National Day holiday events in Shenzhen

This National Day holiday, Shenzhen welcomes a wave of new openings and events. Discover vibrant attractions, fresh dining concepts, dazzling performances and striking art displays as the city comes alive.

New attractions 

Qianhai Snow World | 前海冰雪世界

Shenzheners now have a year-round, one-stop indoor snow destination. As the world’s largest indoor ski center, Qianhai Snow World features five professional ski trails with a maximum vertical drop of 83 meters. Terrain parks, various activities, and other entertainment options will surely suit visitors of all ages.

Photos by Liu Xudong

Ticketing: 热雪奇迹

Metro: Line 20 to Convention & Exhibition City Station (会展城站), Exit C

Eyes of the GBA | 湾区之眼

The Bay Area Store of Shenzhen Book City, dubbed the “Eyes of the GBA,” is a premier cultural landmark which combines a bookstore with art, retail, dining, and tourism. This large bookstore also hosts a range of new exhibitions and immersive high-tech displays during the holiday, such as Tang Dynasty mural art and other special shows.

Metro: Line 5 to Baohua Station (宝华站), Exit A1

Photo by Liu Xudong

Shenzhen Space Museum | 深圳太空馆

Located at OCT Harbor (欢乐海岸), the Shenzhen Space Museum houses more than 100 exhibits, covering basic astronomy, China’s space achievements, moon-walking and Mars-rover simulations, and more. A state‑of‑the‑art 360‑degree dome theater immerses visitors in virtual flights through the universe.

Ticketing: 中箭航天

Metro: Line 9 to Shenzhen Bay Park Station (深圳湾公园站), Exit E

SZ Downtown Duty Free Shop | 深圳市内免税店

Browse a wide array of goods, including global luxury brands, Chinese time-honored brands with intangible cultural heritage credentials, and Shenzhen-made tech products at the city’s first downtown duty-free shop, on the first floor of UpperHills (深业上城). Both duty-free and duty-paid items are available with various discounts. 

Metro: Line 10 to Donggualing Station (冬瓜岭站), Exit E

Tax information for various visitors at Shenzhen Downtown Duty Free Shop.

Butterfly garden at Tanglang Mountain | 塘朗山郊野公园馨蝶园

This holiday, admire butterflies at a dedicated garden at the Tanglang Mountain Country Park. This garden, featuring nectar and host plants to support butterflies’ life cycles, offers leisure areas, educational displays, recommending routes, and interpretive installations to help visitors learn about butterflies. Wall and restroom decorations with butterfly motifs add to the fun.

Metro: Line 7 to Taoyuancun Station (桃源村站), Exit D

Expo Park | 深圳会展公园

Near the Shenzhen World Exhibition and Convention Center, the Expo Park is an elevated mixed-use space combining parkland, shops, restaurants, and public art. Visitors can wander among art installations inspired by Henri Matisse or relax at coffee shops and craft beer venues. The park regularly hosts art, tech and commercial events for the community.

Metro: Line 12 or 20 to Shenzhen World North Station (国展北站), Exit A

Beach in Qianhai | 前海沙滩

West Shenzhen residents can now enjoy a newly built beach at the Guiwan section of Qianhai Stone Park (前海石公园桂湾段). Visitors can soak in a distinctive city-by-the-sea view, relax on lawns while watching the sunset, cycle or jog on waterfront paths, and play with children in the waterside square. Future programming may include beach volleyball, music festivals and outdoor movie screenings. 

Metro: Line 5 to Guiwan Station (桂湾站), Exit E

Shenzhen Bay MixC Phase 2 | 深圳湾万象城二期

The Shenzhen Bay MixC Phase 2 brings together around 300 brands spanning cosmetics, food, fashion, accessories, lifestyle, and electronics. The mall’s “Bay to Art” MixC Art Season features 100 activities, including Martin Parr’s “Short & Sweet” photography exhibition and Territory Studio’s light show combining waterscape with 3D holographic projection.

Metro: Line 2, 11, 13 to Houhai Station (后海站), Exit L

Events 

Tide Market @ Black Pearl | 黑珍珠潮汐美食市集

Thirteen Black Pearl restaurants, including Wolfgang’s Steakhouse, Blue Kylin, Yun Jing, China Lodge, Aken’s Kitchen, Stone Sal, Ensue, will set up food stalls at the Tide Market, which also features live music, outdoor movies, and chef interactions.

Venue: East Square, The Town, L3, UpperHills, Futian District (福田区深业上城L3层小镇东广场)

Metro: Line 10 to Donggualing Station (冬瓜岭站), Exit E

Marisfrolg HQ | 玛丝菲尔大厦限时开放

Marisfrolg Fashion Group’s headquarters will be open to the public during the holiday, with an exhibition titled “Gentle Force.” The building’s bold, eccentric architecture is a local landmark. Visitors can join free guided tours and fashion performances. Various ticket packages including dining, desserts and photography options are available. 

Ticketing: 湾游记

Venue: Marisfrolg Headquarters, Longhua District (龙华区玛丝菲尔大厦)

Metro: Line 6 to Yangtai Mountain East Station (阳台山东站), Exit C1 and then take a taxi

Auto show, game show | 深圳国际车展&动玩嘉年华

Meet your favorite comic artists and cosplayers at the Shenzhen Game Show (Oct. 1-2), an exciting carnival welcoming everyone eager to explore a world of fantasy. Meanwhile, browse more than 100 car brands at the Shenzhen Innovative Auto Show (Oct. 1-5) and don’t forget to take advantage of government subsidies when purchasing your cars. The auto show also features an e-sports zone and trendy markets.

Venue: Shenzhen Convention and Exhibition Center, Futian District (福田区深圳会展中心)

Metro: Line 1 or 4 to Convention and Exhibition Center Station (会展中心站), Exit C

AMM Dimensional Wave Anime Game Carnival | AMM次元浪潮动漫游戏嘉年华

A treat for cosplayers and animation fans, the AMM Dimensional Wave Anime Game Carnival includes games, autograph sessions with cosplayers and illustrators, live performances, and limited-edition merchandise. 

Ticketing: AMM 动漫游戏展

Venue: Hall 8, Shenzhen World Exhibition and Convention Center, Bao’an District (宝安区深圳国际会展中心8号馆)

Metro: Line 20 to Shenzhen World Station (国展站), Exit C

FUN at ‘Pingshan Station’ | “坪山站”FUN肆玩

Enjoy “Murder on the Orient Express”-themed meals and receive Pingshan Theater coupons at “Pingshan Station.” Take photos with Orient Express-themed installations or sample refreshing herbal tea, soup, and other nutritious products provided by Wellsoon. Professional TCM practitioners will offer free health consultations Oct. 1-3. Taste and buy specialty products, such as juicy pomelos from Ganzhou, Jiangxi Province, on Oct. 5-8. 

Venue:“Pingshan Station”, West Area, City Hub, Futian District (福田区“深圳之眼”购物中心西区“坪山站”)

Metro: Line 2, 10, 11 or 14 to Gangxia North Station (岗厦北站), Exits 2-6

Performances 

‘The Deal’

Step aboard the renovated Minghua Ship — anchored in Shekou since 1983 and now reopening as Sea World Ancerville — for “The Deal,” a physical-theater work directed by Amit Lahav, artistic director of Gecko Theater (U.K.). The show unfolds across eight areas on the ship and the audience will move with the actors during the performance.

Initial run: 8 p.m., Oct. 1-8, 11-12 (Oct. 4-5, 12 also at 3 p.m.)

Ticketing: One蛇口

Venue: Sea World Ancerville, Nanshan District (南山区海上世界明华轮)

Metro: Line 2 or 12 to Sea World Station (海上世界站), Exit A

‘Tick, Tick...BOOM!’

The English musical “Tick, Tick... Boom!” is Jonathan Larson’s autobiographical work. Set in 1990, it follows a struggling composer approaching 30 as he wrestles with his dreams and life’s pressures in New York City. Raw, funny, and moving, it’s a must-see for anyone who has chased a dream. 

Time: 8 p.m., Oct. 2-5 and 7-12 (Oct. 4, 5, 8 and 12 also at 2:30 p.m.)

Ticketing: 聚橙票务 演出音乐剧话剧儿童剧

Venue: Nanshan Cultural and Sports Center Orange Theater (南山文体中心聚橙剧院)

Metro: Line 12 to Nantou Ancient City Station (南头古城站), Exit E3

‘The Lion Inside’

Join an adventure about confidence and self-esteem in this heartwarming musical adaptation of Rachel Bright and Jim Field’s bestselling story. Featuring puppetry and joyful songs, it follows a shy little mouse determined to find his roar. 

Time: 10:30 a.m. Oct. 1-2; 3 p.m., Oct. 1-3

Ticketing: 光明文化艺术中心票务管家

Venue: Guangming Culture and Art Center, Guangming District (光明文化艺术中心)

Metro: Line 6 to Fenghuang Town Station (凤凰城站), Exit B

Yao Jue with HK String Orchestra

Violinist Yao Jue will perform with the Hong Kong String Orchestra in a varied program including Grieg’s “Holberg Suite, Op. 40,” Wirén’s “Serenade for Strings, Op. 11,” Bartók’s “Romanian Folk Dances,” Ye Guohui’s “Cantonese Opera Fantasia,” and “Hong Kong Movie Medley” arranged by Ronald Fu.

Time: 7:30 p.m., Oct. 7

Venue: Shenzhen Concert Hall, Futian District (深圳音乐厅)

Metro: Line 3 or 4 to Children’s Palace Station (少年宫站), Exit D

Exhibitions 

Rubber Duck and friends

Say hello to the beloved 10-meter-tall inflatable Rubber Duck created by Florentijn Hofman, now in Futian along with the Dutch artist’s other iconic animal works such as the Bospolder Fox, HippopoThames, and Big Yellow Rabbit. Weekday admission is 1 yuan and weekend/holiday admission is 9.9 yuan. Expect interactive installations, manuscripts, markets, and workshops.

Venue: Central Hub, Level R, Wongtee Plaza, Futian District (福田区皇庭广场R层中轴云廊·顶上空间)

Metro: Line 1 or 4 to Convention and Exhibition Center Station (会展中心站), Exit C

‘Harry Potter: A Forbidden Forest Experience’ 

Take an immersive walk at the secrets-filled Forbidden Forest on the edges of Hogwarts. The exhibition features installations of magical creatures and wizarding wonders from the “Harry Potter” and “Fantastic Beasts” franchises. Along the forest trail, you will encounter flying broomsticks, tree spirits and Nifflers, or try casting spells with a wand.

Ticketing: 哈利波特禁忌森林体验-深圳站

Venue: Niuhushui Greenway, Longhua District (龙华区牛湖水碧道) 

Metro: Line 4 to Mission Hills Station (观澜湖站), Exit E

‘Gifts of the Gods’ and pottery

Step into a world where ancient Greek myths come alive through stunning artifacts. “The Gifts of the Gods” showcases colorful pottery, sculptures, bronzeware, ceramics, and glassware from Puglia, Italy, dating from the 6th century B.C. to the 2nd century A.D. Meanwhile, Shenzhen Museum presents “Starry Splendor on Clay,” a new exhibition of painted pottery. The 100 works, drawn from the museum’s collection, highlight pottery traditions from Yangshao, Majiayao, Zongri, Kayue, Xindian, and Xiantouling cultures.

Tickets: Free

Venue: Shenzhen Museum’s ancient art division, Tongxin Road, Futian District (深圳博物馆同心路馆-古代艺术)

Metro: Line 9 to Hongling South Station (红岭南站), Exit A

‘Cosmos in a Nutshell’

“Cosmos in a Nutshell” offers digital-art recreations of Song Dynasty (960-1279) architecture and the murals of Kaihua Temple in Gaoping, Shanxi Province. Based on 20 years of research by Tsinghua University’s School of Architecture and carried out in collaboration with cultural-heritage and digital-art organizations, the exhibition uses VR to let visitors experience the temple’s grand architecture and magnificent murals firsthand. 

Ticketing: 人民文博

Venue: Shenzhen Museum’s history and folk culture division, Jintian Road, Futian District (深圳博物馆金田路馆-历史民俗)

Metro: Line 2 or 4 to Civic Center Station (市民中心站), Exit B

Paintings, contemporary art

“The Wild Trail of Mine” features paintings by Chinese master Jiang Zhaohe (1904-1986); his portraits established him as a pivotal figure in modern Chinese figurative painting. “The Ninefold Cosmos” presents works by Anish Kapoor, Dai Yun, Jiang Zhi, Ma Quan and others, selected from the collection of the Shenzhen Museum of Contemporary Art and Urban Planning (MOCAUP). 

Venue: MOCAUP, Futian District (深圳市当代艺术与城市规划馆)

Metro: Line 3 or 4 to Children’s Palace Station (少年宫站), Exit A2

Paintings, designs

Exhibitions at the Shenzhen Art Museum’s Longhua branch highlight a rich blend of historical legacy, contemporary creativity and cross-cultural dialogue in art and design. Don’t miss the exhibition of modern Chinese landscape master Huang Binhong and the “Art Direction Japan” showcase of Japanese design. 

Tickets: Free

Venue: Shenzhen Art Museum, Longhua District (深圳美术馆新馆)

Metro: Line 4 or 6 to Hongshan Station (红山站), Exit A1

Dunhuang, Mucha, corals

“Dunhuang Splendors” recreates six caves from the Mogao Grottoes, featuring the monumental 14-meter reclining clay Buddha from Cave 158 and the famed flying apsaras of Cave 320, along with murals, statue replicas and rare relics tracing Dunhuang’s artistic development. Another exhibition presents 44 original works by Art Nouveau master Alphonse Mucha on loan from three Czech museums. And “Treasures of the Deep” explores art and culture related to coral gemstones. 

“Dunhuang” ticketing: 南山文体通

Venue: Nanshan Museum, Nanshan District (南山博物馆)

Metro: Line 12 to Nantou Ancient City Station (南头古城站), Exit E3

Art shaped by cross-cultural lives 

View 62 oil paintings from the National Gallery Singapore featuring Georgette Chen (1906-1993), a Chinese-Singaporean artist whose cross-cultural life informed her distinctive modern voice. Meanwhile, “Where the Sea Reaches” presents works by 10 overseas artists reflecting perspectives shaped by cross-cultural experience. 

Tickets: Free

Venue: He Xiangning Art Museum, Nanshan District (何香凝美术馆)

Metro: Line 1 to OCT Station (华侨城站), Exit C

Paintings

Four painting exhibitions showcase master Guan Shanyue’s wartime works, Tang Dinghua’s childhood-themed pieces, a series of Xizang-themed works by various artists, and gongbi paintings by Jing Lili and He Qin.

Tickets: Free

Venue: Guan Shanyue Art Museum, Futian District (关山月美术馆) 

Metro: Line 3 or 4 to Children’s Palace Station (少年宫站), Exit F2

Colors, digital art, illustrations

“Live in Colors” brings together four international artists to create a multi-sensory realm. “Digital Aquarium” features AI-generated art, behavioral installations and interactive mixed-media visuals. “Extreme Climbing” offers a VR experience that recreates the footsteps of early Qomolangma climbers. “Cute Pet Planet” showcases heartwarming illustrations from Japanese and Chinese artists. 

Venue: Pingshan Exhibition Gallery, Pingshan District (坪山区坪山展览馆)

Metro: Line 14 to Pingshan Center Station (坪山中心站), Exit D2

‘Prosperous Symphony’

This exhibition presents masterpieces and artifacts from the Glasgow Museum in the U.K., including Renaissance oil paintings, sculptures and Italian decorative arts — pottery, glass, textiles and arms. Highlighted works include Titian’s “Christ and the Adulteress,” Giovanni Bellini’s “The Virgin and Child,” and Tintoretto’s “The Ordeal of Tuccia.” 

Venue: Sky Museum, 48-49/F, Shenzhen Media Finance Center, Futian District (福田区广电金融中心48-49楼天空美术馆)

Metro: Line 2, 3 or 11 to Futian Station (福田站), Exit 32

Contemporary art, street art

Presented by Universal Everything, “Future You: Code and Soul” uses generative algorithms, dynamic visuals and sensor technology to imagine possible futures for humanity. “Banksy Is Nowhere” features large-scale street murals and guerrilla-style works. “Body Beyond the Rules” showcases installations by Zheng Guogu and his Yangjiang Group for a visceral sensory experience, while “35 Artists at the Edge of Global Contemporary” presents works by 35 influential international artists. 

Ticketing: One蛇口

Venue: Sea World Culture and Arts Center, Nanshan District (海上世界文化艺术中心)

Metro: Line 2 or 12 to Sea World Station (海上世界站), Exit A

‘More Is More’

HAUS NOWHERE Shenzhen, known for long queues last year for its giant sculptures, has unveiled new large-scale installations titled “More Is More” in collaboration with artist Max Siedentopf. The shop continues to blur the line between retail and radical art, where the bizarre, the beautiful and the uncanny meet. 

Venue: HAUS NOWHERE, The MixC World, Nanshan District (深圳万象天地HAUS NOWHERE)

Metro: Line 1 to Hi-tech Park Station (高新园站), Exit A