About Shenzhen
Shenzhen, situated just across the border from Hong Kong, is a beautiful coastal garden city in South China. It is a city of sunshine and modernity, where economic development keeps pace with social development, and people live in harmony with nature.
Shenzhen which is the China’s first special economic zone is a pioneering and innovative city. It is in the vanguard of China’s reforms and opening up to the rest of the world. In its short history of 27 years, Shenzhen has developed from a small fishing village into a modern city with a gross domestic product (GDP) per capita which gives it premier ranking in China. This is a remarkable achievement, notable in the annals of urbanization, industrialization and modernization across the globe.
As Shenzhen embraces the world, concomitantly it is becoming internationalized. As China’s first special economic zone, Shenzhen began to open up to the rest of the world in 1980, becoming one of the country’s major channels of communication with the outside world. Shenzhen has 17 sea, land and air ports, including China’s largest land passenger port and land cargo port. In 2011, the 26th Universiade will be held here, which will make Shenzhen the youngest city in history to host the Games.
Shenzhen is a city with deep cultural roots that sit in tandem with its creative and modern ethos. It is said to have a history of 5,000 years, but was only founded 27 years ago. Since its foundation, Shenzhen has created a migrant culture and an innovative spirit of “encouraging innovation and pursuing excellence.” At the forefront of Chinese cities in promoting the use of voluntary services, it boasts about 530,000 volunteers in various fields of activity.
Shenzhen energetically prepares to meet the world, and enthusiastically welcomes your arrival!
Splendid China
Splendid China is an attraction at the Overseas Chinese Town, Shenzhen that has scaled downreplicas of China’s historical buildings, wonderful scenes and folk customs. The scale models are in the main in a ratio of 1:15 and the exhibits are positioned to replicate their geographical locations. Here you can see replicas of many of the most famous Chinese buildings and landmarks and a great deal of attention has been paid to detail so as to ensure the miniatures truly represent their originals. This has entailed making full use of the services of architectural specialists and landscape experts who are actively engaged with research and conservation at the actual sites that have been replicated here. The exhibits are surrounded by pleasant gardens with many flowers and trees. Consequently walking in Splendid China can be very relaxing. Apart from the miniature buildings and scenic spots, one may see over 50,000 ceramic figures in the different locations. Splendid China is divided into two parts, a Scenic Spot Area and a Comprehensive Service Area.
Hours of Operation: 9:00 - 18:00
Metro Stop: Hua Qiao Cheng (Exit D), Line 1
Tel.: 26602111
Website: http://www.cn5000.com.cn/english/about/
Chinese Folk Culture Villages
Right next to Splendid China, the folk culture park dazzles with the histories and mysteries of the country’s ethnic groups. China is a big and united family made up of 56 ethnic groups. Geographically speaking, they are distributed in different parts of China with the resulting difficulty of experiencing each ethnic group’s architecture, their festivals and tasting their snacks during one of your visits. But the China Folk Cultural Village, lying at the Overseas Chinese Town, Shenzhen, will help solve this problem. It is the first spot in China where you can learn of the folk cultures of China. The more than 200,000 square meters (about 494 acres) has 24 peculiar cottages which are constructed at a ratio of 1:1 and are very welcoming to all visitors.
In the village, you will see the distinctive architecture of ethnic groups and join their brilliant festivals. Buying some handicrafts or tasting local snacks is another way to experience the China Folk Culture Village.
Hours of Operation: 9:00 - 21:00
Metro Stop: Hua Qiao Cheng (Exit D), Line 1
Tel.: 26600626
Window of the World
Like Splendid China, this 480,000-sqm park features more than 130 miniature replicas of scenic and cultural wonders. The difference is that these are landmarks from all over the world. Here you can find the Golden Gate Bridge and the Niagara Waterfall of the United States, the Kremlin of Russia, Italy’s Pisa Tower, Egyptian pyramids, the Taj Mahal of India and an Eiffel Tower built in 1:3 ratio. Although these replicas would probably not attract Western visitors much, the park’s daily dance performance and regular carnival-like events are of great fun. Beautifully illuminated at night, it is also an impressive city scene.
Hours of Operation: 9:00 - 21:00
Metro Stop: Hua Qiao Cheng (Exit J), Line 1
Tel.: 26608000
Website: http://www.szwwco.com/
Happy Valley
This is a place for kids and families. Usually packed on weekends by families, the fun park offers more than 100 attractions ranging from the thrilling Space Shot to the lovely cartoon-themed events. It also holds daily performances of various themes.
Hours of Operation: 9:30 - 22:00 (9:00 - 22:00 on weekends)
Metro Stop: Hua Qiao Cheng (Exit A), Line 1
Tel.: 26949168
Website: http://www.happyvalley.com.cn
Safari Park
The first of its kind in the country, the park is a 120,000-sqm subtropical garden housing nearly 10,000 wild animals and birds of more than 300 species. These include some of the world’s rare species such as panda, golden money (golden snub-nosed monkey), antelope, flamingo, red-crowned crane (Manchurian Crane) and Amur Tiger (Manchurian Tiger). The park also offers a variety of circus shows.
Location: By Xili Lake in Nanshan District
Tel.: 26622888
Website: http://www.szzoo.net/
Minsk World
This is a military-themed park based on a retired aircraft carrier, the Minsk, which was built in the former Soviet Union and was once the world’s fifth largest of its kind. Moored at Dapeng Bay now, the vessel houses a military museum highlighting a MiG-23 fighter and other aircrafts. There are also regular Russian dance shows and honor guard performances.
Location: Shatoujiao in Yantian District
Tel.: 25355333
Website: http://www.szminsk.com/
