Hong Kongers heading north now have even more places to explore! Shenzhen Metro Line 13 Phase 2 (Northern Extension) officially opened on June 28, 2026. Boarding at Shenzhen Bay Port, you can reach Guangming District in the northwest in about 45 minutes. Places that once felt "so far away" — like Hongqiao Park and Guangming roast pigeon — are now doable on a quick weekend trip. Here's a one-day Guangming itinerary, perfect for anyone looking to escape the crowds of Futian and Luohu.
How to get there? Take Line 13 directly from Shenzhen Bay Port
Phase 1 of Line 13 departs from Shenzhen Bay Port Station, and with the Phase 2 northern extension now open, the full line connects Nanshan, Bao'an, and Guangming districts, terminating at Lisonglang Station. It's operated by MTR (Shenzhen). From Shenzhen Bay Port, it takes about 45 minutes to reach the Guangming Science City area, and there are several "Instagram-worthy stations" along the way: for example, Fenghuangcheng Station features a "Phoenix Arriving" theme, while Xinzhuang Station boasts a blue-purple starry sky canopy and has been nicknamed the "Underground Starry Sky Gallery." To reach attractions like Hongqiao Park, you'll typically transfer to Line 6 at Fenghuangcheng Station or switch to a bus or ride-hailing service.
Morning: Hongqiao Park — Walk the Free 4 km "Red Ribbon"
The most popular attraction in Guangming District is definitely Hongqiao Park: covering about 4.03 million square meters with forest coverage as high as 91.8%, a striking 4 km bright-red elevated walkway called the "Hongqiao" winds through the mountains, forests, and lakes. Seen from above, it looks like a red silk ribbon, earning it the nickname "The Most Beautiful Red Ribbon." It won the Best Landscape Design Award at the inaugural "World Architecture Festival • China." The park is free to enter with no reservation required (open approximately 09:00–18:00).
- Photo-worthy route: Start from the "Guangming Big Clock" near the parking lot (artist Shen Shaomin's work Time Machine, where the clock's speed changes with the number of people around) → walk the Hongqiao → the red observation tower (overlooking Guangming city views) → the suspension bridge → the exploration bridge → the floating bridge (a pure-white three-ring glass walkway). The whole route takes about 1 to 2 hours.
- Note: There are no restaurants or snack stalls inside the park, so bring your own food and water; the walkway has no shade, so pack plenty of sunscreen on sunny days.
- Transport: From Fenghuangcheng Station on Metro Line 6 or Line 13, take a bus or ride-hail, or simply take a ride-hailing service directly to the park.
Lunch: Guangming Guest House — A Roast Pigeon Institution Since 1983
When you're in Guangming, how could you skip Guangming roast pigeon? Guangming Guest House is a Shenzhen institution (opened in 1983, part of the Guangming Group) and is hailed as "the must-visit authentic pigeon restaurant in Guangming." Its signature braised roast pigeon has crispy skin and tender meat, and together with bovine colostrum and sweet corn, they're known as the "Three Treasures of Guangming." The restaurant is in the Guangming Avenue area, about a 380-meter walk from Exit B of Guangming Avenue Station on Metro Line 6. Expect to spend around ¥100 per person (Trip.com rating: 4.4/5).
Afternoon: Guangming Science Park — 360° Observation Deck and "Mirror of the Sky"
After a hearty meal, head to Guangming Science Park for a hike to work it off: the park is free to enter (open approximately 06:00–22:00), and its most famous feature is the 360-degree circular observation deck at the "Science Summit" on the hilltop. Shaped like a flying saucer, it offers stunning "mirror of the sky" photo opportunities on clear days, with panoramic views over Guangming's central area, Guangming Lake, and the Shenzhen campus of Sun Yat-sen University. If you're traveling with kids, consider heading to the "Science Kids Dreamland" on the south side of Science Park instead — it opened on May 1, 2026 with free entry, featuring a futuristic tech-style non-powered play area, interactive science installations, and a huge lawn. It's about a 1-minute walk from Exit D of Loucun Station on Line 6.
Suggested One-Day Itinerary
- 09:00 Cross the border at Shenzhen Bay Port → take Line 13 (about 45 minutes) → transfer at Fenghuangcheng Station
- 10:00–12:00 Walk the Red Ribbon at Hongqiao Park and snap photos
- 12:30–13:30 Lunch of roast pigeon at Guangming Guest House
- 14:30–16:30 Guangming Science Park / Science Kids Dreamland
- Before 17:00 Head back to Shenzhen Bay Port the same way (leave some buffer time to avoid the evening border-crossing rush)
A quick tip: the attractions in Guangming District are spread out, so we recommend combining Line 13 and Line 6, or simply taking ride-hailing services (Didi) point to point. On Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays, the port and metro stations get busy, so be sure to factor in queueing time.
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