| Shenzhen is a city of over 12 million | | | | Completely refurbished in 2006, the Da |
| people located in Guangdong Province, | | | | Ju Yuan / Grand Theater in Shenzhen is a |
| China, directly on the border with the | | | | great venue for classical music and |
| New Territories of Hong Kong. | | | | traditional Chinese music events. |
| It's likely that your travel guide to | | | | Shenzhen has its own Symphony Orchestra |
| China does not say much about this city | | | | and with tickets normally between 60 - |
| except to dismiss it as industrial and | | | | 300 RMB no one can complain that culture |
| good only for cheap knockoff shopping. | | | | is out of reach in this modern boom |
| Similarly, if you ask people in Hong | | | | city. |
| Kong about Shenzhen, they will pretend | | | | Across the road from the Grand Theater |
| to think it's still a small town full of | | | | is Lychee Park, which is recommended for |
| knife-wielding thieves and you shouldn't | | | | taking photos on traditional style |
| even consider going there. | | | | bridges, taking a pedalo out on the |
| Both these impressions couldn't be | | | | lake, or watching the unnervingly |
| further from the truth. Shenzhen's | | | | professional ballroom dancing couples |
| incredibly fast growth is the reason | | | | practice outdoors. |
| travel books are out of date, and | | | | On the corner of the park is a large |
| perhaps Hong Kong people's snobbishness | | | | billboard with a Picture of Deng Xiao |
| about the city stems from a certain fear | | | | Peng, the "father of Shenzhen". It was |
| and envy of this shiny wealth center on | | | | he who came up with the idea of raising |
| their doorstep! | | | | Shenzhen / Baoan from a fishing village |
| Modern day Shenzhen is a vibrant, | | | | to a global scale metropolis, and |
| cosmopolitan city that offers a wide | | | | Chinese visitors to Shenzhen wouldn't |
| range of cultural and leisure venues for | | | | want to miss a chance to be pictured in |
| tourists, as well as unrivalled shopping | | | | front of the late Chairman. |
| and dining. If you like Hong Kong and | | | | Citizens' Center |
| Shanghai, you will also love Shenzhen - | | | | Shenzhen's city government decided to |
| fast, fashionable, cool, and not a | | | | relocate the Central Business District |
| little bit crazy! | | | | west, out of the original city center |
| If you are clueless about Shenzhen and | | | | (Luohu) and into brand new, spaciously |
| want a few basic pointers, here are the | | | | planned zones in Futian District. Part |
| three most famous city center places to | | | | of this project is the Shimin Zhongxin / |
| see in one day: | | | | Citizens' Center: a huge government |
| Diwang Building | | | | building with an iconic "bird shape" |
| Diwang building is the tallest | | | | roof. Not much to do or see inside, but |
| skyscraper in Shenzhen, at 69 floors, | | | | it's worth taking a taxi around this |
| and the symbol of the city's super fast | | | | whole area, especially at night time, to |
| success. The building is office space | | | | see all the shiny new skyscrapers. The |
| for the city's most prestigious firms, | | | | newly developed area around the |
| but you can pay around 120RMB to go to | | | | Citizen's Center also includes the |
| the viewing deck on the 68th floor and | | | | Children's Palace amusement center and |
| look over the whole city center. | | | | exemplary New Shenzhen Library. About |
| Opposite the Diwang building is the new | | | | half a mile south is the New Exhibition |
| multi-storey shopping center "Mix C" | | | | Center / Huizhan Zhongxin, which is, in |
| complete with ice rink, cinema, and lots | | | | typical Shenzhen style, impressive just |
| of international style restaurants. Many | | | | because it is huge. |
| of the shops in the Mix are Hong Kong | | | | Visiting Shenzhen |
| style overpriced fashion boutiques, but | | | | If you are in Hong Kong it's an easy day |
| this does not deter the hordes of window | | | | trip to Shenzhen, crossing the border at |
| shoppers. | | | | Luohu (KCR to Lowu) or Huanggang (Bus to |
| A short distance from Diwang is the | | | | Lok Ma Chau) - both of which are less |
| Shenzhen Stock Exchange, which you can't | | | | than an hour from HK Central. |
| go into, and still within walking | | | | If you are leaving Mainland China e.g. |
| distance, a block away and still the | | | | from Guangzhou or from Shanghai through |
| same metro station, is the Grand | | | | to HK, we hope you're open minded about |
| Theater. | | | | Shenzhen to carve out an extra whole day |
| Grand Theater | | | | to stop off and explore the city. |