Get ready for Duanwu delights

Have you created your event calendar for the three-day Duanwu Festival holiday? To assist you in making informed choices, here is a compilation of vibrant events taking place in town during this period. The list encompasses a diverse range of activities, including must-see dragon boat races, a feast for traditional Chinese intangible cultural heritage experiences, an exciting beer festival, a flower show and captivating art films and exhibitions.

Dragon boat races

Witnessing or partaking in a thrilling dragon boat race is an indispensable experience for the Dragon Boat Festival. Although several dragon boat races had taken place before June 22, the official date of the Duanwu Festival this year, there are still opportunities to witness these captivating spectacles in town. It is highly recommended to seize the chance and revel in the exhilarating festivities.

Rowers compete in the 2023 Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area Maritime Dragon Boat Race in Nan'ao, Dapeng New Area, on Tuesday. Liu Xudong

Futian District

Locals will enjoy 12 teams paddling their dragon boats on Xinzhou River against the backdrop of urban buildings in the city center. During the 2023 Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Dragon Boat Invitational Tournament, a yingge dance parade, hip-hop dancers, rappers and cheerleaders will liven up the competition. You can also visit a market to buy handicrafts or zongzi and play traditional Chinese games.

Time: 9 a.m.-noon, June 22

Venue: Xinzhou River (near Xinzhou Tongchuanghui), Futian District (福田区新洲河，新洲同创汇附近)

Metro: Line 3 to Yitian Station (益田站), Exit D

Nanshan District

Enjoy a dragon boat race by the Dasha River and see the beautiful view along the 13.7 km-long Dasha River Ecological Corridor.

Time: 8 a.m., June 22

Venue: Dasha River, intersection of Binhai Boulevard and Shahe Road West, Nanshan District (南山区大沙河，滨海大道和沙河西路交界处)

Metro: Line 2 to Keyuan Station (科苑站), Exit B

Expect zongzi, heritage folk traditions in Xixiang 

Xixiang has already kicked off its Duanwu Festival celebration last Saturday.

The highlight of the celebration will be a parade featuring dragon and lion dances, as well as traditional folk art performances, to be staged June 22. The parade begins at 3 p.m. and will last an hour. After that, folk art performances, magic shows and acrobatics will take center stage and carry on the carnival mood into the night.

Lion dance performers at a Xixiang temple fair earlier this year. Liu Xudong 

There are also colorful events showcasing traditional Chinese arts and crafts such as sugar painting, Guanxi-style bronze crafts, shadow plays, oil-paper umbrellas, and traditional Chinese weaving crafts. Visitors can enjoy night markets featuring delicacies and street food from different places, as well as song and dance performances.

Time:10 a.m.-10 p.m., June 17-25

Venues: Xixiang Commercial Pedestrian Street (西乡商业步行街), Xixiang Park, Bao’an District (宝安西乡公园)

Buses: 331, 362, M240, M241, M242, M435

For drivers, navigate to “Bao’an Xixiang Park, Xixiang Commercial Pedestrian Street (西乡商业步行街，宝安西乡公园)”

Lotus flower show

Tens of thousands of lotus flowers, or water lilies, are in full bloom at Honghu Park in Luohu District, the main venue of the Shenzhen lotus flower show, bringing summer vibes to the city.

Visitors pose for photos at the 33rd Shenzhen Lotus Show in Honghu Park in Luohu District. Sun Yuchen

The 33rd Shenzhen Lotus Show will last through June 30

This year’s lotus flower show features the park’s main lotus pool, spanning an area of 150,000 square meters. It offers three tour routes to ensure that visitors have a diverse and enjoyable experience.

Time: Now through June 30

Add: Honghu Park, Luohu District (罗湖区洪湖公园)

Metro: Line 7 to Honghu Station (洪湖站), Exit A

International beer festival 

The 28th International Beer Festival at the Window of the World theme park in Nanshan District is providing a variety of catering and entertainment choices during the summer nights for visiting tourists.

The festival that takes beer, food, electronic music, rock and roll, dancing and carnival as its main elements will last through Aug. 27.

Visitors take photo of performers at the opening ceremony of the 28th Window of the World International Beer Festival. Sun Yuchen

Every night during the festival, a nigh show carnival will be staged inside the Caesars Palace of the theme park. 

A music party will be held under the iconic model Eiffel Tower every Friday, Saturday and Sunday night. 

The beer festival also set up a food market that gathers a rich variety of snacks and interactive devices. 

Ticket booking: WeChat account "sz6188"

Time: Now to Aug. 27

Venue: Window of the World, Nanshan District (南山区世界之窗)

Metro: Line 1 or 2 to Window of the World Station (世界之窗站), Exit K

NEED! FLEA market

The popular NEED! FLEA market is finally coming to Futian.

The market, which will be held at Upper Hills until Saturday, features 80 booths presented by clothing and jewelry designers, vintage and curio collectors, artists, photographers and more from across the country. 

A booth selling designer jewelry at a NEED! FLEA market in April. Wang Haolan

On a stage with two big nomadic-style tents, 14 groups of musicians will bring music of a rich variety of genres.

The NEED! FLEA marketplace is organized by NEED!, a vintage and secondhand e-commerce platform and youth culture brand that originated in Shanghai. 

Dates: 2:30-10:30 p.m., now through June 24 

Ticket: 39 yuan

Venue: East Plaza, 3F, Upper Hills, Futian District (福田区深业上城3楼小镇东广场)

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

Films

British, Dutch film festivals

Movie-goers can watch eight British films at CGV Cinema in Futian and 10 Dutch films at two Broadway cinemas in Nanshan. By showcasing a diverse range of films, including dramas, animations, and documentaries, the events will not only entertain moviegoers but also offer a window into the cultural and artistic perspectives of these two countries.

A poster for the 2023 Netherlands Film Festival. Posters courtesy of the event organizers

Dates: June 16-25

Ticketing: WeChat miniprogram “百老汇影城”

Venue 1: Broadway Cinematheque, 5/F, MixC World, Nanshan District (万象天地五楼深圳百老汇电影中心)

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

Venue 2: Palace Cinema, 4/F, Raffles City, Nanshan District (来福士广场四楼深圳百丽宫影城)

Metro: Line 9 to Nanyou Station (南油站), Exit E 

Shenzhen Art Film Screening project

The Shenzhen Art Film Screening project, a monthly event held at Broadway Cinematheque, has selected five Chinese movies, a U.S. movie, a Japanese animation and several Dutch movies for this month’s screenings.

Hosted by the Publicity Department of the Shenzhen Municipal Committee of the CPC, the project invites locals to appreciate art films by charging only 20 yuan (US$2.8) for a movie at designated screenings.

Ticketing: WeChat miniprogram “百老汇影城”

Venue: Broadway Cinematheque, 5/F, MixC World, Nanshan District (深圳万象天地五楼深圳百老汇电影中心)

Exhibitions

Guan Shanyue Art Museum

An exhibition at the Guan Shanyue Art Museum, part of the art museum’s “Salute to Design” series, presents more than 200 pieces of Chen Zhifo’s designs and traditional Chinese bird-and-flower paintings, demonstrating the evolution of Chen’s artistic works through multiple perspectives.

Chen (1896-1962), a master of bird-and-flower painting and a pioneer of Chinese design, was among the first Chinese artists to study design in Japan in the early 20th century.

A poster for the "Chen Zhifo Design Art Research Exhibition."

Dates: Until June 29

Hours: 9 a.m.-5 p.m., closed Mondays

Booking: WeChat account “gsyart”

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

Shenzhen Museum

Canton enamels

“A Splendid Blend of China and the West — Canton Enamels of the Qing Dynasty,” co-hosted by the Shenzhen Museum and Chinese University of Hong Kong’s Art Museum, showcases 258 Canton enamels on loan from 10 museums around China.

A poster for the “A Splendid Blend of China and the West — Canton Enamels of the Qing Dynasty” exhibition.

Dates: Until Oct. 22

Booking: WeChat account “iszbwg”

Venue: Shenzhen Museum’s History and Folk Culture Division, Futian District (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

Jehol Biota fossils

The exhibition, co-organized by the Shenzhen Museum and Beijing Museum of Natural History, is home to more than 120 fossils formed about 120 millions of years ago during the early Cretaceous period.

A poster for the fossil exhibition.

Dates: Until Oct. 8

Booking: WeChat account “iszbwg”

Venue: Shenzhen Museum’s History and Folk Culture Division, Futian District (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

Bronze artifacts

Visitors can admire 172 exquisite bronze wares on loan from the Shanghai Museum at a new exhibition at the Shenzhen Museum’s Ancient Art Division. The bronze artifacts are mainly from the Xia (2070-1600 B.C.), Shang (1600-1046 B.C.) and Zhou (1046-256 B.C.) dynasties.

A poster for the bronze ware exhibition. 

Dates: Until Aug. 27

Booking: WeChat account “iszbwg”

Venue: Shenzhen Museum’s Ancient Art Division, Futian District (深圳博物馆古代艺术馆)

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

Nanshan Museum

Jin State, Pompei relics

Relics from Shanxi are on display at an exhibition on the history of the Jin State (1033-376 B.C.), a powerful state in the Spring and Autumn Period (770-476 B.C.). The free exhibition ends July 23. Meanwhile, 128 sculptures, fresco parts and bronze, ceramic and glass items from Museo Archeologico Nazionale di Napoli in Italy are on display at a Pompeii-themed exhibition running until Sept. 3.

A poster for the "Love, Luxury and Beauty in Classical Antiquity — Masterpieces From the Museo Archeologico Nazionale di Napoli" exhibition.

Booking: WeChat account “nanshanmuseum”

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

Metro: Line 1 or 12 to Taoyuan Station (桃园站), Exit B

He Xiangning Art Museum

Paintings and calligraphic works by Chinese artists Zhou Sicong and Lu Chen are on display at a free exhibition running until June 25, reflecting their lifelong passion for art.

Paintings by Zhou Sicong on display at an exhibition featuring works by Zhou and Lu Chen

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.

Pingshan Exhibition Gallery

A digital immersive exhibition of French artist and post-Impressionist painter Paul Cézanne is being held until Aug. 31.

An interactive installation at the Paul Cézanne-themed exhbition.

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

Metro: Line 14 to Pingshan Square Station (坪山广场站), Exit D1

Shenzhen Museum of Contemporary Art and Urban Planning

The “Topologies of the Real: Techne Shenzhen 2023” exhibition at the Shenzhen Museum of Contemporary Art and Urban Planning (MOCAUP), features over 100 works by international artists spanning from the late 19th century to the present, including early experiments on film, photography, video, computer and telepresence art, as well as works by modern art pioneers and contemporary artists.

A poster for the "Topologies of the Real: Techne Shenzhen 2023" exhibition. 

Dates: Until July 23

Hours: 10 a.m.-9 p.m., closed Mondays

Tickets: 168-188 yuan (various discounts available)

Booking: WeChat account "深圳市当代艺术与城市规划馆"

Venue: Shenzhen Museum of Contemporary Art and Urban Planning, 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

Concerts

Shenzhen Concert Hall has arranged four online and offline concerts for fans during the Dragon Boat Festival break, featuring piano and Chinese music.

Starting at 3 p.m. on Thursday and Friday, two concerts will be livestreamed at v.cctv.com and the WeChat Channel of Shenzhen Concert Hall.

Xue Miao

Thursday’s show will be a crossover concert by ruan players Xue Miao and Xu Yang in collaboration with pianist Qian Weixiang and percussionist Li Shang. 

Friday’s concert headlines Curtis-trained pianist Luo Wei, who will perform a colorful repertoire ranging from Mozart, Debussy, Issac Albéniz and Béla Bartók to Mily Balakirev.

On Saturday afternoon, a free concert will be performed by pipa player Ji Yin, zheng players Huang Liying and Ye Minyi alongside their students.

On Saturday evening, Dutch pianist and composer Michiel Borstlap will perform a solo recital. 

Tickets (Saturday evening): 80-380 yuan

Ticketed concert booking: WeChat account “szyyt_piao”

Free concert booking: WeChat account “szyinyuet”

Time: 3 p.m., June 22, 23, 24; 7:30 p.m., June 24

Venue: 5/F, Chamber Hall, Shenzhen Concert Hall (深圳音乐厅5楼小剧场)

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