The wider region around Shenzhen is defined by a long coastline. Jiaochangwei stretches as a narrow coastal strip east of Dapeng Yintan Road and south of Pengfei Road as far as Longqi Bay. Dapeng New Area has 125 kilometers of coastline and includes 48 of Shenzhen’s 50 beaches.
Fortress and Market History
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 and 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 brings together historical significance and tangible dimensions.
Dongmen Old Street also represents Shenzhen’s history: it is considered the city’s oldest commercial district. Its history dates back to the middle of the Ming dynasty, when it was still called Shenzhen Old Market. Dongmen Cultural Square features a bronze relief of the old Dongmen market, three meters wide and 16.5 meters long. It depicts the bustling market life of Lingnan during the Ming and Qing dynasties.
Nearby, Siyue Academy and the former headquarters of the Dongjiang Guerrilla Command, also known as Ye Ting General Memorial Hall, are sites for anti-war education and patriotic education in the Dongmen Old Street area.
Museums and Historic Sites in the Wider Area
Shenzhen Museum is a national first-class museum that brings together collection, preservation, research, exhibitions, and education. The History and Folklore Museum at Shenzhen Museum is located in Area A of Shenzhen Civic Center and opened in December 2008. Its exhibition area covers around 10,000 square meters. Its focus includes Shenzhen’s history, from ancient and modern history to folk culture and the reform and opening-up of the Special Economic Zone.
Two old towns and market sites offer further historical perspectives. Guanlan Ancient Market 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 development in Shenzhen and Hong Kong and has a history spanning 1,700 years of change. Market history and a long historical development thus stand side by side as distinct themes.
Theme Park and City Park
Window of the World features 118 attractions, including replicas of the Egyptian pyramids, the Temple of Amun at Karnak, the Arc de Triomphe in Paris, the Taj Mahal in India, and the Leaning Tower of Pisa in Italy. The replicas are built at a scale of 1:1 or 1:1.5. The 480,000-square-meter replica park is located in western Shenzhen. In front of the stage, visitors can watch shows and performances by artists from China and abroad. As individual programs may change, it is advisable to check the current schedule before visiting.
Lianhua Hill Park, at the northern edge of downtown Shenzhen, offers a different kind of urban space. The ecological city park covers 181 hectares and officially opened to the public in June 1997. While Window of the World focuses on replicas of internationally renowned buildings, Lianhua Hill Park is best known as an ecological city park.
Choose Your Focus for a Hotel Search
When searching for a hotel in Shenzhen, you can start by deciding on your focus: coastal areas, fortress and market history, museums, or large-scale theme park attractions. The options show how varied the cultural and scenic perspectives are in the wider area.
Discover more destinations: Heyuan, Meizhou, Huizhou, Shantou, Shanwei, Jiangmen, Yunfu, Maoming
For the main travel overview: Guangdong.
