For the 2026 National Day holiday (October 1–7), Shenzhen isn't just about mall discounts — a batch of free-entry food markets opens at the same time: the Tidal Market gathering Black Pearl restaurants from across the country, a park dessert festival with 800 desserts, and a wine festival with 300 wines to sample freely. All free entry, no tickets needed — as long as you know how to pick your timing and metro exits, you can hit two or three in a day.
The details for the 7 markets below are compiled from Shenzhen local event announcements; dates are subject to the latest official announcements, so it's worth confirming once more before you set off.
Overview of 7 Free Food Markets
| Market | Dates | Location | Metro |
|---|---|---|---|
| Black Pearl Tidal Food Market | 10/1–10/7 | MixC Wanxiang Street (Luohu) | Line 1/2, Grand Theatre Station Exit F |
| Strolling Bread Festival | 10/4–10/7 | Shenzhen Bay MixC (Nanshan) | Line 2/11/13, Houhai Station Exit B1 |
| National Day Bijiashan Dessert Festival | 10/1–10/7 | Bijiashan Park (Futian) | Line 7, Bijiashan Station Exit B, about 10 minutes on foot |
| Shenzhen Eye North-South Food Festival | 10/1–10/4 | Shenzhen Eye Shopping Center (Futian) | Line 1/2/10/11/14, Gangxia North Station |
| UpperHills International Wine Festival | 9/29–10/3 | UpperHills (Futian) | Line 10, Donggualing Station Exit E/G, direct connection |
| Guangming Daqianli Coffee Festival 3.0 | 10/1–10/5 | Guangming Daqianli (Guangming) | Line 6, Gongming Square Station Exit D |
| Qianhai Kerry Centre Golden Autumn Lifestyle Market | 9/29–10/3 | Qianhai Kerry Centre (Nanshan) | Line 5/9, Qianwan Station (direct basement link) |
1. Black Pearl Tidal Food Market (Luohu · MixC Wanxiang Street)
The most eye-catching one of them all: it brings together 19 Black Pearl restaurants from 9 cities nationwide, with 13 cuisines under one roof — officially described as the "strongest lineup in history." The Black Pearl list is a high-end restaurant guide in the mainland, and these places are usually hard to book, so the market format lets you try several signature dishes at once. October 1–7, free entry, located at MixC Wanxiang Street in Shenzhen, about 360 metres on foot from Line 1/2 Grand Theatre Station Exit F.
Tip: the Black Pearl restaurant stalls draw the biggest crowds in the first two days; if you want to try more, go for the afternoon slot on October 6–7.
2. Strolling Bread Festival (Nanshan · Shenzhen Bay MixC)
October 4–7, Shenzhen Bay MixC brings together a host of bread brands and head bakers, focusing on bread flavours from different cities and different styles; you can sample on site and buy whole loaves to take away. Shenzhen Bay MixC connects directly to Houhai Station (Line 2/11/13) Exit B1, the smoothest route if you're crossing at Shenzhen Bay Port.
3. National Day Bijiashan Dessert Festival (Futian · Bijiashan Park)
October 1–7, Bijiashan Park brings together 50-plus dessert brands and 800-plus desserts — the most concentrated "dessert sweep" of the three districts. Bijiashan Park's address is No. 26 Meigang Road, Futian District; about 10 minutes on foot from Line 7 Bijiashan Station Exit B. You can also walk over directly from UpperHills and hit two markets in one trip.
4. Shenzhen Eye North-South Food Festival (Futian · Gangxia North)
October 1–4, Shenzhen Eye Shopping Center lines up more than 45 food stalls, from northern snacks to southern sweet soups all in one go, plus 3 food game stations — good for bringing the kids. Gangxia North Station is the interchange hub for Line 1/2/10/11/14, making it extremely convenient to reach.
5. UpperHills International Wine Festival (Futian · from 9/29)
September 29 to October 3, UpperHills brings together 300-plus wines for free tasting with no threshold, plus 5 cocktail bars and several champion bartenders on hand. UpperHills connects directly to the basement from Line 10 Donggualing Station Exit E/G, so you don't have to worry even if it rains; Bijiashan Park is right next door, so you can do both markets in one day.
6–7. Guangming Coffee Festival + Qianhai Golden Autumn Lifestyle Market
- Guangming Daqianli Coffee Festival 3.0 (10/1–10/5): international specialty pour-over, creative coffee blends, and niche coffee brands all in one place, around Songbai Road in Guangming District, Line 6 Gongming Square Station Exit D. Drop in on the way after visiting the Science and Technology Museum.
- Qianhai Kerry Centre Golden Autumn Lifestyle Market (9/29–10/3): five categories — lifestyle art, autumn flavours, original handmade crafts, and natural plant healing; free and no booking required, direct basement link from Line 5/9 Qianwan Station.
How to Get to These Markets from Three Border Crossings
- Luohu Port: two stops on Line 1 to Grand Theatre Station (MixC), or transfer to Line 2 for Gangxia North Station (Shenzhen Eye) — you're there within ten minutes.
- Futian Checkpoint: Line 4 to Convention & Exhibition Center, transfer to Line 1 (MixC), or go straight to Gangxia North Station (Shenzhen Eye) or Line 10 Donggualing Station (UpperHills).
- Shenzhen Bay Port: Line 13 to Houhai Station (Shenzhen Bay MixC Bread Festival), then transfer to Line 2 for MixC or Gangxia North.
Tips for Avoiding Crowds and Saving Money
- Timing: markets generally start at 11:00 and close at 20:00; 12:00–14:00 and after 18:00 are peak times. For a comfortable stroll, pick the first hour after opening or 15:00–17:00 in the afternoon.
- Route combos: in Futian you can do "UpperHills Wine Festival + Bijiashan Dessert Festival" in one day; in Nanshan, "Qianhai Golden Autumn Lifestyle Market + Shenzhen Bay MixC Bread Festival."
- Payment: most markets accept WeChat/Alipay, some stalls take cash; WeChat Pay HK and AlipayHK are generally usable at markets in large malls.
- Watch for extra offers: some malls roll out their own mini-program coupons during the market period — scan the on-site QR code before entering to see if there are discounts.
- Rain: Shenzhen still gets rain in October, so bring a folding umbrella; park venues (Bijiashan) adjust temporarily when it rains, so you can substitute a mall venue (MixC, Shenzhen Bay MixC).
FAQ
Do these markets require tickets?
All are free entry, no tickets needed, and most require no booking; only a few mall events may require in-mall spending, but entry itself is free.
Which market is busiest on National Day, October 1?
The Black Pearl Tidal Food Market (Shenzhen MixC) has the highest footfall, since it gathers 19 Black Pearl restaurants from 9 cities nationwide; to avoid the crowds, you could go to the Bijiashan Dessert Festival or Shenzhen Eye Food Festival first on October 1, then visit the Black Pearl market on October 6–7.
Crossing at Shenzhen Bay Port, which market is closest?
The Shenzhen Bay MixC Strolling Bread Festival (Nanshan, Houhai Station Exit B1) and the Qianhai Kerry Centre Golden Autumn Lifestyle Market (Qianwan Station) are both in the same district; from Shenzhen Bay Port, take Line 13 and transfer once to reach them.
Can food bought at the markets be brought back to Hong Kong?
Baked goods, candy, biscuits and the like are generally fine; meat and egg products (including anything containing raw meat) cannot be brought back to Hong Kong. Check the ingredients before buying, and for cooked food also watch out for whether it contains meat.
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