Fairy Lake Botanical Gardens

One of Shenzhen's best escapes, this expansive hillside park is divided into themed scenic areas where you can admire giant cacti, butterfly orchids, bamboo and peach blossoms.

A popular destination to head for is Hongfa Buddhist Temple. There's a vegetarian restaurant adjacent to the temple. The Palaeontology Museum (9 a.m.-5 p.m. Tuesday-Sunday) has an interesting garden display of fossilized trees. Fairy Lake itself has boat rental points and a fishing area.

Be warned that the gardens become very crowded on busy weekends and public holidays.

Chinese name: 仙湖植物园, Xiānhú Zhíwùyuán

Tel: 0755-25738430

Add: 160 Xianhu Lu, Lianting Jiedao 莲塘街道仙湖路160号

Metro: Line 2 to XinxiuStation, Exit A