You don't have to shop to have fun in Shenzhen. From October to November 2026, Shenzhen is hosting three large cartoon IP photo-spot exhibitions with free admission, spanning Futian CBD, Houhai in Nanshan, and MixC World — all directly reachable by metro, with no entry fee, perfect for a weekend outing with kids or a de-stressing photo session with friends. This guide breaks down each one by border checkpoint area, covering dates, locations, metro exits and photo highlights.
1. Futian: SpongeBob "Residents of Bikini Bottom" South China Premiere (One Avenue)
The officially licensed SpongeBob "Residents of Bikini Bottom" South China premiere is currently on show at One Avenue in Futian, bringing the underwater town of Bikini Bottom from the cartoon into Futian CBD. The exhibition's standout feature is that it's not just about the main characters — the venue gathers more than 60 three-dimensional "background fish" installations, paired with 4 immersive scenes inside and outside the mall (Island Holiday Park, Undersea Grand Hotel, Undersea Express, and the classic undersea street), so stepping into the mall feels like falling into an underwater world.
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Dates | Now until 1 November 2026 |
| Hours | 10:00–22:00 |
| Location | One Avenue, Futian District, Shenzhen |
| Transport | Direct access from Exit B of Gangxia Station, Metro Line 1／10 |
| Tickets | Free admission, come and go as you please for photos |
| Must-buy | The "Bikini Bottom Department Store" pop-up on B2, West Zone of the mall, with 200+ Shenzhen debut merchandise items |
If you're crossing at Futian Checkpoint, take Metro Line 4 from Lok Ma Chau Station and transfer to Line 10 to Gangxia Station — a smooth route. On site there's an interactive Mr. Krabs "gold-digging" zone and plenty of "undersea office worker" photo spots, making it a great place for stressed-out workers to unwind.
2. Nanshan: LINE FRIENDS × Sesame Street "HOUHAI STOP" (Houhai MixC)
The "HOUHAI STOP" themed exhibition, a collaboration between Korea's LINE FRIENDS and the classic cartoon Sesame Street, is the first large-scale exhibition in South China for this collab series, landing at Shenzhen Bay Houhai MixC. The venue features 8 themed photo spots stretching from the indoor atrium, rooftop and connecting bridges all the way to the outdoor waterside plaza, with a themed limited-edition bus, giant standees of BROWN and Sesame Street characters, plus an L1 pop-up store for shopping.
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Dates | Now until 15 November 2026 |
| Location | Houhai MixC (indoor atrium and outdoor spaces), 3288 Houhaibin Road, Nanshan District, Shenzhen |
| Transport | Exit A1／A3 of Houhai Station, Metro Line 2／8／11／13 |
| Tickets | Free admission, no booking needed; pop-up store items charged separately |
Houhai MixC is in the Shenzhen Bay Checkpoint area — after crossing at Shenzhen Bay Checkpoint, taking Line 13 directly to Houhai Station is the easiest option. After the exhibition you can also swing by Shenzhen Bay MixC and Coastal City.
3. Nanshan: PINGU 45th Anniversary "Antarctic Wonderland" (MixC World)
The clay penguin Pingu, famous for his "Noot Noot", turns 45 this year, and MixC World in Shenzhen is hosting the "PINGU 45th Anniversary Antarctic Wonderland" global artists group exhibition on the 4th floor at MXTR GALLERY, bringing together works by 45 artists from 12 countries. The exhibition is split into free and paid sections: the free photo zone already includes a 1:1 recreation of the snow house, iceberg scenes, a giant Pingu sculpture and a character photo wall — enough to keep you snapping away.
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Dates | Now until 18 October 2026 |
| Location | MXTR GALLERY, 4/F, MixC World, Nanshan District, Shenzhen |
| Transport | Exit A of Hi-Tech Park Station, Metro Line 1, about a 3–5 minute walk |
| Tickets | Free photo zone requires no ticket; in the paid art exhibition area, buying one merchandise item admits two people |
The run is relatively short (ending 18 October), so go early if you want to see it. The mall itself is one of Shenzhen's most popular, so after the exhibition you can grab a meal and shop — a full day won't be enough.
4. Luohu: Anime Merchandise and IP Themed Shops Around Dongmen
In Luohu, while there are fewer large IP premieres, the Dongmen Old Street area has long been a hub for Shenzhen's anime merchandise, blind boxes and cartoon goods — step out of Laojie Station and you'll find plenty of anime-themed shops and claw machine arcades, easy to browse after a mall visit. Crossing at Luohu Checkpoint, it's just one stop on Metro Line 1 to Laojie Station — the most convenient "play as soon as you arrive" cartoon shopping spot.
5. Which of the Three Checkpoints to Choose?
- Luohu Checkpoint → Dongmen anime merchandise (Laojie Station); for One Avenue in Futian, take Line 1 and transfer to Line 10 to Gangxia Station.
- Futian Checkpoint → SpongeBob at One Avenue (Line 4 transfer to Line 10, Gangxia Station).
- Shenzhen Bay Checkpoint → Sesame Street × LINE FRIENDS at Houhai MixC (Line 13 to Houhai Station), PINGU at MixC World (Houhai Station, transfer to Line 2 or take a taxi).
6. Practical Tips
- All three exhibitions are free to enter, but pop-up stores, paid exhibition zones and merchandise are charged separately.
- Weekends and holidays are crowded; for comfortable photos, go on a weekday or right at opening.
- For exact dates, hours and entry rules, refer to the latest announcements on each mall's official WeChat account — some exhibitions may be extended or add sessions.
- All malls accept WeChat Pay／Alipay (which can be linked to Hong Kong cards), so remember to set up mainland payment first.
7. Where Else Can You Go Along the Way?
All three exhibitions are inside malls, so you can shop and eat nearby afterwards: One Avenue in Futian is close to Galaxy COCO Park and the Convention & Exhibition Center area; Houhai MixC in Nanshan sits next to Shenzhen Bay MixC and Coastal City; and MixC World in Nanshan is itself a popular Shenzhen mall with plenty of trendy brands, cafés and restaurants. If you want more fun, you can swing by OCT Harbour or Shenzhen Bay Park to see the sea.
FAQ
Do these cartoon exhibitions require tickets?
The photo zones at all three main exhibitions are free to enter; at PINGU's paid art exhibition area, buying one merchandise item admits two people, while other pop-up store items are charged at normal prices.
When does the SpongeBob exhibition end?
"Residents of Bikini Bottom" at One Avenue in Futian runs until 1 November 2026, 10:00–22:00, free admission.
Where is the Sesame Street × LINE FRIENDS exhibition?
Houhai MixC, 3288 Houhaibin Road, Nanshan District, Shenzhen; Exit A1／A3 of Houhai Station, Metro Line 2／8／11／13; runs until 15 November.
Which exhibition is closest if I cross at Shenzhen Bay Checkpoint?
Houhai MixC (Sesame Street × LINE FRIENDS) and MixC World (PINGU) are both in Nanshan; from Shenzhen Bay Checkpoint, taking Line 13 to the Houhai Station area is the most convenient.
8. Bonus: Chiikawa Flagship Store, miffy café, Shadow Puppet Theatre
- Chiikawa's first Shenzhen flagship store + South China premiere exhibition "Chiikawa's Training Days": Coastal City, Nanshan (Houhai Station, Metro Line 2／11), combining a "flagship store + IP premiere", with character installations and limited merchandise inside and outside the store; free admission within the mall area, easiest via Shenzhen Bay Checkpoint.
- miffy café in Shenzhen (South China debut): a Miffy-themed pop-up café from the Netherlands, 1 October to 30 November at the L3 link bridge, North and South Buildings, K11 ECOAST, Nanshan, with coffee, light bites and limited merchandise all in one place; Exit B1／C of Taiziwan Station, Metro Line 12.
- "Reply 1988" themed pop-up (South China first stop): 25 September to 11 October at the L2 link bridge, North and South Buildings, K11 ECOAST, recreating the autumn of Ssangmun-dong in 1988, with standees of the characters for photos and 1:1 commemorative merchandise on site.
- Moonlit Shadow Puppet Theatre: 19 September to 22 November at the L1 atrium, North Building, K11 ECOAST, led by Cai Jinsun, representative inheritor of Shenzhen's intangible cultural heritage "Chaoshan-style shadow puppetry"; free admission, and audiences can go on stage to try the puppets.
- SpongeBob Bikini Bottom Department Store pop-up (B2, West Zone, One Avenue, Futian): accompanying the "Residents of Bikini Bottom" South China premiere, with 200+ Shenzhen debut merchandise items, running until 1 November 2026.
A reminder: routes from the three checkpoints — from Futian Checkpoint, take Line 10 and transfer to Line 12 to Taiziwan (K11 ECOAST); from Shenzhen Bay Checkpoint, take Line 13 to Houhai Station (Coastal City, Shenzhen Bay MixC); from Luohu Checkpoint, take Line 1 to Convention & Exhibition Center and transfer to Line 10 to One Avenue for SpongeBob. Pop-up stores and cafés may close early or add sessions, so check the mall's official WeChat account for the latest announcements before you go.
In summary: this October to November, Shenzhen's cartoon IP photo exhibitions are both free and conveniently clustered, covering the Futian, Nanshan and Luohu checkpoint areas — one more no-cost family／de-stress option for a weekend trip to Shenzhen. Dates and rules are subject to the latest official announcements.
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