Mid-Autumn Festival falls on 25 September (Friday), and the National Day holiday starts on 1 October. Over the past two weeks, Shenzhen malls have already rolled out a round of Mid-Autumn events, and this week another batch is launching — most importantly, all free entry, no booking required. Hong Kong visitors can just cross the border and walk right in.
This batch of events is spread across four areas: Luohu, Futian, Nanshan (Shenzhen Bay Port) and Bao'an. I've organised them by port area so you can pick based on which checkpoint you cross at.
1. Luohu Port: ADC Art Exhibition Center's "Art Fun Shopping Festival" runs a full month
The Shenzhen ADC Art Exhibition Center in the Sungang area of Luohu kicked off its "Art Fun Shopping Festival" on 15 September, running all the way to 15 October, spanning both Mid-Autumn and National Day. It brings together over 1,000 aesthetic shops — imported homeware, vintage finds, art sculptures and soft furnishings. Normally, browsing for a single piece of furniture or decor takes half a day.
- Shopping lucky draw: Spend in the venue to enter the draw; prizes are as announced on site
- Funfair carnival / Mooncake Rolling Contest: Held in the atrium during the Mid-Autumn holiday, more of a family activity
- Rooftop concert: Head up to the rooftop in the evening for live music and Luohu's night views
- Chinese-style ceramics exhibition: Free to view — don't miss it if you like ceramics and tea ware
Tickets: free, no booking. From Luohu Port, it's about a 10-minute taxi ride; by metro, get off near Sungang Station and walk.
At the same time, Luohu District has two more free events: the 9th Luohu District Family Culture Festival takes place on 19 September at the Luohu Women and Children's Building, with traditional games, intangible heritage crafts and snacks; and on 25 September from 14:30 to 19:00 there's a "Mid-Autumn Moon-Walking Hike" from Cuihu Cultural and Sports Park to East Lake Park, 8.5 km in total. The first half along the lakeside greenway is very pleasant, the second half has some hill paths, and there are Chinese-style checkpoints along the way.
2. Futian Port: Zhuoyuehui's "Meilin Elegant Gathering" ancient-style garden fair
Zhuoyuehui Shopping Centre in Meilin, Futian is holding "Meilin Elegant Gathering · Mid-Autumn Garden Fair" on 25–26 September (15:00–19:00) at the South Plaza on the ground floor. There's an interactive games zone, a Chinese-style market and traditional craft performances. You can wander the ancient-style market in hanfu — it's a relatively rare "street-level" cultural tourism event among Shenzhen's markets.
The mall itself is open 10:00 to 22:30, with plenty of restaurants and a supermarket, so you can grab dinner after the market. Address: northeast corner of the junction of Zhongkang Road and Meilin Road, Shangmeilin, Futian District; about an 8-minute walk from Shangmeilin Station.
3. Shenzhen Bay Port (Nanshan): Sky lantern blessings + three destinations linked up
At Shenzhen Bay RAIL IN in the Shenzhen Bay area of Nanshan (junction of Shenwan 1st Road and Baishi 3rd Road), the Mid-Autumn events are concentrated on 25 September: 16:00–18:00 there's a "Mooncake Blind Box Challenge" in the L1 atrium, and at 19:00 and 19:30 respectively there's "Mooncakes on Us" and "Sky Lantern Blessings" at the L1 South Plaza. There are also online flash sales from 22–26 September, and mall dining and retail group vouchers from 25–27 September at up to 19% off.
Transport is easy: Metro Line 2/8 to Hongshuwan Station, or Line 9/11 to Hongshuwan South Station. From Shenzhen Bay Port, it's about 20 minutes by metro after crossing.
If you're planning to head out during National Day instead, Nanshan has a three-venue linked double-festival event: Nantou Ancient Town, Zhongshan Park and Holland Flower Town are jointly running four themes — "Blooming Flowers, Lanterns Lit, Full Moon, Dancing Shadows" — from 1 to 8 October, free entry, with folk arts, lantern displays and markets.
4. Bao'an: Two major mall debut exhibitions, a 7-metre giant in the atrium
Qianhai Uniwalk (99 Xinhu Road, Xin'an Street, Bao'an District; Metro Line 1/5 to Bao'an Center Station) is launching three exhibitions at once this Mid-Autumn and National Day:
- Stranger Things Shenzhen themed pop-up store: South China debut, recreating scenes from the series and selling official merchandise, running to 8 October at B1 Central Plaza
- ZO&FRIENDS Cloud Wanderings: G-Dragon IP's first national exhibition, with a giant ZOA cat installation and a daisy garden, L1 Star Street, running to November
- POP BAKERY themed pop-up truck: Baking-themed installation with limited-edition snacks to try, running to 31 October
The other is Huaide MixC in Fuyong (33 and 39 Fuyong Avenue; connected to Exit B/C of Huaide Station on Metro Line 12). In the LG atrium of Block A, there's a 7-metre-tall BKT Giant Art Exhibition — a giant angel sculpture with huge white wings, running from 9 September all the way to 12 December. The rooftop garden is also hosting its first "Wellness Market", with wellness teas, herbal crafts and light bites, on 25–27 September and 1–7 October.
If you want to stay out later, head to Qianhai HOP World in Xin'an, Bao'an (19 Xinghua 1st Road; Metro Line 5 to Baohua Station): check-in gift redemption from 18–30 September, a Mid-Autumn themed garden fair (dough figurines, palm weaving) on 24–25 September, and on the evening of 25 September an intangible heritage fish lantern parade plus L2 atrium lantern DIY. There's also a regular open-air concert every weekend from 18:00–20:00.
Transport: the fastest way from each of the three ports
| Port | Suggested route | Corresponding events |
|---|---|---|
| Luohu Port | After clearing customs, transfer to Metro Line 1, or take a taxi for about 10 minutes | ADC Art Exhibition Center Fun Shopping Festival, East Lake Park moon-walking hike |
| Futian Port | After clearing customs, transfer to metro to the community station and walk; about 25 minutes in total | Zhuoyuehui Meilin Elegant Gathering |
| Shenzhen Bay Port | After clearing customs, take Line 13, which runs directly to Nanshan stations on the southern section; for Bao'an, transfer to Line 1/5/12 | Shenzhen Bay RAIL IN, Nantou Ancient Town, Uniwalk, Huaide MixC |
Bear in mind that Mid-Autumn and National Day are the two busiest periods of the year. Crossing before 9am is much easier; on the way back, try to avoid the peak after 21:00.
FAQ
1. Do these events require tickets or booking?
All the events above are free entry, no booking, and no tickets. Some mall activities (such as crafts and lantern DIY) have limited places and mostly require on-site registration or membership to take part; details are subject to what the mall announces on site.
2. When exactly are Mid-Autumn and the National Day holiday?
Mid-Autumn Festival falls on 25 September 2026 (Friday); the National Day holiday starts on 1 October, and most mall events run until 7–8 October. Hong Kong has the day after Mid-Autumn, 26 September (Saturday), off, so the evening of 25 September to 26 September is the peak for heading north.
3. Which port is easiest with children?
If you're aiming for indoor malls, Futian Port and Shenzhen Bay Port are the most convenient, with metro lines running straight to the malls after clearing customs. Luohu Port suits a trip to the Art Exhibition Center, but the Sungang stretch requires a transfer; if you're bringing a stroller, it's best to avoid the crowds at Luohu Station and use Futian Port instead.
4. Will events be cancelled due to weather?
During typhoons or heavy rain, outdoor events (fish lantern parade, rooftop concert, markets) may be rescheduled or cancelled. Before setting out, it's best to check the mall's official social media; or if it rains, switch to the indoor exhibition areas.
Practical tips
- Doing two districts in one trip is rushed. Pick one area based on your port: Luohu + Sungang, Futian + Meilin, or Shenzhen Bay + Bao'an.
- Mall restaurants are priciest and busiest at lunch 12:00–13:30 and after 18:00 for dinner. For a more relaxed meal, get a table before 11:30.
- Craft and DIY activities mostly require membership; signing up on the spot usually takes about a minute, so no advance preparation needed.
- After the mall, you can carry on to OCT in Nanshan or Happy Harbour in Bao'an. It gets windy by the sea at night, so remember to bring a light jacket.
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