"Shenzhen family trips" don't have to mean buying tickets. Around Futian city centre there are several free and cool venues: the Shenzhen Children's Palace (深圳市少年宮) with over 230 interactive exhibits, the Shenzhen Museum (深圳博物館) where you can see bronze ware and old Shenzhen stories, and the Shenzhen Museum of Contemporary Art and Urban Planning (深圳市當代藝術與城市規劃館), whose architecture itself is a photo spot. If you want to go a bit further, the Shenzhen Art Museum (New Branch) (深圳美術館（新館）) in Longhua and the Shenzhen Science and Technology Museum (深圳科學技術館) in Guangming are both worth adding to the itinerary. Below we cover each one's address, transport, opening hours and booking method.
1. Shenzhen Children's Palace (Futian) — free but booking is a must
Address: 2002 Fuzhong 1st Road, Futian District, Shenzhen. Reachable on foot from Children's Palace Station on Line 3/4. This is one of Shenzhen's most representative science venues, with three themed exhibition halls totalling over 230 interactive exhibits, plus a dome theatre, children's theatre and aesthetic education experience space — kids usually don't want to leave once they're in.
Admission is free, but booking is required (release times for holiday slots are announced separately; check the official WeChat account before planning). Theatre opening hours differ between weekdays and winter/summer holidays: outside winter and summer holidays, the theatre opens Thursday and Friday 09:30–12:00 and 14:00–16:30, Saturday and Sunday 09:30–17:00, and is closed to the public Monday to Wednesday (except statutory holidays); during winter and summer holidays it changes to Tuesday to Friday 09:30–12:00, 14:00–17:00, Saturday and Sunday 09:30–17:00, and is closed on Mondays (except statutory holidays).
2. Shenzhen Museum, Jintian Road Branch (Futian Civic Centre)
Address: Area A, Civic Centre, Futian District, Shenzhen. About 350 metres on foot from Exit B of Civic Centre Station on Line 2/4; buses 38, 60, 64 and M390 all stop nearby. The permanent exhibitions are free, opening hours 10:00–17:30 (closed Mondays, except statutory holidays). The same museum currently has a paid special exhibition, "Pets·Love — The World of Cats and Dogs" (adults ¥79, running until 8 October); if you just want free fun, the permanent exhibitions alone are enough for two hours. The Ancient Art Museum on the other side, at 6 Tongxin Road, Futian District, is also free, so you can visit both in one trip.
3. Shenzhen Museum of Contemporary Art and Urban Planning (Futian)
Address: 184 Fuzhong Road, Lianhua Subdistrict, Futian District, Shenzhen; walkable from Civic Centre or Children's Palace Station. Free and no booking required. The core permanent exhibition "The Tide Rises in the Pearl River" uses a wealth of old objects, life-size reconstructions and historical footage to tell the story of Shenzhen's transformation from a small fishing village into a major city; the space is spacious and well air-conditioned, making it an excellent family activity when it rains or the weather is hot.
4. Shenzhen Art Museum (New Branch) (Longhua)
Address: Building 1, 30 Tenglong Road, Minzhi Subdistrict, Longhua District, Shenzhen. Free and no booking required, weekdays 10:00–18:00 (last entry 17:30), closed Mondays (except statutory holidays). The new branch is one of Shenzhen's ten major cultural landmarks of the new era, and its minimalist geometric architecture is great for photos; about 25 to 30 minutes by taxi from Futian Checkpoint, with a car park on site, so driving or taking a taxi is more convenient.
5. Shenzhen Science and Technology Museum (Guangming) — affordable paid venue
Address: 8 Guanghui Avenue, Guangming District, Shenzhen, directly accessible by Line 6. Permanent exhibition halls cost ¥50 for a standard ticket and ¥32 for a concession ticket, special-effects theatres from ¥30, and some temporary exhibitions and activities are free but require booking. Opening hours: Tuesday to Friday 10:00–17:00, Saturday, Sunday and national statutory holidays 09:30–17:00 (same-day ticket sales stop at 16:00 daily, last admission 16:30), closed Mondays (except statutory holidays). With over 950 interactive exhibits covering AI, communications, deep-sea technology and more, it suits children in upper primary and above.
How to plan routes from the three checkpoints
- From Luohu Checkpoint: take Line 1 to Convention & Exhibition Center, change to Line 4, two stops to Civic Centre Station, and see the Shenzhen Museum + Urban Planning Museum first; in the afternoon visit the Children's Palace (confirm your booking slot first).
- From Futian Checkpoint: Line 4 goes directly to Civic Centre Station and Children's Palace Station — the most convenient checkpoint; with kids, aim to arrive before 10:00 to avoid the crowds.
- From Shenzhen Bay Checkpoint: take Line 13 to Houhai Station, change to Line 2 towards Civic Centre, about 30 minutes; to visit the Guangming Science and Technology Museum in one go, change at Houhai to Line 6 (a longer ride, allow over an hour).
Suggested one-day route (the no-ticket version)
09:30 get off at Civic Centre Station → 10:00 Shenzhen Museum permanent exhibitions → 11:30 Shenzhen Museum of Contemporary Art and Urban Planning → 13:00 eat at a nearby mall (plenty of choices around Civic Centre and COCO Park) → 14:30 Shenzhen Children's Palace (remember to book) → 16:30 stroll in Lianhuashan Park and see the Futian skyline → 18:00 head back to cross the border.
Practical tips
- Most free venues close on Mondays, so don't schedule your trip for a Monday.
- The Children's Palace and Science and Technology Museum have limited slots, so watch for release times a few days before the holidays.
- Security checks are usually required on entry; water bottles and food mostly can't be taken into exhibition halls, but there are water dispensers inside.
- Air conditioning is strong inside, so bring a light jacket; prams can mostly go in, but you may need to use stairs between exhibition halls.
- Bring your Mainland Travel Permit original; some venues require real-name registration on entry.
- Some venues offer luggage storage and pram loans, in limited numbers, first come first served.
- To avoid the crowds during the National Day holiday (1 to 7 October), arrive before 09:30 in the morning or pick the last two days of the holiday.
Which venue is best for rainy days?
All five venues are mainly indoors, so rain won't affect your itinerary. If you only pick one, the Shenzhen Children's Palace and Shenzhen Science and Technology Museum are the most interactive; for photo spots and a strong sense of space, choose the Shenzhen Art Museum (New Branch) and the Shenzhen Museum of Contemporary Art and Urban Planning. On rainy days it's best to skip the park segment and eat at a mall instead.
FAQ
Does the Shenzhen Children's Palace charge?
Admission is free, but advance booking is required; individual items such as the dome theatre run by session, and some require a separate ticket.
Does the Shenzhen Museum require booking?
The permanent exhibitions are generally free with no booking, while paid special exhibitions require a ticket; holidays are busy, so check the official WeChat account for that day's arrangements.
Which checkpoint is most convenient for these venues?
Futian Checkpoint is the most convenient, with Line 4 going directly to Civic Centre Station and Children's Palace Station; from Luohu Checkpoint you need one change, and from Shenzhen Bay Checkpoint you go via Houhai and change to Line 2.
Which is suitable for a 3-year-old?
We suggest the Shenzhen Children's Palace (lots of interactive exhibits, mainly indoors) and Lianhuashan Park; the Urban Planning Museum is more text-based and better suited to children aged 6 and above.
Opening hours and booking arrangements at each venue may change; refer to the latest official announcements.
💬 Comments
Loading…