Shenzhen · 3 days 2 nights guide
Shenzhen has the coastal promenade and Shekou's sea breeze, plus the Civic Center CBD skyline and OCT Loft's creative boutiques. For a relaxed three days—explore and eat without rushing—this guide strings together seaside, city landmarks, artsy streets, and local food. The pace is slow; take your time.
Adjust the order to your arrival and departure times. The pace is relaxed—no need to rush.
Civic Center sits on the axis of Shenzhen's CBD; Lianhua Mountain rises behind it. The climb to the top takes about 10 minutes—easy. Up there, Futian's towers spread out in front of you; on clear days you'll see the library, concert hall, and other landmarks. I found late afternoon light best for photos. Free. Metro Line 4 to Civic Center or Lines 3/4 to Children's Palace, about 10 min on foot. Allow 1–2 hours; combine with Civic Center Square.
A waterfront complex in Shekou—the Minghua cruise ship is the landmark, surrounded by bars, restaurants, and a promenade. Sunset and an evening stroll by the sea hit the spot; the vibe is strong. For quiet, head toward the coastal boardwalk; for buzz, stay around the ship. Free to wander. Metro Line 2 to Sea World. Allow 2–3 hours from dusk into evening; dinner and a walk work well.
A long seaside promenade—water on one side, greenery on the other—with Hong Kong visible across the bay on clear days. Great for walking and cycling; renting a bike and riding along the coast feels better than walking alone, in my view. Free. Metro Line 9 to Shenzhen Bay Park. Allow 2–3 hours; morning or late afternoon avoid the worst sun.
Free beach—fine sand, clear water, surprisingly restorative on a good day. Peak season gets crowded; weekends feel packed. For fewer people, go weekday morning or dusk for a sunset paddle. Quieter options: Xiaomeisha (ticketed) or Jiaochangwei. Free but requires reservation (Dameisha WeChat account); book ahead in peak season. Bus or drive, about 40 min from downtown. Plan for half a day.
Old factories turned into a creative zone—cafes, design shops, exhibits, murals. Low-pressure wandering, no "must-check-in" pressure. An afternoon stroll and a cafe stop hit the spot; photos come out well. Free. Metro Line 1 to Qiaocheng East or Line 2 to Qiaocheng North. Allow 2–3 hours to take it slow.
Coastal mangrove wetland with well-maintained boardwalks—birdwatching, sea views, breezy walks. Quieter than Shenzhen Bay Park; good for Day 3 when you want to unwind. Free. Metro Line 9 to Shenzhen Bay Park or Line 1 to Qiaocheng East area. Allow 1.5–2 hours.
Hakka-style old town—traditional buildings, narrow lanes, small shops. A bit commercialized but not overdone; good if you want a taste of local culture. I found it ideal for photos and souvenirs; browse and eat without rushing. Free to wander; some venues charge. Metro Line 10 to Gankeng. Allow 2–3 hours.
Shenzhen's flagship malls—MixC in Luohu, Coastal City in Nanshan. Shopping, brunch, afternoon tea all in one place; a good pick for an easy Day 3. Free. Metro Line 2 to Grand Theatre (MixC) or Lines 2/11 to Houhai (Coastal City). Flex the time around shopping and meals.
This route follows city landmarks + seaside night views → coastal nature + arts district → easy wrap-up. The pace is slow; Day 1 is a bit tighter but hits the classics; the next two days ease off.
Arrive and check in in the morning; Civic Center and Lianhua Mountain in the afternoon; Sea World from dusk into evening. Low-fuss rhythm.
1. Arrival & Check-in (09:00–11:00)
Stay in Nanshan, Futian, or near Sea World—good transport, plenty of food, evening strolls. Drop bags and rest.
2. Lunch Pick (12:00–13:30)
Dian Dou De or Tao Tao Ju for Cantonese dim sum—reliable, no regrets; grab a queue number on the app if it's busy. Or Shunde Yu Cun for classic Cantonese.
3. Civic Center → Lianhua Mountain Park (14:00–17:00)
Metro Line 4 to Civic Center. Easy climb; overlook the CBD, stroll, take photos. Late afternoon light is best.
4. Sea World (17:30–21:00)
Metro Line 2 to Sea World. Sea views, sunset, walk; seaside bars and restaurants have good vibe.
5. Dinner Pick
Shekou Fisherman's Port for fresh seafood, then a stroll by the water. Or The Terrace / The Brew for Western food and views—reserve ahead for a seaside table.
Morning at Shenzhen Bay or Dameisha; afternoon at OCT Loft; Chaoshan hotpot for dinner. The highlight day.
1. Best Coastline (09:00–12:00) — pick one
Option A — Shenzhen Bay Park: Metro Line 9 to Shenzhen Bay Park. Long seaside promenade, Hong Kong across the water, good for walking or cycling. Easiest option.Option B — Dameisha: If you want sand and surf, go here. Book ahead in peak season; on weekends, arrive early.
2. Lunch Pick (12:30–14:00)
Coconut chicken—Run Yuan Si Ji or Wen He You; clear broth, tender meat, dipping sauce is key. Or Bing Sheng / Guang Fu Jia Yan for Cantonese.
3. OCT Loft Creative Culture Park (14:30–17:30)
Metro Line 1 to Qiaocheng East. Cafes, design shops, exhibitions—easy to stroll, not taxing.
4. Dinner & Night
Ba He Li beef hotpot—popular in Shenzhen, fresh-cut beef, many cuts; get a queue number ahead if it's busy. Or another Chaoshan beef hotpot or congee spot. Optional: drinks at a bar or cafe afterward.
Morning: pick one of three options. Slow lunch to close out, then head back.
1. City Leisure (09:00–12:00) — pick one
Mangrove Nature Reserve: quiet, birdwatching, boardwalks, sea breeze. MixC / Coastal City: shopping + brunch, relaxed. Gankeng Ancient Town: Hakka buildings, narrow lanes—choose this if you want a bit of tradition.
2. Lunch Pick
Hakka cuisine (Weilongwu style); or dim sum + tong sui for a slow, satisfying finish.
Clear broth, coconut aroma, tender chicken—the dipping sauce with sand ginger and lime is the soul of it. You can't leave Shenzhen without at least one coconut chicken hotpot. Run Yuan Si Ji and Wen He You are solid; the soup is light, not cloying, ideal for summer.
Fresh-cut beef, different cuts—dip for seconds and eat. Ba He Li has many branches in Shenzhen and draws crowds; weekends get long queues—grab a number ahead. For congee, try a Chaoshan congee specialist.
Dian Dou De and Tao Tao Ju are reliable—har gow, siu mai, char siu bao, custard buns, the classics. First-timers won't go wrong. Shunde Yu Cun for more traditional Cantonese.
Cantonese staples—crispy skin, tender meat, honey-glazed char siu. Bing Sheng and Guang Fu Jia Yan serve the real deal; pair with rice and you're set.
Double-skin milk, ginger milk curd, mango pomelo sago—a sweet bowl to end the meal. More reliable than many trendy dessert spots; find it at old-school sweet shops or cha chaan teng.
Around Shekou Fisherman's Port the seafood is fresh and varied—pick it, they cook it. Good value and a real port vibe. Schedule for Day 1 or Day 3 evening. Shekou Fisherman's Port and Sea World area seafood spots are solid.
Nanshan: near the sea, young crowd, good food and nightlife—best for first-timers wanting a coastal vibe. Futian: best transport, easy to get anywhere—good if you don't want to fuss. Sea World: strongest resort feel, close to Shekou, nice seaside evenings—ideal for unwinding.
Roughly ¥400–700: business or boutique hotels within 5 min of metro. ¥700–1,200: 4-star or design hotels; Nanshan and Futian deliver. ¥1,200+: Sea World or Nanshan sea-view hotels.
Metro distance matters—taxis are convenient but staying near a station saves time. Weekend rates spike; book ahead. For a sea view, choose "sea view," not "city view".
Shenzhen taxis are affordable; the metro is efficient. Staying near a station saves time. Summer: bring sunscreen—coastal UV is strong. For popular restaurants on weekends, grab a queue number on the app ahead or go off-peak.