Shenzhen: Coast, Markets and Urban History

When planning a trip to Shenzhen, coastal geography, urban history and museums can each provide a different focus. Points of interest range from the narrow coastal strip of Jiaochangwei to historic market sites, exhibitions and a city park. If you are looking for a hotel, it helps to first consider which of these themes you want to shape your stay. The following examples offer concrete points of reference and show a range from a single stretch of coast to citywide historical perspectives.

Coastal Areas in the Wider Region

Dapeng New Area has a coastline 125 kilometers long and includes 48 of Shenzhen’s 50 beaches. Jiaochangwei is a narrow coastal strip stretching east of Dapeng Yintan Road and south of Pengfei Road to Longqi Bay. The figures refer to different scales: Jiaochangwei is geographically defined by roads and a bay, while the coastline and beach figures refer to Dapeng New Area. This makes it possible to explore the coastal theme through both a named stretch of coastline and the wider regional context.

Fortresses and Historic Market Sites

Dapeng Fortress was built in 1394 and was an important military coastal fortress in Lingnan during the Ming and Qing dynasties. In June 2001, it was designated a “National Key Cultural Relics Protection Unit.” The site covers about 100,000 square meters; it measures 345 meters from east to west and 285 meters from north to south. Its east, south and west gates are relatively well preserved. The fortress’s construction date, historical function and dimensions offer different ways to explore its history without reducing it to a single era.

Dongmen Old Street, also known as Shenzhen Dongmen Commercial Pedestrian Street, is regarded as Shenzhen’s oldest commercial district. Its history dates back to the mid-Ming dynasty, when it was still called Shenzhen Old Market. Guanlan Ancient Market is also part of the city’s history: it is one of Shenzhen’s four major ancient markets and is considered the city’s best-preserved and most complete market heritage site. Nantou Ancient City is described as the origin of the development of Shenzhen and Hong Kong and has witnessed 1,700 years of historical change. These places offer different perspectives, from the history of a commercial district to market heritage and the region’s long history of development.

A bronze relief on Dongmen Cultural Square offers another glimpse of historic market life. It is three meters wide and 16.5 meters long and depicts the bustling market life of Lingnan during the Ming and Qing dynasties. The relief connects a specific work of art with a broader historical scene; its dimensions also give an idea of its scale.

Museums, Replicas and a City Park

The Shenzhen Museum is a national first-class museum that brings together collecting, preservation, research, exhibition and education. It currently comprises four main venues: the Ancient Art Museum, the History and Folklore Museum, the Shenzhen Reform and Opening-up Exhibition Hall, and the former headquarters of the Dongjiang Guerrilla Command. The History and Folklore Museum opened in December 2008. Located in Area A of the Shenzhen Civic Center, it covers around 10,000 square meters and focuses primarily on Shenzhen’s history, from ancient times to the recent past, as well as folk culture and the reform and opening-up of the Special Economic Zone.

In western Shenzhen lies Window of the World, a 480,000-square-meter replica park. It features 118 attractions, including replicas of Egypt’s pyramids, the Temple of Amun at Karnak, the Arc de Triomphe, the Taj Mahal and the Leaning Tower of Pisa. The replicas are built at a scale of 1:1 or 1:1.5. Visitors can watch shows and performances by artists from China and abroad in front of the stage. If you want to plan your visit around a particular performance, it is best to check the current program.

Lianhua Hill Park offers a different perspective on the northern edge of central Shenzhen. The ecological city park covers 181 hectares and officially opened to the public in June 1997. Alongside historic sites and exhibitions, parkland and urban history are therefore other possible themes to explore.

Tailor your search to the themes that interest you most in Shenzhen.

For the main travel overview: Guangdong.