One-day trip in Luohu

Before the high-speed rail zoomed into town, Luohu (罗湖; Luōhú) was the main land crossing to and from Hong Kong, and the commercial heart of the city.

Less business-like than sharp-suited Futian, Luohu District is bustling and brash. In parts it remains a relic of early-days Shenzhen, with noisy shopping streets in place of polished malls, hole-in-the-wall restaurants (or kitsch revolving ones), cheaper hotels, and vast indoor markets assigned to the sale of a single good, whether that's curtains or jewelry.

In the east, Luohu’s sprawl is contained by the green wall of Wutong Mountain, Shenzhen’s highest mountain and best hiking destination, and the delightful Fairy Lake Botanical Gardens in its foothills.

A view of Wutong Mountain. Sun Yuchen

If you have one day

Start the day by hiking up Wutongshan National Forest Park, Shenzhen’s highest peak, or if that sounds too strenuous, have a stroll through Fairy Lake Botanical Gardens instead.

Then treat yourself to a feast at Dongmending, a bustling indoor food street. Browse the surrounding shops, then head up to the 69th floor viewing platform of Shun Hing Square for dreamy sunset vistas.