
Best Things to Do in Shenzhen: 3-Day Itinerary Overview
Here’s a no-frills, Shenzhen three-day plan with awesome spots and top things to do in Shenzhen. Have fun!
Day | Attraction | Highlights |
Day 1 | Overseas Chinese Town East | Check out theme parks, see art galleries, eat local food |
Day 2 | Shenzhen Safari Park | See animals and go on safari rides |
Evergreen Resort | Hang out by the pool, walk in gardens, get a spa | |
Day 3 | Mission Pastoral Tourism and Culture Park | See local culture, hike trails, watch shows |
Shenzhen 3-Days Itinerary: Cheap Flights to Shenzhen
- One way
- Round-trip
- direct cheapestDMK18:302h 55mNonstopSZX22:25Bangkok - Shenzhen|Fri, Aug 1|Thai AirAsiaUS$71US$23069% OFF69% OFFUS$230US$71
- DMK18:302h 55mNonstopSZX22:25Bangkok - Shenzhen|Thu, Jul 31|Thai AirAsiaUS$71US$23069% OFF69% OFFUS$230US$71
- BKK1:00 PM3h 5mNonstopSZX2:00 PMBangkok - Shenzhen|Tue, Jun 17|Thai AirAsiaFind More FlightsFind More Flights
Crossed out prices are calculated based on the average price of the corresponding route on Trip.com.
Day 1
Overseas Chinese Town East
Hours: 10 AM - 6 PM daily
Tickets: ¥180 (~$25)
Time Needed: 1-2 days (trust me, you'll want two!)
Where: OCT East, Dameisha, Yantian District, Shenzhen
Overseas Chinese Town East is a large-scale eco-resort created by the OCT Group. The park is split into two totally different vibes - Knight Valley is where all the crazy fun happens. You've got to try the rapids ride (I got completely soaked but loved every second!), and that glass walkway? My legs were shaking but the views are insane! Then there's this whole other side in Tea Stream Valley that's just... peaceful. Think beautiful tea houses scattered through actual tea fields, and the most Instagram-worthy flower gardens ever.
Reviews from Real Guests:
Trip.com User: A good place to spend a holiday, the hotel group is suitable for different people, but unfortunately there are not many flowers in the flower field. The downhill cable car lacks staff to lead the way to the location, thinking that no one is there and rest. The big train tour is like me, but the mountain has a lot of scenery.
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Day 1 | Evening
If you want to explore other popular attractions later, InterContinental Shenzhen Dameisha Resort is a suitable place for you to stay and refresh.
InterContinental Shenzhen Dameisha Resort
The resort is 70 km away from Shenzhen Bao’an International Airport (approximately a 90-minute journey by taxi) and 25 km away from Shenzhen Railway Station. Free self-parking is available onsite.
Best Areas to Stay in Shenzhen
Check best areas to stay in Shenzhen below ~👀
- Futian CBD: This is where all the best things are! Think shiny skyscrapers, awesome shopping at COCO Park, and the best nightlife in town. Loads of metro lines cross here, so you can get anywhere super easy. Hotels can be a bit pricey but worth it for the location.
- Luohu: Old school Shenzhen right by the Hong Kong border. Great if you love bargain shopping at Dongmen and want cheaper hotels. The local food here is amazing - some of the best dim sum spots are hidden here!
- Nanshan: My personal favorite - bit more chilled with beaches nearby and cool hangouts like OCT Harbor. Lots of tech companies around here, so you get great cafes and restaurants without the crazy CBD prices. Metro takes you downtown in no time.
Where to Stay in Shenzhen
Day 2 | Morning
Shenzhen Safari Park
Open: 9:30 AM - 6 PM (last entry 5 PM!)
Cost: ¥240 (~$34)
Need: Half to full day
Find it: Next to Xili Lake, Nanshan District
Just hit up Shenzhen Safari Park last month and it totally blew me away. This place is massive, and they've got these incredible ligers (yep, half lion, half tiger!) that you won't find in many other places. The safari bus ride is the real deal - we drove right past lions lounging in the sun like we were in Africa!
Their "Carnival of 100 Animals" show is seriously impressive - watching elephants and zebras perform together was such a highlight. Pro tip: don't miss the big cat feeding time, it's absolutely incredible seeing those lions and tigers in action! I planned for half a day but ended up staying way longer - got completely distracted watching the baby monkeys play. Honestly, between the safari ride, animal shows, and all the cute babies, you might want to make a full day of it! 🐒
Reviews from Real Guests:
Trip.com User: Today's weather is good, the entrance is very comfortable, but it takes more time to queue up for tickets. Due to the first entrance, it is a general sense of direction, personal opinion, the bus can try on the spot, but the personal electric car is more expensive, the place in the field is sufficient, the beast area can contact the lions close, Tiger, wolf, bear, wonderful.
Trip.com User: I like animal very much, this place mk me feel so peacful, direct connecting with animal, n they have many kind of animal, they hv show as well, it was a good experience spending whole day here
Day 2 | Afternoon
After finishing the tour at Shenzhen Safari Park, you can head to Evergreen Resort, the most worth visiting place around the corner.
Evergreen Resort
Open: 8:30 AM - 5:30 PM (weekdays), 8:30 AM - 6 PM (weekends & holidays)
Cost: ¥80 (~$11)
Need: 3-4 hours
Find it: Moon Bay, Nanshan District
Evergreen Resort is like a mini tropical getaway right in Shenzhen. You'll love walking through a legit rainforest, stumbling into a Jurassic Park zone (the dinosaur models are so cool!), and taking photos in a butterfly garden. The fruit park is super fun too - you can actually pick and taste different tropical fruits when they're in season!
They've got these awesome workshops where you can try pottery or batik painting. I tried the pottery class and let's just say... I won't be quitting my day job, but it was so much fun!
Reviews from Real Guests:
Trip.com User: The best place to spend 2 or 3 hours with kids. There are few foreigners and locals come to play with children or lovers. If you have a chance, you will stay at Evergreen Resort for 1 night ...
Day 2 | Evening
If you want to explore other popular attractions later, Hilton Shenzhen Shekou Nanhai is a suitable place for you to stay and refresh.
Hilton Shenzhen Shekou Nanhai
The Hilton Shenzhen Shekou Nanhai is located on Shenzhen's western coast, making it easily accessible from the city's many entry points. Shenzhen Baoan International Airport is 28.2 km away from the hotel. Within a 9 minute walk of the hotel is Shekou Port metro station, while Sea world metro station is a 13-minute walk away. Guests can request airport transfers after booking, and there are several parking options, both on-site and off-site. In addition, there's valet parking and a concierge who can help you book taxis.
Day 3
Mission Pastoral Tourism and Culture Park
Opening Hours: The scenic spot is open all day. Hot springs 10:00 - 2:00, entertainment items 8:30-18:00, water park only open from May to October, opening hours 10:00-21:00.
Ticket Price: 38 RMB
Recommended Length of Stay: 1-1 Days
Location: Junzibuhuanguan South Road, Guanlan Town, Longgang District, Shenzhen
Mission Pastoral Tourism and Culture Park is located near the Mission Hills campus and Mission Hills Golf Club in Longhua District. It is a massive vacation resort with hot springs, fruit picking, fishing, a miniature zoo and a playground for the kids. There are facilities for a wide range of activities, making it the perfect destination for family vacations and getaways. Visitors can visit the animals in the zoo, play in the theme park, take a boat ride around the lake or pick fruit in the aquatic garden, go fishing, ride horses, and enjoy all kinds of other activities. Guests can enjoy a waterpark in the summer, or soak in hot springs in the fall and winter seasons.
Shenzhen 3-Days Itinerary: Cheap Flights from Shenzhen
- One way
- Round-trip
- direct cheapestSZX03:302h 40mNonstopDMK05:10Shenzhen - Bangkok|Mon, Jun 30|Thai Lion AirUS$57US$22675% OFF75% OFFUS$226US$57
- SZX23:302h 45mNonstopDMK01:15Shenzhen - Bangkok|Sat, Aug 9|Thai AirAsiaUS$65US$22671% OFF71% OFFUS$226US$65
- SZX03:204h 10mNonstopKUL07:30Shenzhen - Kuala Lumpur|Fri, Aug 29|AirAsiaUS$65US$22671% OFF71% OFFUS$226US$65
- SZX1:00 PM3h 5mNonstopDMK2:00 PMShenzhen - Shenzhen|Tue, Jun 17|Thai Lion AirFind More FlightsFind More Flights
Crossed out prices are calculated based on the average price of the corresponding route on Trip.com.
* All reviews in the blog are machine-translated.