Shenzhen's cartoon IP (intellectual property character) business is booming again this year: China's 4th official Chiikawa flagship store officially landed at Coastal City in Nanshan on September 25, the 4th after Shanghai, Beijing and Guangzhou. On opening day, the three main characters Chiikawa, Hachiware and Usagi appeared to take photos with fans, and the brand simultaneously launched a Guangdong-exclusive limited series, the "Ling Chun Quan Ying" kung fu-themed merchandise.
Besides Chiikawa, a large batch of cartoon IP-themed stores has sprung up in Shenzhen over the past two years — the largest MINISO LAND, the anime "guzi" (merch) hub in Dongmen, and IP pop-up stores opening in turn at major malls. This article first covers the practical information for the Chiikawa flagship store, then rounds up similar spots by three checkpoint areas: Luohu, Futian and Shenzhen Bay.
1. Chiikawa Coastal City Flagship Store: address, metro, limited items
- Store name: Chiikawa Official Flagship Store (Shenzhen Coastal City branch)
- Address: L2-290-291, Coastal City Shopping Centre, Nanshan District, Shenzhen
- Transport: Shenzhen Metro Line 2 or Line 11 to "Houhai Station" Exit E2, about a 3 to 5 minute walk from the exit
- Opening day: September 25, 2026
- Limited series: Guangdong-exclusive "Ling Chun Quan Ying" — the three main characters change into traditional kung fu training outfits and become kung fu masters, with plush keychains, plush toys and other merchandise, with wooden dummy elements added to the details
This is the 2nd Chiikawa flagship store in South China (Guangzhou opened first), so crowds are bound to be heavy in the first two weeks. If you want photos, it's best to queue before opening on a weekday and avoid the weekend afternoon peak.
2. Free float parade: running until October 7
From opening day until October 7, a Chiikawa-themed float will parade through Shenzhen's urban area, twice daily: 09:00–15:00 and 15:00–21:00. The route starts and ends at Coastal City Shopping Centre, passing Shenzhen landmarks including Sea World, Spring Bamboo Tower (China Resources Tower), Window of the World, Futian Checkpoint, Futian Station, Nantou Ancient Town and One Avenue.
Note: the float parade route will be adjusted according to traffic and event arrangements. If you want to chase the float, it's best to check the official social media accounts for the latest route on the day; if you just want photos, simply wait at Coastal City for the highest hit rate.
3. From Luohu Checkpoint: Dongmen cartoon IP-themed stores + guzi shops
After crossing at Luohu Checkpoint, take Shenzhen Metro Line 1 one stop to "Laojie Station". The Dongmen pedestrian street area is Shenzhen's most concentrated anime/cartoon IP shopping district — a few minutes' walk from the station gets you there.
1. MINISO LAND Dongmen Flagship Store (South China's largest Miniso theme store)
Covering 1,500 square metres in a standalone three-storey building, IP products account for up to ninety percent, covering over a hundred IPs including Sanrio, Chiikawa and Disney. The first floor is a Shenzhen city-exclusive zone, the second floor is a plush toy paradise, and the third floor has immersive Harry Potter and Toy Story display areas.
- Address: 1st to 3rd floors, Mingshi Mall, Jiefang Road, Dongmen Pedestrian Street, Luohu District
- Transport: Shenzhen Metro Line 1 "Laojie Station" Exit A or E, about a 5 minute walk
- Opening hours: 10:00–23:00
2. Xin Baima Ciyuan No. 9 (Dongmen's new anime base)
The 2,000 square metre space is surrounded by blue holographic screens, with a huge outdoor LED "pain building" screen; inside there are plenty of gachapon machines and photo walls, plus a makeup room specially for cosplayers. Merch (guzi) prices are usually noticeably cheaper than mall stores.
- Location: Luohu Dongmen Laojie shopping district (near Xin Baima Clothing Market)
- Transport: walk from Shenzhen Metro Line 1 "Laojie Station"
- Spending: free entry, gachapon from ¥20
4. Futian / Shenzhen Bay Checkpoints: mall IP pop-ups and flagship stores
Large malls in Futian and Nanshan have cartoon IP pop-up stores and themed photo spots all year round, usually placed in the atrium or L1 main walkway, mostly free entry — you can see them while shopping.
One Avenue (from Futian Checkpoint)
A core mall in Futian CBD, with cartoon IP pop-ups and limited-time stores in the atrium from time to time; in the second half of the year, Korean fashion brand MUSINSA will also move in (see separate article).
- Location: around Fuhua 1st Road, Futian District (next to the Convention and Exhibition Centre)
- Transport: Shenzhen Metro Line 1/4 "Convention and Exhibition Centre Station", or Line 2 "Gangxia Station"
- Opening hours: about 10:00–22:00 (varies slightly by store)
Shenzhen Bay MixC (from Shenzhen Bay Checkpoint)
After crossing at Shenzhen Bay Checkpoint, transfer to Line 13 and it's a few stops to "Houhai Station" — step out and you're at Shenzhen Bay MixC and its Phase 2 "Pink Street", one of Shenzhen's hottest cartoon photo spot clusters recently.
- Location: around Haide 1st Road, Nanshan District (Houhai Station)
- Transport: Shenzhen Metro Line 2/11/13 "Houhai Station"
- Opening hours: about 10:00–22:00 (extended to 22:30 on Fridays and Saturdays)
The fastest way from the three checkpoints
| Checkpoint | Suggested route | Corresponding cartoon IP spots |
|---|---|---|
| Luohu Checkpoint | Cross, transfer to Metro Line 1, get off at Laojie Station and walk 5 minutes | MINISO LAND, Xin Baima Ciyuan No. 9 |
| Futian Checkpoint | Cross, transfer to Metro, get off at Convention and Exhibition Centre / Gangxia Station | One Avenue, Xinghe COCO Park (IP pop-ups) |
| Shenzhen Bay Checkpoint | Cross, transfer to Line 13, get off at Houhai Station | Coastal City Chiikawa flagship store, Shenzhen Bay MixC |
FAQ
Does the Chiikawa flagship store require booking or a ballot?
The flagship store itself is free entry, no ballot needed; but crowds are heavy in the first two weeks after opening, and crowd control will be in place during some periods, so queuing to enter is normal. Limited items are mostly purchase-limited, so it's best to queue before opening if you want the full set.
When are MINISO LAND and Xin Baima Ciyuan quietest?
Both spots are in Dongmen, and weekends after 15:00 are the most crowded. For comfortable photos, go on a weekday between 11:00–13:00, or enter MINISO LAND after 21:00 at night.
Which checkpoint is most convenient for Dongmen?
Luohu Checkpoint. After crossing, take Metro Line 1 one stop to "Laojie Station" with no transfers — the fastest of the three checkpoints.
Practical tips
- Chiikawa limited series usually have per-person purchase limits; queuing separately with friends lets you buy more.
- Taking the metro between Dongmen and Coastal City requires transfers, so avoid doing both sides in one day unless necessary.
- Cartoon IP pop-up stores are limited-time, so always check the mall's official social media accounts before going — don't rely on old articles.
- Guzi (merch) prices in Dongmen are generally cheaper than at large mall flagship stores, so compare prices for the same item before buying.
- Luohu Checkpoint is busiest on weekend afternoons; consider Liantang or Futian Checkpoint if you want to cross faster.
This article's information is compiled from media reports by Flyday, HK01 and others between September 25 and 27, 2026, and from official public information from malls and brands. Opening events, parade routes, purchase limits and opening hours may be adjusted; before setting off, please refer to official social media accounts and on-site mall announcements.
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