

Overflowing with a myriad of electronic goods, this vibrant marketplace ensures that every visitor will find a product to suit them, promising a satisfying visit. A cornucopia of items awaits, from celestial telescopes to trendy sunglasses that immerse you in a melodic world, to the latest instant language interpretation devices — all as accessible as fresh produce at a market, and priced as modestly as two servings of milk tea.

Photo from official WeChat account "ShenzhenWeekly"

Huaqiang Electronic World

Add: 3002 Shennan Middle Road, Futian District (福田区深南中路3002号)

Metro: Line 1 to Huaqiang Road Station (华强路站), Exit A

Nanshan lychee

As the temperature rises, the beloved lychee fruit is about to hit the shelves in Shenzhen with Nanshan Lychee taking center stage. These juicy gems, known for their unique sweetness, start appearing in June after a beautiful blossom season that lasts from March to early April.

Nanshan, nestled between the sea on three sides and mountains on one, enjoys a typical South Asian tropical maritime climate, making it one of the few urban areas nationwide where you can savor delicious lychees in the city center. Events like the Lychee Cultural Festival have made this area a hotspot for lychee lovers, turning Nanshan into the go-to place for these mouthwatering fruits.

Nanshan lychee can be bought at supermarkets, fruit shops and orchards in the city. 

Henggang glasses

With Henggang in the spotlight, visions shift swiftly to eyewear. Dominating 50% of the world's high-end eyewear market, Longgang serves as a haven for chic frames and reliable eyepieces to suit all tastes and ages. Within a concise 5-kilometer stretch of Henggang, cutting-edge technology and novel materials blend well to create the ideal optical companions.

Taking shape in the 1980s, the Henggang eyewear industry parallels Shenzhen's iconic sectors such as Shuibei jewelry and Dafen oil paintings. The commercial center thrives on Longgang Boulevard, where more than 1,000 eyewear companies form a bustling commercial enclave.

Henggang Eyewear City

Add: 4169-4173 Longgang Boulevard (Henggang section), Longgang District (龙岗区龙岗大道横岗段4169-4173号)

Metro: Line 3 to Henggang Station (横岗站), Exit D then walk for around 600 meters