While Shenzhen citizens are blessed with many free-entry public parks not far from their homes, they sometimes have to compete for a spot to take photos because such popular destinations as Lianhua Hill and Shenzhen Bay are always so crowded, especially when the sunshine is bright on a weekend.

The Shenzhen observatory, on top of the hill to the east of Xichong beach, proposed early last year to build Xichong into a dark sky community for the benefit of scientific research and astronomy fans.

Shenzhen, though a modern metropolis, is home to some mountains worth trekking.

During workday rush hours, the Dasha River Ecological Corridor, running through the Nanshan District from the north to the south, is always bustling with commuters on bikes. As the corridor connects the business centers of the Shenzhen Bay area and Shenzhen Hi-Tech Industrial Park in Yuehai Subdistrict with the higher education block of Shenzhen University Town in Xili Subdistrict, the ecological corridor not only relieves traffic pressure but also provides a healthy slow traffic system for bike commuters. At dawn and dusk every day, joggers, alone or in groups, run along the banks of the corridor to enjoy a healthy life.

Keep the following list handy that maps out some of the less crowded routes and destinations in Shenzhen, and make a plan for an outdoor weekend.

Nicknamed "King of Transfer," Line 12, with 33 stations, covers most areas in the far west Shenzhen and encourages passengers to explore more places via transfer stations on lines 1, 2, 5, 9 11 and 20.

The opening of Shenzhen Metro Line 14 on Oct. 28 has made traveling to Pingshan and Longgang easier. Shenzhen's quest for an ever-more extensive Metro system continues as Line 16 started operation Wednesday, through which passengers can quickly get to more places in Pingshan and Longgang.