Heading to Shenzhen doesn't have to mean days of homework beforehand. Shenzhen's metro network is dense, and plenty of popular attractions and malls are "right outside the turnstile." This guide rounds up 14 metro-direct spots across the three border districts of Luohu, Futian and Nanshan, with the metro line, station and exit spelled out for each — just follow it after you cross the border.
📌 Metro station exits, tickets and opening hours change from time to time. This article follows the official announcements of each attraction/mall and Shenzhen Metro information; it's worth opening Amap again to confirm before you set off. For the opening hours of the three border crossings, see the Seven Border Crossings Guide.
Luohu District: Dongmen, Guomao and MixC on one line
1. Dongmen Old Street (Laojie Station)
Shenzhen's oldest commercial pedestrian street, in the Dongmen commercial area of Luohu District, right outside Laojie Station on Metro Lines 1/3. Clothes, sundries, snacks, bubble tea — it has everything, making it a top pick for Hong Kong visitors looking to graze and shop. Weekends and holidays are extremely crowded.
2. Luohu MixC (Grand Theatre Station)
1881 Bao'an South Road, Luohu District, at Grand Theatre Station on Metro Lines 1/2/5, where Exit C has a linked passage straight into the mall — no need to get rained on. The mall takes a mid-to-high-end approach, with a supermarket, restaurants and a cinema, generally open 10:00–22:00 (subject to the mall's announcements).
3. Kingglory Plaza (Guomao Station)
2028 Renmin South Road, Luohu District, at Exit A of Guomao Station on Metro Line 1. It has multiple floors, with a skylight plaza upstairs and a concentration of restaurants and retail; prices are friendlier than at MixC, making it a great stop for dinner after walking Dongmen.
4. Xianhu Botanical Garden (Xianhu Road Station)
Xianhu Road, Luohu District, at Exit C2 of Xianhu Road Station on Metro Line 2. A national 4A-level scenic area covering about 668 hectares, with 21 specialised gardens and more than 12,000 plant species, plus Hongfa Temple inside. Tickets are ¥15 for adults and ¥5 for students, opening hours 06:00–21:00 — a popular spot for Hong Kong visitors heading to Shenzhen to hike and see flowers.
Futian District: Convention Centre, COCO Park and Huaqiangbei
5. Shenzhen Convention & Exhibition Center + One Avenue (Convention & Exhibition Center Station)
Convention & Exhibition Center Station is in Futian District at the junction of Fuhua Road and Zhongxin 5th Road (Metro Lines 1/4), and was the first Shenzhen Metro station to open as an interchange. Right beside it is One Avenue (348 Fuhua 1st Road, Futian District), one of the busiest malls in Futian CBD on holidays.
6. Futian Galaxy COCO Park (Shopping Park Station)
Fuhua 3rd Road, Futian District, at Shopping Park Station on Metro Lines 1/3, with Exits C/F/G leading directly into the mall. The mall has 6 floors, 12 inner streets and 8 atriums, covering about 85,000 square metres, focused on cultural creative, dining and retail, plus a children's playground; generally open 10:00–22:00.
7. Lianhuashan Park (Children's Palace Station)
At Children's Palace Station on Metro Lines 3/4, free admission. From the summit you can look down over the Futian CBD skyline — one of Shenzhen's most famous free parks, great for heading up at dusk for the sunset and night views.
8. Shenzhen Book City Central City (Children's Palace Station)
Fuzhong 1st Road, Futian District, at Children's Palace Station on Metro Lines 3/4, a short walk away. One of Shenzhen's largest book cities, free admission, with bookshops, stationery, cafés and restaurants all under one roof; generally open 10:00–22:00.
9. Huaqiangbei (Huaqiangbei Station)
Futian District, at the junction of Zhenhua Road and Huaqiang North Road, at Huaqiangbei Station on Metro Lines 2/7. A hub for phones, accessories and computer parts, with most electronics markets open roughly 09:30–18:30. When buying electronics, remember to compare prices first and check the warranty terms carefully.
Nanshan District: Window of the World, Houhai, Coastal City and Shekou
10. Shenzhen Window of the World (Window of the World Station)
9037 Shennan Boulevard, Nanshan District, at Window of the World Station on Metro Lines 1/2. Official opening hours are 09:30–21:30, with evening entry from 18:00; an adult full-day ticket is about ¥220, senior and child tickets about ¥110, and evening tickets about ¥100 — check the latest prices on official ticketing channels. Inside are 130 miniature world landmarks and live performances.
11. Shenzhen Bay MixC (Houhai Station)
2888 Keyuan South Road, Nanshan District, at Houhai Station on Metro Lines 2/11/13. The newest and nicest mall in the Shenzhen Bay area, close to the Shenzhen Bay Sports Centre and Talent Park — after shopping you can stroll along the waterfront.
12. Coastal City (Houhai Station)
33 Wenxin 5th Road, Nanshan District, at Houhai Station on Metro Lines 2/11. A long-established large mall in Nanshan with an enormous range of dining, from budget to mid-to-high-end, just one or two metro stops from Shenzhen Bay MixC.
13. OCT Harbour (Shenzhen Bay Park Station)
Binhai Boulevard, Nanshan District, at Exit E of Shenzhen Bay Park Station on Metro Line 9. It combines the O'plaza mall, art galleries and a man-made beach, with a musical fountain in the evening; free admission (some exhibitions and experiences charge separately).
14. Sea World (Sea World Station)
1128 Wanghai Road, Nanshan District, at Exit A of Sea World Station on Metro Lines 2/12, right outside the station. A Shekou landmark centred on the Minghua ship, surrounded by bars, restaurants and a waterfront promenade; free admission, and the atmosphere is best at night.
How do you get to these three districts from the border?
- Luohu Port → Shenzhen Metro Line 1 at Luohu Station; one stop to Guomao, two stops to Laojie
- Futian Port → Lines 4/10 at Futian Checkpoint Station, change to Line 1 for Convention & Exhibition Center and Shopping Park
- Shenzhen Bay Port → Line 13 at Shenzhen Bay Checkpoint Station, straight into Nanshan District, two stops to the Houhai area
On the Shenzhen Metro you can scan in with the Alipay/WeChat "ride code" — no need to buy a ticket. To find out how to activate the ride code, see the Shenzhen Metro Ride Code Guide.
FAQ
Can you cover all three districts in one day?
Not recommended. Just travelling between the three districts takes over an hour, so pick one at a time: Luohu for Dongmen + MixC, Futian for COCO Park + Lianhuashan, Nanshan for Window of the World + Coastal City.
Which spot is best for a first trip to Shenzhen?
Dongmen Old Street and Futian COCO Park are the easiest to start with: direct metro access, no tickets, and food, shopping and fun all in one place. For photo spots, head to Window of the World or Sea World.
Are there any free attractions?
Yes. Lianhuashan Park, OCT Harbour, Sea World and Shenzhen Book City Central City are all free admission; Xianhu Botanical Garden costs ¥15, and Window of the World is about ¥220 for adults.
What time do the malls close?
Most large malls in Shenzhen are open 10:00–22:00, with some restaurants and cinemas open later — subject to the mall's announcements.
Practical tips
- Before leaving the turnstile, open Amap and check the exit number carefully — Shenzhen Metro stations have many exits, and the wrong one means a long detour
- Weekend afternoons from 2 to 6pm are the busiest mall hours; go in the morning if you want more breathing room
- For hikes (Lianhuashan, Xianhu), remember to bring water and sun protection — Shenzhen summers are very sunny
- For electronics and branded goods, stick to proper malls or official stores; don't chase bargains on grey-market goods
— Compiled by the HKSZ Life editorial team, your guide to heading to Shenzhen. Tickets and opening hours are subject to each attraction's official announcements (updated September 2026).
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