In 2026, Mid-Autumn Festival (September 25–27) and National Day (October 1–7) fall back to back, and Shenzhen's major attractions, malls and platforms will all be rolling out deals. This article separates "what's worth doing" from "how to get there smoothly," so you can pick an itinerary based on how long your holiday is.
⚠️ One thing first: this article is compiled from information published around mid-September, and voucher amounts, release times and attraction ticket prices can all change. Before you head out, double-check the official channels (Guangdong Culture and Tourism, Shenzhen district governments, attraction official websites).
1. Spending Vouchers: ¥30 Million Guangdong Golden Autumn Cultural-Tourism Vouchers
Guangdong Province's "Golden Autumn Cultural-Tourism Consumption Season" is issuing a total of ¥30 million in cultural-tourism spending vouchers, and the platforms Hongkongers commonly use all have entry points: Meituan, Dianping, Ctrip, Qunar, Tongcheng Travel, Douyin, Damai, Maoyan and more. The format is a daily 10:00 scramble, with spend-and-save vouchers offering up to ¥500 off, valid for hotels, attraction tickets, performances, restaurants and more.
- Value tiers: According to platform announcements, the largest single voucher can take ¥500 off
- Release time: Daily at 10:00 (limited quantities, usually gone within minutes)
- Validity period: Vouchers have a designated validity period after claiming and expire automatically
- Note: Eligible merchants differ by platform, so read the fine print before ordering
In addition, Shenzhen duty-free shops have also launched over ¥100 million in spending vouchers (of the spend ¥1,500, save ¥150 type), mainly aimed at shopping at port duty-free stores; details are subject to official announcements.
2. Attractions: Double Festival Special Tickets
Based on listings compiled by local Shenzhen platforms, attractions with special offers during the Mid-Autumn and National Day period include the following (actual ticket prices are subject to each attraction's official ticketing platform):
- Shenzhen Window of the World (深圳世界之窗): OCT, Nanshan, a classic theme park that often has evening sessions and discounted tickets during festivals; standard ticket price is about ¥220
- Shenzhen Happy Valley (深圳歡樂谷): Mainly rides, good for families and young people alike; during festivals there are usually two-person/family packages
- Shenzhen Safari Park (深圳野生動物園): Nanshan District, directly accessible by Metro Line 7, great for bringing kids
- Qingqing World (青青世界): Nanshan District, an ecological farm-style attraction with cheap tickets, good for hiking and dim sum
- Guanlan Shanshui Tianyuan (觀瀾山水田園): Longhua District, with hot springs and countryside scenery; packages available during holidays
- Xiaomeisha Sea World (小梅沙海洋世界): Yantian District, an aquarium plus seaside park, at Xiaomeisha Station on Metro Lines 2/8
3. Malls: Shenzhen Shopping Season "October Brand Shopping"
The 2026 Shenzhen Shopping Season and International Consumption Season began in August and is divided into three monthly themes: August Joyful Shopping, September Fashion Shopping, October Brand Shopping, covering multiple commercial districts across the city, with formats including brand collaborations, spend-and-save offers, and consumption map check-ins. October lines up exactly with the National Day period, and large malls such as MixC, Coastal City, One Avenue and MixC World usually have full slates of activities.
- Deal formats: spend-and-save, doubled member points, selected brand discounts
- Popular malls: Shenzhen MixC (Luohu), Coastal City Shopping Centre (Nanshan), One Avenue (Bao'an), MixC World (Nanshan)
- Tip: Activity periods differ between brands within the same mall, so it's best to photograph the floor activity notices as soon as you arrive
4. Transport: How to Enter Shenzhen from Three Ports
- Luohu Port (羅湖口岸): The most traditional option; once you clear customs you're at Luohu Station (Line 1), the fastest route to Dongmen and MixC; holiday mornings from 8:00–10:00 are peak
- Futian Port (Lok Ma Chau) (福田口岸): Connects to Line 10, most convenient for Futian CBD, COCO Park and the Convention and Exhibition Centre
- Shenzhen Bay Port (深圳灣口岸): Connects to Line 13, most convenient for Nanshan, Houhai, Shekou and Qianhai; commonly used by drivers
If driving during the holiday, note: during the National Day statutory holiday, expressways are free for passenger cars with fewer than 7 seats (subject to Ministry of Transport announcements), and Shenzhen's restrictions on non-local vehicles are also subject to the latest official announcements — from September 17, 2026, Shenzhen has new restriction rules, so before setting off it's best to check clearly which port-adjacent sections are exempt.
5. Beating the Crowds: Which Time Slots Are Busiest?
Based on past passenger flows, the immigration peak during the National Day holiday usually falls in the middle of the holiday (for example, October 3), when single-day passenger flow across the three ports can approach 1 million. If you want a smoother trip:
- Cross before 7:30 in the morning, or wait until after 3pm (avoiding the return peak)
- From the afternoon of the last holiday day (October 7), the peak for returning to Hong Kong begins, so allow an extra hour
- High-speed rail from West Kowloon Station adds extra services during holidays, so buy tickets early
Practical Tips
- Claim vouchers before booking tickets: Most spending vouchers must be used when placing an order on the platform and cannot be claimed retroactively
- Check the validity period clearly: Cultural-tourism vouchers are usually only valid for 3–7 days
- Bring electronic payment: AlipayHK/WeChat Pay HK can already be used to scan and ride Shenzhen Metro and make purchases
- Buy tickets early: Queues at attractions during National Day are long; buying online usually comes with a discount and lets you scan straight in
- Watch the weather: In October, Shenzhen occasionally gets typhoons and rain, so outdoor attractions need a Plan B (switch to a mall or museum)
FAQ
- Are Shenzhen expressways free during National Day? During statutory holidays, expressways are free for passenger cars with fewer than 7 seats; the annual arrangement is subject to Ministry of Transport announcements.
- Can Hongkongers also grab the spending vouchers? Yes, with a mainland platform account (Meituan, Dianping, etc.); some require real-name verification.
- Are non-local vehicles restricted in Shenzhen during National Day? Subject to announcements from the relevant authorities; from September 17, 2026, Shenzhen implements new restriction rules, with exempt sections around the ports.
- Which attraction is the best value? Per person, Qingqing World and Guanlan Shanshui Tianyuan have lower ticket prices; Window of the World and Happy Valley are pricier but offer more content, and their value improves after festival discounts.
- Do I need to make a reservation? Some attractions and museums require online reservations; during National Day it's best to book at least one day ahead.
Conclusion
A National Day trip north doesn't have to cost a fortune: first grab the cultural-tourism spending vouchers, then use platform special tickets to buy attraction admission, take advantage of the "Shopping Season" October theme discounts at malls, and finally choose the right port and time to avoid the crowds. All amounts, times and policies are subject to the latest official announcements; this article is only a roundup.
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