Living in SZ | Places to explore in Guangming

Speaking of Guangming, Shenzhen’s youngest district in northwestern part of the city, locals immediately associate it with Guangming Farm and its roasted pigeons, diary products and sweet corn. However, Guangming has much more to offer, including new internet sensations like Hongqiao Park and Guangming Culture and Art Center, the latter dubbed the “Eye of Guangming,” which have attracted large crowds.

Hongqiao Park

Hongqiao Park is named after the Hongqiao Bridge, which resembles a sleek red ribbon weaving through woods and the mountains when viewed from above.

An aerial view of Hongqiao Park. Photo from Dute News

As the second-largest steel structure in the country, the 5-meter-wide Hongqiao Bridge stretches 4 kilometers, linking the Dadingling Greenway at its east end with the Xincheng Park at the west end. Built to follow the contour of the mountains, the bridge has an average height of 8 meters and features access point every few hundreds meters, allowing visitors circle up the stairs for a panoramic view of the bridge.

Hongqiao Park. Photo from Shenzhen Special Zone Daily

Hongqiao Park, covering an area of 4.03 million square meters, boasts 91.8% of its total area covered by woods and forests, creating a vast sanctuary free from urban hustle and bustle.  

The park has two observation towers, one of which stands at 35 meters tall, offering sweeping views of Guangming District.

The Yuezai Courtyard is a 24-hour art station in the park that opened to the public in May. It features a small exhibition space, a coffee room, a leisure tea house and a simple rest area. The coffee room, APEXONE, located on the second floor, specializes in Yunnan coffee, with a focus on high-quality hand-brewed options. After a stroll in the park, visitors can come retreat here to relax and enjoy the tranquility of Hongqiao.

At the east end of the Hongqiao Bridge, the Dadingling Greenway has two crossroads with one leading to the Guangming Farm while the other to the Suspension Bridge.

Recently, three extreme sports halls have opened for skateboarding, model car racing and BMX (bicycle motocross), making the park a must-go destination for extreme sports enthusiasts.

Add: Intersection of Kelin Road and Chalin Road, Guangming District

Metro: Line 6 to Fenghuang Town Station (凤凰城站) and take a taxi

Dadingling Greenway 

Nestled within Dadingling Forest Park, Dadingling Greenway extends from Guanlan in Longhua District to Songgang in Bao’an District, spanning a total length of 6.4 kilometers.

An aerial view of the Suspension Bridge, one of the three bridges of Dadingling Greenway. Photo by Feng Gu

Dubbed Shenzhen’s most beautiful mountain-lake greenway, it seamlessly integrates ecology, health, creativity and environmental technology. The path of the Dadingling Greenway is flat and wide, making it ideal for beginners. It is also a must-visit destination for cycling enthusiasts.

Add: Bishui Road, Guangming District

Opening hours: 7 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Metro: Line 6 to Guangming Street Station (光明大街站)

Guangming Culture & Art Center

With a total floor space of 130,000 square meters, the Guangming Culture & Art Center is the largest art infrastructure in northern Shenzhen. The center is affectionately known as the “Eye of Guangming” due to its distinctive half-circular entrance, which creates a large circle with its reflection on the ground, resembling a big eye from a distance.

The Guangming Culture & Art Center. File photo

The Guangming Culture & Art Center houses a performing arts center, a gallery, a library, an urban planning and exhibition hall and an art area.

Add: Intersection of Chuangtou Road and Guanguang Road, Guangming District

Opening hours: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday to Sunday

Metro: Line 6 to Fenghuang Town (凤凰城) Station

Urban planning and exhibition hall

Located within the Guangming Culture & Art Center, the urban planning and exhibition hall serves as Guangming’s welcoming space, showcasing the district’s history, culture and urban planning to visitors.

The hall features a stereoscopic holographic screen that displays introductions to important science and technology facilities and infrastructure, such as the second phase of National Supercomputing Shenzhen Center, the precision medical imaging facility and the Shenzhen Bay Laboratory. The history of Guangming is highlighted on the second floor while the modern aspects of the district is shown on the third floor.

Performing arts center

The performing arts center boasts a 1,500-seat theater and a 452-seat music hall, both designed to international standards for hosting world-renowned operas, dance dramas, musicals, symphonies, and other cultural performances and conferences. Additionally, the center is equipped with supporting spaces like artists’ studios, art training classrooms and rehearsal halls.

Zuo’an Science and Technology Park

The Zuo’an Science and Technology Park was developed through the ecological restoration and renovation of the former industrial area along the Maozhou River. Featuring colorful corridors and bridges, a sci-tech exhibition hall, artificial ponds and glasshouses, the park serves as a scenic attraction by the waterway, and is an ideal location for photography enthusiasts.

An aerial view of the Zuo’an Science and Technology Park. File photo

Its ponds, varying in sizes and characterized by clear, shallow water, provide a perfect setting for children to enjoy water play and catch fish. There are also aerial walkways and musical fountains to enhance the visitor experience.

Add: North of the intersection of Minsheng Boulevard and Gongchang Road, Guangming District

Metro: Line 6 to Honghuashan Station (红花山站), Exit A1 and walk for about 15 minutes

Honghua Mountain Park 

In Shenzhen, there is a park known among local residents as the real-life version of a summer anime created by Japanese master director Hayao Miyazaki: Honghua Mountain Park, located in Guangming District. 

A view of Honghua Mountain Park. Photo from official WeChat account "i逛深圳"

Upon entering the park through the south entrance, visitors will encounter a straight boulevard, leading to a staircase at the end. Walking up the staircase, flanked by tall trees, one is greeted by the Minghe Tower, a 33-meter-tall structure designed in the architectural style of the Song Dynasty.

The park is particularly renowned for its Muhly grass field at the southeast entrance. From mid-September to mid-November, the field blossoms into a stunning pink hue as the Muhly grass flowers reach their peak. Between the south entrance and the Muhly grass field, there is a large hillside lawn perfect for picnicking and kite flying.

Add: 88 Zhenming Road, Gongming Subdistrict, Guangming District

Metro:Line 6 to Honghuashan Station (红花山站)