Shenzhen Culture Centre New Building Trial Opening September 28, 2026: 7 Major Spaces in Minzhi, Longhua, 8K Dome + VR, 13-Day Opening Market

A brand-new cultural landmark has landed in Shenzhen. The Shenzhen Cultural Centre New Building (深圳市文化館新館) in Longhua District will officially begin trial operations on 28 September 2026. Designed around the concept of "A Boat of Culture · Art Village Above the Clouds", the venue brings together arts training, performing arts events, art exhibitions, library reading and intangible cultural heritage into a one-stop urban public cultural space. For Hong Kong visitors, the timing could not be better: the trial opening coincides with Mid-Autumn Festival and National Day, and the venue will run a 13-day "Opening Culture Market" from 25 September to 7 October, with free admission to the public areas.

Key facts at a glance

• Name: Shenzhen Cultural Centre New Building (深圳市文化館新館)
• District: Longhua District, Shenzhen (Minzhi area)
• Transport: Shenzhen Metro Line 5, Minzhi Station Exit A; just one stop on Line 5 from Shenzhen North Station
• Trial opening date: From 28 September 2026
• Opening market: 25 September to 7 October 2026 (13 days in a row)
• Tickets: Free admission to public areas; some special exhibitions, performances and training courses require advance registration or ticket purchase
• Opening hours: Open daily during the trial period; exact times subject to the latest official announcement

Note that the new building is a municipal-level public cultural facility in Shenzhen, which usually means free admission with a booking system for selected activities. Hong Kong visitors should bring their Mainland Travel Permit (Home Return Permit), as bookings can generally be registered with the permit number; before setting off, it is best to check official announcements to confirm whether there are any closures for maintenance or special arrangements that day.

A look at the 7 major functional spaces

1. Performance spaces: A large theatre, small theatre, black box theatre and multi-function hall, where national-level professional productions and avant-garde works will take turns on stage.
2. Training spaces: 29 professional classrooms and 12 piano rooms, offering courses in dance, fine art, ceramics, lacquer fan painting and more — parents can arrange weekend classes for their children.
3. Exhibition spaces: Multiple exhibition areas, including a large-scale XR digital exhibition and living intangible cultural heritage displays, where technology and traditional aesthetics sit side by side.
4. Reading space: An art book reading area plus a free study zone, quiet and ideal for sitting down with a book or getting some writing done.
5. Digital and family tech space: An 8K dome flight cinema and large-scale VR immersive experience — the key area for letting kids burn off energy.
6. Creative incubation space: Professional recording studios and photography studios for original musicians and video creators.
7. Amenities and outdoor spaces: Themed restaurants, a cultural and creative market, a mass culture plaza and an art exhibition plaza; weekends will feature cultural gatherings and Livehouse performances.

If you can only go once, a suggested route is: start with the XR exhibition in the exhibition spaces, then the 8K dome flight cinema, rest in the reading space afterwards, and spend the evening strolling the outdoor plaza and cultural and creative market. It is all indoors with air conditioning, so it works even on a rainy day.

Opening Culture Market: 13 days spanning Mid-Autumn and National Day

To celebrate the trial opening, the new building has specially created the "Meet Everyone at the Cultural Centre" Opening Culture Market, running from 25 September to 7 October 2026 and spanning both the Mid-Autumn Festival (25 September) and National Day (1 October) holidays. The market is divided into 8 highlight themes covering cultural and creative handicrafts, intangible cultural heritage experiences, light bites and stage performances, and is free to enter and wander at will.

• Best days to go: 25 September (Mid-Autumn Festival proper) and 1 October (National Day proper) draw the biggest crowds; for a more relaxed visit, pick 29 or 30 September, or 6 or 7 October towards the end of the weekday stretch.
• Families: The family tech space plus the market's handicraft stalls are enough to fill an afternoon.
• Culture lovers: The exhibition spaces plus the reading space, rounded off with an outdoor Livehouse performance.

Same-district add-ons: Shenzhen Art Museum New Building + Longhua shopping district

Since you are in Longhua, you can easily put together a day trip. Not far from the Cultural Centre New Building, the Shenzhen Art Museum (New Building) (深圳美術館新館) is located at Building 1, 30 Tenglong Road, Minzhi Subdistrict, Longhua District, about a 300-metre walk from Exit A1 of Hongshan Station on Metro Lines 4/6. The architecture is striking and admission is mainly free with no booking required, making it a hot spot for Hong Kong culture lovers heading north in recent years. The Hongshan Station area also has large shopping malls and coffee shops, so you can grab a bite after your visit.

• Shenzhen Art Museum (New Building) (深圳美術館新館): Building 1, 30 Tenglong Road, Minzhi Subdistrict, Longhua District; Exit A1 of Hongshan Station on Metro Lines 4/6; weekdays 10:00–18:00 (last entry 17:30), closed Mondays; free with no booking required (special exhibitions or events subject to official announcements)
• Longhua Uniwalk (龍華壹方天地): A large shopping mall cluster in the Minzhi area of Longhua District, with dining, supermarkets and family facilities; usually open until 22:00
• Shenzhen North Station: A high-speed rail and metro interchange; to return to Hong Kong you can take the high-speed rail to West Kowloon, or take Lines 4/5 back to the border checkpoints

How to get there from the three checkpoints?

• Lo Wu Control Point (Lo Wu Station): Line 1 → change to Line 4 at Convention & Exhibition Center → change to Line 5 at Shenzhen North Station → Minzhi Station Exit A, about 50 minutes in total.
• Futian Checkpoint (Lok Ma Chau Station): Line 4 straight up to Shenzhen North Station, then change to Line 5 for one stop to Minzhi Station, about 30 minutes in total — the fastest route.
• Shenzhen Bay Port: Line 13 → change towards Futian around Houhai/Keyuan → change to Line 5 to Minzhi Station, about 60 minutes, suitable for those starting from Nanshan.

Of the three checkpoints, Futian Checkpoint is the most straightforward; if you live in western New Territories, taking the high-speed rail to Shenzhen North Station and then transferring one metro stop may actually be faster.

Practical tips

• Avoid the crowds: The first week of trial operations (28 September to 2 October) will mostly involve queuing to get in; weekday mornings before 10:00 are the most comfortable.
• Booking habits: Shenzhen venues mostly use WeChat official accounts or mini-programs for bookings, and the Home Return Permit can be used to register; it is best to sort this out the night before.
• Payment: The market and restaurants generally accept AlipayHK/WeChat Pay HK; bring a small amount of cash just in case.
• Clothing: Air conditioning inside is strong, so bring a light jacket; the outdoor plaza gets windy at night.
• With kids: The 8K dome and VR experiences usually require separate queuing or ticket collection; once inside, grab your tickets first before browsing the market.

FAQ

• When does the Shenzhen Cultural Centre New Building open? Trial operations begin on 28 September 2026, and the Opening Culture Market starts on 25 September and runs until 7 October.
• Do I need to buy a ticket? Admission to public areas is free; some special exhibitions, performances and training courses require advance registration or ticket purchase, subject to official announcements.
• What is the fastest way to get there? From Futian Checkpoint, take Line 4 to Shenzhen North Station, then change to Line 5 for one stop to Minzhi Station Exit A.
• What is there for kids? The 8K dome flight cinema, the large-scale VR immersive experience and the market's handicraft stalls are all popular family options.
• Where else can I visit nearby? Shenzhen Art Museum (New Building), Longhua Uniwalk and the malls around Shenzhen North Station are all directly accessible by metro.

Conclusion

If you want to escape the mall crowds during the Mid-Autumn and National Day long holiday, this new cultural centre in Longhua is a choice that costs nothing, has air conditioning, and offers plenty to do and see. Remember: trial operations start 28 September, and the market runs until 7 October; all opening hours, booking arrangements and ticket details are subject to the latest official announcements.

Further reading