Pingshan District is in the northeast of Shenzhen and is the main birthplace of Shenzhen's Hakka culture. It is different from the urban look of Luohu and Futian: here there are century-old Hakka mansions (walled villages), country parks with extremely high greenery rates, and the Pingshan Library, known as "Shenzhen's most beautiful library." After Metro Line 14 opened in 2022, it takes only about 45 minutes from Gangxia North in Futian to Pingshan, so a day trip is entirely doable, and most attractions are free.
1. Transport: Line 14 / Line 16 / SkyShuttle / High-speed rail
- Metro Line 14: The first metro line in Pingshan District, with Jinlong Station, Pingshanwei Station, Pingshan Square Station, Pingshan Center Station, Kengzi Station, and Shatian Station in the district. From Gangxia North in Futian, the Line 14 express takes about 45 minutes directly to Pingshanwei.
- Metro Line 16: You can transfer to Line 14 at Pingshanwei Station, going to the Pingshan and Longtian areas.
- Pingshan SkyShuttle Line 1: An elevated driverless small-capacity system in the district, connecting Pingshan High-speed Railway Station with major locations in the district, suitable for short trips.
- High-speed rail: On the Xiamen-Shenzhen Railway, "Shenzhen Pingshan Station" — from Shenzhen North Station the high-speed rail takes only about ten-plus minutes, then transfer to the SkyShuttle or a taxi into the district.
- From checkpoints: Luohu Checkpoint → Line 1 transfer to Line 14; Futian Checkpoint → Line 4 transfer to Line 14; Shenzhen Bay Checkpoint → Line 2/10 transfer to Line 14, all journeys about 70–80 minutes.
2. 5 free attractions
1. Dawan Shiju (Hakka walled village, free)
Also called "Dawan Wei," it is a castle-style Hakka walled village in Pingshan Subdistrict, built in the mid-Qing Qianlong period (around 1763) by the Hakka Zeng family member Zeng Chuanzhou, completed before 1791, covering 16,129 square meters. The main structure is square and axially symmetrical, enclosed by inner and outer walls, with three-story watchtowers and corner towers at the four corners. Above the main gate tower are the four characters "大萬世居," and in front of the gate are a threshing ground and a crescent pond. It was listed as a Shenzhen cultural relic protection unit in 1984, upgraded to a Guangdong Province cultural relic protection unit in 2002, and included in Shenzhen's "Top Ten Characteristic Cultural Districts" in 2018. It has now been restored and is open free of charge. The Pingshan District Government area at No. 333 Pingshan Avenue is the district administrative center, not far from the walled village.
Opening hours are subject to on-site notices (generally open during the day, mostly closed for maintenance on Mondays); about 10 minutes by transfer from Pingshanwei Station.
2. Pingshan Library (free)
Known as one of "Shenzhen's most beautiful libraries," the main library and branches are generally open 09:00–21:00 (individual branches and holidays may vary), and there is a Hakka special collection inside. Service phone 0755-89389955 (09:00–21:00). If you bring children, the Pingshan Children's Library has moved to the new building on the 2nd floor of the North Zone of the Pingshan Science and Technology Culture Center (Ziping Road Kengzi Science and Technology Culture Center).
3. Pingshan Culture Cluster / Pingshan Grand Theatre (exterior free)
The Pingshan Culture Cluster brings together a library, theatre, and exhibition spaces. Pingshan Grand Theatre is a landmark building in the district, with regular drama, concerts, and family performances, with tickets from a few dozen to two or three hundred dollars. Even if you don't watch a performance, the building itself and the surrounding plaza are worth a walk.
4. Maluanshan (free)
Pingshan's most famous country park, featuring waterfalls, reservoirs, and mountain trails, excellent for hiking in autumn, and completely free. After hiking you can go back down to the Pingshanwei area for a meal. Routes range from easy to difficult; if bringing elderly companions, choose the flat lakeside loop around the reservoir.
5. Jingui Village (free)
An old Hakka village in Shijing Subdistrict, Pingshan, which in recent years has undergone rural revitalization, with guesthouses, cafes, and cultural-creative shops. The environment is quiet, and it is one of the few places in Shenzhen that retains a "village feel," suitable for a slow stroll.
6. Other noteworthy spots
Pingshan Sports Center is the main venue of the district's Spring Festival flower market, liveliest during Chinese New Year; Pingshan SkyShuttle Line 1 is an elevated driverless small-capacity system, with fares of a few dollars, and just riding it lets you see all of Pingshan's new cityscape. To learn about Shenzhen's anti-Japanese war history, you can visit the East River Column Memorial Hall — Pingshan was a core area of long-term activity for the East River Column during the war, and the stories of famous anti-Japanese generals are here. Pingshan also has Hakka walled villages such as Longtian Shiju, smaller in scale than Dawan Shiju but equally free; those who like ancient architecture can visit along the way.
3. Suggested itinerary (one day)
On food, Pingshan is cheaper than the city center: in the district center area, cha chaan tengs, Hunan cuisine, and Hakka cuisine cost ¥30–60 per person and you'll eat very well; around Pingshan High-speed Railway Station there are also chain fast food and coffee shops. Hakka cuisine is a Pingshan specialty, with salt-baked chicken, stuffed tofu, and preserved mustard greens with pork belly all very common.
- 09:30 Depart from Futian / Luohu → Line 14 to Pingshanwei Station
- 10:15 Dawan Shiju (about 1 hour, photograph the walled village, threshing ground, crescent pond)
- 11:45 Pingshan Library (enjoy the air conditioning, see exhibitions, 09:00–21:00)
- 13:00 Lunch in the Pingshan Center area (district restaurants ¥40–80 per person)
- 14:30 Photos around the Pingshan Culture Cluster / Grand Theatre
- 16:00 Hike the Maluanshan reservoir route (about 1.5 hours) or go to Jingui Village for coffee
- 18:30 Return to Pingshanwei Station for Line 14 back to the city, or go to Pingshan High-speed Railway Station for the high-speed rail back to Shenzhen North
4. FAQ
Q1: Is Pingshan worth a special trip?
If you already know Luohu, Futian, and Nanshan well and want somewhere you haven't been, with fewer people and free, Pingshan is well worth it. But if you only have half a day, it's not advisable to make a special trip, as the round-trip transport alone takes over 2 hours.
Q2: Are all attractions free?
Dawan Shiju, Pingshan Library, Maluanshan, Jingui Village, and the exterior of the Pingshan Culture Cluster are all free; only theatre performances, SkyShuttle fares (short trips in the district, a few dollars), and meals cost money.
Q3: Is it suitable for bringing elderly companions?
Dawan Shiju, the library, and Jingui Village are all flat ground, suitable for the elderly; for Maluanshan, choose the flat lakeside loop around the reservoir, and don't hike the steep waterfall slope section. Shenzhen residents aged 60 and above with valid ID get discounts on the metro; see Shenzhen Metro official announcements for details.
5. Practical tips
- Line 14 has express trains (major-stop express); if you don't want to stop at every station, look for the express services.
- Pingshan is one of the districts with the highest greenery rate in Shenzhen, so remember to bring mosquito repellent and a hat.
- Within the district, "SkyShuttle + taxi" is fastest between attractions; taxi flagfall is about ¥11.
- On weekends Dawan Shiju and the library are not too crowded, but the library may be closed on Mondays and after holidays, so check clearly before setting out.
Bonus attractions: Pingshan Sculpture Creative Park, Changshou Village
Besides Dawan Shiju and the library, Pingshan has two increasingly popular photo spots, also free:
- Pingshan Sculpture Creative Park: An art cluster converted from old factory buildings, with a giant "Giant Bridge" sculpture, and inside the park a "Xi Fan Forest Bakery" covering about 2,000 square meters, where you can drink coffee on the lawn and by the stables, very suitable for culture lovers.
- Changshou Village: A Hakka walled village with about 260 years of history, in recent years revitalized into a "ruins theatre," a giant rope-net "soft plaza," and a shadow puppet exhibition, about an 18-minute walk from the Sculpture Creative Park.
Transport details: SkyShuttle and Line 16
Transport within Pingshan District is not just the metro: Pingshan SkyShuttle Line 1 is an elevated driverless small-capacity system, connecting Pingshan High-speed Railway Station with major locations in the district (short trips in the district a few dollars); Metro Line 16 can transfer to Line 14 at Pingshanwei Station, going to the Pingshan and Longtian areas. From Futian Checkpoint, you can take Line 4 transfer to Line 14; from Luohu Checkpoint, take Line 1 transfer to Line 14, a journey of about 45 minutes.
A reminder: Dawan Shiju is mostly closed for maintenance on Mondays, and the other attractions are open during the day; before setting out, use Amap (search "大萬世居" "坪山雕塑創意園") to confirm the latest opening hours.
Supplement: Restaurants in Pingshan District average about ¥40–80 per person, so lunch is not expensive; if bringing children, you can go to Pingshan Center Park to burn off energy, with all facilities free. Taking a taxi from Pingshanwei Station to the various attractions, the fare is mostly within ¥10–15.
This article's information is compiled as of October 2, 2026; opening hours, events, and transport are subject to the official announcements of each venue.
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