When people talk about a Shenzhen day trip, most only think of Futian and Nanshan. In fact, Longhua and Longgang have plenty going for them: Metro Lines 3, 4 and 10 all run straight in, the crowds are thinner, and prices are lower too — perfect for travellers who don't want to be squeezed in with the masses.
The one-line guide: for old-style photos, head to Gankeng Ancient Town (Gankeng Station, Line 10); to buy paintings and get your artsy shots, go to Dafen Oil Painting Village (Dafen Station, Line 3); for malls and family facilities, go to Mission Hills New Town (Mission Hills Station, Line 4); for a full day of eating, shopping and playing, use the Universiade Center area as your base.
1. Gankeng Ancient Town (Buji, Longgang District) — the most historic Hakka village
A 350-year-old Hakka village where the Ming and Qing dynasty lanes, Hakka walled houses, watchtowers and grey-brick homes are well preserved. Inside you'll find the Twenty-Four Histories Academy, cat cafes, indie craft shops and a Hakka snack street. The town isn't big — a slow walk takes 2 to 3 hours — but it's beautiful once the lights come on at night, so aim to arrive around 3pm and stay into the evening.
- Area: Gankeng Community, Buji, Longgang District
- Transport: Gankeng Station, Exit B or C on Metro Line 10, about a 10-minute walk (from Futian Port you can ride Line 10 all the way in with no changes)
- Opening hours: The town is open all day; individual venues 09:00–18:00
- Admission: Free entry; a few attractions such as the Twenty-Four Histories Academy and the themed farm charge separately
- Nearby: Gankeng Hakka Town car park and the Gankeng Reservoir greenway
2. Dafen Oil Painting Village (Buji, Longgang District) — the world's oil painting reproduction base
A village that turned into an oil painting industry hub after reform and opening up; at its peak, 60% of the world's reproduced oil paintings came from here. Today there are more than 300 galleries and studios, from small canvases costing a few dozen yuan to original works running into tens of thousands. If you're after decorative pieces, portraits or hand-painted commissions, this is the most concentrated spot in all of Shenzhen.
- Area: Dafen Village, Buji Subdistrict, Longgang District
- Transport: Dafen Station, Exit A on Metro Line 3, about a 5-minute walk
- Opening hours: Most galleries 10:00–18:00; many studios close on Mondays
- Admission: Free to browse; paintings are priced per piece and you can usually haggle 10–20% off
- Tip: For large canvases you need shipped back to Hong Kong, use SF Express or ask the gallery to send it for you
3. Shenzhen Universiade Center + Universiade World (Longgang District) — concerts and sports
The Universiade Center was the main venue for the 2011 Summer Universiade, comprising the main stadium, arena and aquatics centre, and it now hosts plenty of concerts and major events. Next to the venues is Universiade World, an open-air mall with a supermarket, cinema and a huge number of restaurants — handy for a meal after walking the grounds.
- Area: Longxiang Boulevard, Longgang District
- Transport: Universiade Station, Exit C on Metro Line 3, about a 10-minute walk
- Opening hours: Universiade World mall 10:00–22:00; the arena opens according to events
- Admission: Free entry to the mall; concerts and events priced by the organiser
4. Longgang Red Cube (Longgang District) — a free public art museum
Made up of several halls including the Public Art Museum and the Urban Planning Exhibition Hall, it's shaped like a red cube. Inside are exhibitions on Longgang's urban development, contemporary art shows and part of the public library — all free, making it a good choice on a rainy day or when it's too hot out.
- Area: 8033 Longxiang Boulevard, Longgang District
- Transport: Longcheng Square Station on Metro Line 3, about a 10-minute walk
- Opening hours: Generally 10:00–18:00, closed Mondays (except public holidays)
- Admission: Free entry; some special exhibitions require booking
5. Mission Hills New Town (Longhua District) — a big mall right on Line 4
Step out of Mission Hills Station on Metro Line 4 and you're there. The mall section is called MH Mall, with a cinema, a large supermarket, indoor sports facilities and over a hundred restaurants. Outside is the Mission Hills resort area, with golf courses and hotels — good for half a day of letting the kids burn off energy.
- Area: Golf Avenue, Longhua District
- Transport: Mission Hills Station on Metro Line 4 (the station has 5 entrances); the mall is right at the exit
- Opening hours: Mall 10:00–22:00
- Admission: Free entry
6. Mission Hills Waterland Resort (Longhua District) — Hakka water town + hot springs
A resort-style scenic area combining Lingnan water-town scenery, a farm, amusement rides and hot springs, with boat rides, animal feeding and water activities — great for the whole family. There are hot springs and a hotel on site if you want to stay overnight. Ticket and hot spring prices vary by season, so check the official announcements before you go.
- Area: Guanlan Subdistrict, Longhua District
- Transport: Mission Hills Station on Metro Line 4, then about a 10-minute taxi ride
- Opening hours: Generally 09:00–18:00; hot springs open until 23:00 (season-dependent)
- Admission: Park entry and hot springs are charged separately; check the latest official notice
7. Guanlan Printmaking Base (Longhua District) — old village + international print art
An international printmaking art village created by revitalising an old Hakka village, with the China Printmaking Museum, artists' studios and coffee shops, plus occasional printmaking workshops. The village keeps its original old houses and ponds, and the atmosphere is peaceful — a completely different kind of arts trail from Dafen Oil Painting Village.
- Area: Niuhu Community, Guanlan Subdistrict, Longhua District
- Transport: Niuhu Station on Metro Line 4, then about a 10-minute walk or taxi ride
- Opening hours: Generally 09:00–18:00, closed Mondays
- Admission: Free entry; workshops charge separately
How to get there? Routes from three ports
| Port | Most convenient plan | Route |
|---|---|---|
| Futian Port | Mission Hills New Town, Guanlan Printmaking Base | Take Line 4 after clearing customs — one line straight up to Mission Hills / Niuhu, no changes |
| Luohu Port | Dafen Oil Painting Village, Gankeng Ancient Town | Line 1 to Laojie Station, change to Line 3 for Dafen; or Line 1 then change to Line 10 for Gankeng |
| Shenzhen Bay Port | Universiade Center, Longgang Red Cube | Line 13 into the city, then change to Line 3 towards Longgang |
If you only want to visit one place, the easiest arrangement is Futian Port → Line 4 → Mission Hills Station, about 50 minutes with no changes; from Luohu Port to Dafen is just 6 metro stops.
FAQ
Does Gankeng Ancient Town charge admission?
The town itself is free and open all day. But individual paid attractions inside, such as the Twenty-Four Histories Academy and the themed farm, require separate tickets, priced as posted on site.
Will I get ripped off buying paintings at Dafen Oil Painting Village?
Dafen is mainly a wholesale market, and the same painting can differ by 30% between shops. It's worth browsing a few to compare, and asking clearly whether it's hand-painted or printed and what paints were used; for large transactions, it's best to keep a record via WeChat or Alipay.
Is transport around Longhua and Longgang convenient?
Very. Line 3 (Longgang), Line 4 (Longhua) and Line 10 (straight in from Futian Port) already cover the main attractions — Universiade Station, Mission Hills Station, Gankeng Station and Dafen Station are all metro stations.
Which season is best?
October to November is best, the most comfortable time for walking around ancient towns and villages. Summer has a lot of rain, which can ruin outdoor spots — switch to indoor malls like Universiade World or Mission Hills New Town instead.
Practical tips
- Use the ride code: The Shenzhen ride code in WeChat or Alipay gets you straight through the gates — no need to buy a single ticket
- Go on weekdays: Longhua and Longgang get crowded at weekends too, especially Universiade World and Mission Hills New Town; weekdays are far more comfortable
- Bring cash or a mainland wallet: Some painting sellers in Dafen and snack stalls in the ancient town don't take Hong Kong credit cards
- Watch your return timing: Getting from Longgang back to Luohu / Futian takes over 45 minutes, so allow an extra hour to reach the port
- Combine stops: Gankeng Ancient Town and Dafen Oil Painting Village can be done in one day (both are near Line 10 and Line 3)
The attraction information in this article was compiled from official announcements by Shenzhen scenic areas, official station information from Shenzhen Metro and Hong Kong media reports (verified September 2026). Tickets, opening hours and booking rules change, so please check the latest official announcements from each scenic area before you go.
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