A coastal city in southern Guangdong next to Hong Kong, made China's first special economic zone in 1980 and since grown into an international metropolis. Its nickname 'Pengcheng' comes from Dapeng Fortress, a Ming and Qing coastal-defence fort founded in 1394. Add Nantou Ancient Town, built the same year, Chiwan Tianhou Temple, the largest temple to the sea goddess in Guangdong, Wutong Mountain, the city's highest peak, the 13 km Shenzhen Bay Park and its mangroves, and the beaches and seafood of the Dapeng Peninsula, and you get city and nature in one trip.
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The subtropical monsoon climate brings warmth and plenty of rain. Some sights, such as Fairy Lake Botanical Garden, close during typhoon or rainstorm warnings, so check official weather warnings before and during your trip. Dapeng's salt-baked hairy crabs are at their best from after the Mid-Autumn Festival until before Spring Festival, and Nan'ao's sea urchin zongzi season runs from the 8th day of the 4th lunar month to around the Dragon Boat Festival. At Chiwan Tianhou Temple, the two weeks before Tianhou's birthday (23rd day of the 3rd lunar month) are the busiest period and described as an ideal time to visit.
Warmest: Jul (avg high 32.2°C) · Coolest: Jan (avg low 11.6°C) · Wettest: Aug (368.0 mm)
| High °C | Low °C | Rain mm | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 19.6° | 11.6° | 29.8 |
| Feb | 19.8° | 12.7° | 44.0 |
| Mar | 22.5° | 15.9° | 67.4 |
| Apr | 26.2° | 19.9° | 173.6 |
| May | 29.3° | 23.1° | 238.5 |
| Jun | 31.2° | 25.1° | 296.5 |
| Jul | 32.2° | 25.7° | 339.4 |
| Aug | 32.0° | 25.5° | 368.0 |
| Sep | 31.1° | 24.3° | 238.2 |
| Oct | 28.9° | 21.5° | 99.3 |
| Nov | 25.1° | 17.0° | 37.4 |
| Dec | 21.5° | 13.0° | 34.0 |
Monthly averages of daily highs and lows, and average monthly rainfall. Any given year can differ.
Source: WMO World Weather Information Service — China Meteorological Administration · Shenzhen (WMO city data) · 1971–2000 normals —View source
The entrance to Metro Line 11 is in the Ground Transportation Center (GTC) concourse of Shenzhen Bao'an International Airport (SZX), reached by four lifts and two escalators. From Airport (T3) station, Line 11 runs via Bao'an, Qianhaiwan, Nanshan, Houhai, Chegongmiao, Futian, Gangxia North and Huaqiang South; Line 20 runs from Airport North towards Shenzhen World. Fares are distance-based, from CNY 2 for the first 4 km.
Escalators and lifts lead from the terminal and the GTC to Shenzhen Airport station on the Guangzhou-Shenzhen Intercity Railway. Check the railway's official timetables and fares.
Board on the western platform on the second floor of the GTC; tickets are sold at the counter near Door 17. Routes serve areas such as Futian, Luohu, Nanshan, Longgang, Pingshan and Guangming. Check official information before you go for routes, operating hours (including any night routes) and fares.
Taxi stands are on the eastern platform on the second floor of the GTC, via Door 13. Ride-hailing pick-up points are outside the south side of the GTC (Point A) and in the reservation pick-up area on the first floor (Point B). Handy with heavy luggage or a late arrival.
The easiest way to get around. As of the city's June 2026 information, Lines 1-16 (except 15), Line 20 and the Line 6 branch are running. Fares start at CNY 2 for the first 4 km and rise with distance. Some trains have Business Class carriages with their own fares (CNY 6-36 one way), so don't mix them up with Ordinary Class tickets.
The Shenzhen Tong card works on the metro and most buses; it is free but takes a refundable CNY 20 deposit. It gives 5% off metro fares and up to 35% off bus fares. Chip bank cards with the UnionPay and QuickPass logos, or phones carrying them, also work at the gates (small-amount password-free payment must be switched on).
Crossings include Luohu (06:30-24:00), Futian (06:30-22:30), Shenzhen Bay (passengers 06:30-24:00), Huanggang (24 hours) and Liantang (07:00-22:00). Futian Checkpoint is linked by footbridge to Lok Ma Chau in Hong Kong, connecting Metro Line 4 with Hong Kong's East Rail Line. Check official information for opening hours and entry rules.
Buses cover the whole city, with discounts when you pay by Shenzhen Tong card. On the Dapeng Peninsula, routes M231 and M232 run to Dongchong and Xichong beaches. Check official information for routes.
Good for: First visit, city night views, trips to Hong Kong
The top of Lianhua Hill Park looks out over downtown Futian and is good for night views, and it has a large kite-flying square (Children's Palace station). Huaqiangbei pedestrian street, a 3A scenic area, is here too, and Futian Checkpoint makes Hong Kong easy to reach.
Good for: History walks, theme parks, seaside parks
The Overseas Chinese Town (OCT) Tourist Resort, a national 5A scenic area, includes Window of the World, with world landmarks rebuilt at 1:1 or 1:1.5 scale, and Splendid China, with over 100 Chinese sights at 1:15 scale. Nantou Ancient Town, Shenzhen Bay Park and Chiwan Tianhou Temple are in this district, and Shekou Ferry Terminal (07:00-22:30) and Shenzhen Bay Checkpoint are close by.
Good for: Old fort, beaches, seafood
The eastern peninsula with Dapeng Fortress, Xichong and Dongchong beaches and the Nan'ao area. Try seafood such as sea urchin fried rice, salt-baked hairy crab and sea urchin zongzi, as well as Hakka food. It is far from downtown, so set aside a full day.
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Founded in 1394 (the 27th year of the Hongwu reign), it was a coastal-defence fortress of southern China under the Ming and Qing, and the source of Shenzhen's nickname 'Pengcheng'. It measures 345 m east to west and 285 m north to south, with its east, south and west gates still standing. Old streets such as Nanmen Jie, Dongmen Jie and Shizi Jie are lined with Qing generals' mansions and temples including Houwang Temple, a Tianhou temple and Huaguang Temple. It became a national key cultural relic site in 2001, and the Dapeng New District Museum inside has four permanent exhibitions. Check official information for transport and hours.
Built in 1394, it later became the seat of Xin'an County's government. Inside are Guandi Temple and traditional Qing-style houses and temples. As of June 2026, Metro Line 12 has a Nantou Ancient City station, and it is also about a 5-minute walk from Exit B of Taoyuan station on Line 1.
A temple to Tianhou (Mazu), goddess of the sea, and the largest of its kind in Guangdong. Building began in the early Northern Song and the temple grew under the Ming and Qing; it is said to be one of only three Tianhou temples named by Ming emperors. Most of it was destroyed in the 1950s; it was rebuilt in 1992 and reopened in 1995. Take bus 226 or 355 to the Tian Hou Gong stop. Check official information for hours.
About 545 hectares at the north-western foot of Wutong Mountain (944 m), the city's highest peak, beside Shenzhen Reservoir. It conserves around 12,000 kinds of plants, including horticultural varieties, and Hongfa Temple sits halfway up Wutong Mountain on its east side. Use Exit C2 of Xianhu Road station on Line 2 (Line 8). The garden says tickets are sold only through its official WeChat accounts, and it closes during severe weather such as typhoon yellow or higher warnings, so check official information.
At 944 m, the highest mountain in Shenzhen, and a famous beauty spot since the Ming, when it was one of the Eight Great Views of Xin'an County. The broad road is a gentle climb but takes about five hours to the top and back, while Haohan Slope to Greater Wutong is notoriously steep. On a clear day you can see Dapeng Bay and the mountains of Hong Kong's New Territories. Take bus 211 to Wutongshan Community.
A seaside park running 13 km along the north shore of Shenzhen Bay through Nanshan and Futian districts. The whole park is free of motor vehicles, with cycle paths and picnic spaces, and looks across to Hong Kong's New Territories. Use Exit D2 of Shenzhen Bay Park station on Metro Line 9.
A 38-hectare park east of the Futian National Mangrove Nature Reserve, facing Hong Kong's Mai Po Nature Reserve across the Shenzhen River. It is home to 16 mangrove plants and 194 bird species, 23 of them endangered, and is described as the only state-level nature reserve in the business heart of a Chinese city.
A beach on the southern Dapeng Peninsula facing the South China Sea, with Dapeng Bay to the west and Daya Bay to the east. To the north is Qiniang Mountain, the city's second-highest peak. Buses M231 and M232 run to Dongchong and Xichong beaches, and a hiking trail follows the coast between them.
A signature seafood dish of Dapeng. According to Dapeng New District, a good plate shows bright red sea urchin through the rice, with every grain separate.
Small hairy crabs from where fresh and salt water meet, baked in salt to bring out the roe. In season every year from after the Mid-Autumn Festival until before Spring Festival.
On Shenzhen's municipal intangible heritage list. Sea urchin, pork belly, shredded radish, peanuts, dried scallop and dried shrimp are mixed with glutinous rice, wrapped long and thin in local 'mang' leaves and steamed. Peak season is from the 8th day of the 4th lunar month to around the Dragon Boat Festival.
Hakka rice cakes whose skin is glutinous rice flour mixed with ordinary rice flour. The five classic kinds are mugwort tea cakes, mugwort ban, ciba, radish cakes and 'xi ban', a craft handed down for five generations.
Green noodles made from rice and glutinous rice, served in soup with meat and seafood, a dish particular to Dapeng Fortress, where families traditionally make them for festivals.
Amounts are rough figures in local currency. Check exchange rates before you go.
A morning walk in Nantou Ancient Town, Chiwan Tianhou Temple after lunch, then Metro Line 9 to Shenzhen Bay Park for a seaside stroll in the afternoon, and night views of downtown Futian from Lianhua Hill Park in the evening.
Head out early to the Dapeng Peninsula to explore the old streets and gates of Dapeng Fortress, have Dapeng seafood such as sea urchin fried rice for lunch, then enjoy the sea at Xichong Beach in the afternoon before returning to the city.
Prices and times are approximate as of 2026-09 and may change. Always re-check visa and entry rules with official sources before you travel.