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Shenzhen attractions  Shenzhen’s youthful status means that the bulk of its sights are of the modern variety, and most of these are outside of the city center.  The most famous of Shenzhen’s attractions are its theme parks, many of which are found in the newly developed Overseas Chinese Town (OCT), west of the center and linked by subway and bus #T1. There are another couple of theme parks out to the east where you’ll also find a beach or two.   ♥ Splendid China, OCT, Nanshan District (www.chinafacv.com; daily 9:30 am-9:30 pm; ¥120).   Splendid China prides itself as a portal into the vast history of the nation and contains over 100 exhibits placed according to their location within the country. The entrance ticket also includes the Folk Culture Village, which focuses on China’s 56 minority groups. Cultural shows (¥35) and shopping take center stage here but, despite its touristy air, Folk Culture Village offers a good introduction to the ethnic minorities of China.    ♥♥ Window of the World, OCT, Nanshan District (www.szwwco.com; daily 9:30 am-10:30 pm; ¥120).  Located next to Splendid China, Window of the World houses a collection of recreated world wonders and is currently one of the most visited attractions in China, representing the burgeoning interest in what lies beyond the Middle Kingdom after so many years of isolation. In the park you’ll find replicas of the Eiffel Tower, Niagara Falls, the Taj Mahal and even Mount Rushmore, as well as a few rides and activities – try the Grand Canyon Flume Ride! There are also shows and dance performances throughout the day and there’s even a wedding ceremony show held in the European-style church! Eiffel Tower replica at Window of the World  any inherent culture  The East  For something a little different Minsk World (daily 9:30 am-6 pm; ¥110) is China’s only military theme park and centers on a Russian aircraft carrier (the fifth-largest in the world) which is permanently docked in Shenzhen! You can get to Minsk World by taking bus #202 or #205. If you’re in town for longer you might also want to explore the area of Dapeng Bay, some 20 miles to the east of Shenzhen and accessible by buses #103 or #364. At Dapeng you’ll find Shenzhen’s Sea World (daily 9:30 am-6 pm; ¥100) and reasonable stretches of sand at Dameisha and Xiaomeisha beaches, although they can get very busy on summer weekends.  Shopping Many Hong Kong visitors (and residents) make the 40-minute journey to Shenzhen specifically for the shopping, which benefits from the cheaper prices of the mainland as well as the proximity of many of the factories where the goods are made. Shenzhen is overloaded with shopping centers, one of the best and most convenient of which is the Lo Wu Commercial Center (LCC), just over the border from Hong Kong and next to the train station. If you’re not just here for a one-stop trip at the LCC you’ll find other good shopping areas around Huaqiang Bei Lu and Shennan Zhong Lu. They have numerous malls, department stores and clothing outlets.      The Lo Wu Commercial Center. The LCC has five teeming floors of shops selling everything from artwork to tailormade suits (the latter a real bargain). Although it’s a bit of a mish-mash, the fifth floor has mainly clothes shops and tailors, the fourth has more clothes and (fake) sunglasses, the third sells bags, the second sells shoes and the ground floor has a bit of everything. The center’s location next to the bus and train station makes it a prime spot for pickpockets – keep your eyes on your belongings at all times.   Adventures On the Green  ♥♥♥ Mission Hills Resort, 1 Mission Hills Road (www.missionhillsgroup.com/en/ ) .  Shenzhen’s moneymen need somewhere to unwind a little and so a number of golf courses have grown up around the city’s fringes. Mission Hills is by the far the most famous of them. It is currently the world’s largest golf course, employing over 2,500 caddies on its 180 holes! The 10-course club was designed by a veritable Who’s Who of the golfing world, from Nick Faldo to Jack Nicklaus and Vijay Singh. There’s also a lovely hotel on site, with elegant rooms looking over the fairways and surrounding hills. There’s also a spa and outdoor pool if you’ve played one round too many. For golf hotel packages check out the website.  Shenzhen travel guide, Getting to Shenzhen, Getting around Shenzhen,   maps of Shenzhen and Guangzhou        Back to     Cities and regions of China homepage    China Travel Guide homepage