Shekou cultural service center inaugurated

“I didn’t expect it to be so large inside,” said American Khashi Shahbazi during his visit to the Shekou Subdistrict Comprehensive Cultural Service Center, which was inaugurated on Wanxia Road on Saturday.

American Khashi Shahbazi (2nd L) examines thread-kneaded decorations at the Shekou Subdistrict Comprehensive Cultural Service Center on Saturday. Photos by Wei Jie unless otherwise stated

The center occupies more than 1,500 square meters across two levels, and features separate zones dedicated to exhibitions, lectures, dance, choir, painting and calligraphy, study and a library, catering to the cultural needs of residents of all ages. 

Corridors that connect the functional zones blend contemporary lines with Lingnan intangible heritage motifs. The facility is operated by Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Cultural Talent Exchange Association.

An expat teacher engages local kids during a parent-child English session at the center Saturday.

The opening day was built around an immersive art experience. An intangible cultural heritage exhibition on L2 brought together regional traditions such as Foshan lion dance, Lingnan fish lanterns and Sanzao paper-cutting. These exhibits were integrated into stage works including “Wing Chun” and “Awakened Lion,” alongside a pipa performance.

Shahbazi, a Shekou resident of 14 years, teaches music at an international school in Shekou. He and several other expats touring the new cultural center were drawn to an on-site demonstration of the Chaoshan thread-drawing craft. “They look so real,” Shahbazi said, holding two thread-kneaded dumplings.

Khashi Shahbazi (L) and other expats are drawn to an on-site demonstration of the Chaoshan thread-drawing craft Saturday.

A variety of thread-kneaded works are on display at the center.

Simultaneously on L3, visitors found guqin recitals, parent-child English sessions, paper-cutting workshops and multi-genre dance showcases in the reading area, study rooms, painting and calligraphy studio and dance classroom. Organizers said the rotating artistic scenes were arranged to let visitors encounter cultural fusion as they moved through the space.

A mini art-salon concert that followed featured some 20 artists from Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macao performing a mix of folk, ethnic and international works, from Latin dance to a string quartet rendition of Mozart’s “Serenade,” underlining the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area’s cultural inclusiveness and creative vitality.

Visitors to the Shekou Subdistrict Comprehensive Cultural Service Center watch a morin khuur performance on Saturday. The morin khuur is a traditional Mongolian bowed string instrument with a carved horse head on the top. Photo courtesy of Shekou Subdistrict Office

Shekou Subdistrict officials said the new facility will serve as a springboard to expand public cultural services and strengthen regional artistic exchange networks, providing a permanent venue for community engagement and cross-border collaboration.

Add: L2 and L3, podium of Block 3, Shekou Mansion housing estate, No. 72 Wanxia Road, Shekou, Nanshan District (蛇口街道综合性文化服务中心).

Metro: Line 2 to Dongjiaotou Station (东角头站), Exit D.