As one of the nine cities and two Special Administrative Regions (SARs) within southern China’s Greater Bay Area (GBA), Macao benefits from close ties with the other urban areas making up this vibrant megalopolis. Shenzhen is one of these, known as the country’s Silicon Valley for its thriving tech industry, innovation hubs and numerous boundary-pushing startups. But the city of nearly 18 million people is also full of surprises. It boasts a picturesque, long coastline that’s frequented by migratory birds. Some of the world’s best museums and galleries are located there. And it’s home to an otherworldly bookstore that feels akin to stepping into a dream.
Happily, it’s never been easier for Macao residents to visit Shenzhen. While ethnic Chinese residents have always been able to obtain what’s known as a ‘home-return permit’ for trips to the motherland, that privilege was extended to Macao’s non-Chinese permanent residents last year – when the Central Government began granting mainland travel permits to foreign passport holders living in both SARs. According to a statement from the national Exit and Entry Administration, the move was designed to “improve communication and exchanges” between the people of Macao, Hong Kong and the mainland. Many travellers in Macao also find venturing into the mainland a breeze these days, with China having extended its unilateral visa-free entry policy to eligible citizens from dozens of countries, including Australia and much of Europe.
Naturally, Shenzhen is a priority city for all kinds of visits. It’s great for a day trip, the weekend or a longer holiday. Travelling between Macao and the Guangdong powerhouse is simple. By boat tends to be the preferred option, taking just 60 minutes from either of the SAR’s two ferry terminals. But there are also bus and rail connections (take the train from Zhuhai Station). Once in Shenzhen, a well-developed metro system makes navigating the city very straightforward.
Without further ado, here are the sights and experiences Macao magazine recommends for a stimulating Shenzhen excursion.
Visit the Shenzhen Museum of Contemporary Art & Planning Exhibition
Even from the outside, the Shenzhen Museum of Contemporary Art & Planning Exhibition (abbreviated to MOCAPE) is nothing short of spectacular. This shimmering, somewhat transparent urban landmark was designed by the avant-garde Austrian architecture firm Coop Himmelb(l)au to give visitors the sense they are in a “gently shaded outdoor area”, rather than indoors. From the outside, the structure resembles a cumulus cloud made of chrome.
At a sizable 91,000 square metres, MOCAPE is not one but two museums – conjoined. Its Museum of Contemporary Art showcases Chinese and international works in Asia’s biggest indoor art exhibition space. The Planning Exhibition, meanwhile, explores Shenzhen’s remarkable trajectory over the past five decades. Since being designated a Special Economic Zone in 1980, Shenzhen has transformed itself from little more than a collection of fishing villages into a global hub for manufacturing, innovation and technology, becoming a magnet for migrants and entrepreneurs in the process.
MOCAPE opened in 2017 as part of the master plan for the Futian Cultural District, the new urban center of Shenzhen.
Soak up the sun at Dameisha Beach Park
Now one of the easiest stretches of Shenzhen’s shore to visit, Dameisha Beach Park has had its own metro station for just over a year. The beach is incredibly popular with locals, who like to sunbathe, swim and snap photographs there. Don’t worry about packing a picnic, food stalls peddling green coconuts and grilled meat on skewers are plentiful.
The most unique thing at this beach are its art installations: a number of massive, dancing angel-like figures dot the yellow sand, adding a touch of whimsy to a day at Dameisha. Another point of interest is the 81-metre-high Wish Tower, looming tall at the beach’s centre, designed for observation and meditation. For more of an adrenaline rush, try parasailing, speed boating or scuba diving at a nearby island.
Get cultural at the OCT-LOFT Creative Culture Park
Once an industrial estate, the Overseas Chinese Town (OCT)-LOFT Creative Culture Park has morphed into Shenzhen’s bohemian quarter. It’s where locals and visitors come to browse contemporary art spaces and design shops, listen to live music and relax at trendy cafés. Many of these venues are housed in refurbished factories, lending an edgy industrial aesthetic to the area.
As a member of UNESCO’s Creative Cities Network, Shenzhen is one of the mainland’s leading design cities. OCT-LOFT is the perfect place to see the craft side of that in action: local jewellers, fashion designers and all manner of makers have set up shop in the warren-like compound.
The park hosts many events throughout the year, including the OCT-LOFT Jazz Festival, the OCT-LOFT Art Film Screening Project and the Bàng! Children’s Art Festival.
Marvel at the Shenzhen Zhongshuge bookstore
The mainland is home to Zhongshuge, one of the world’s most beautiful bookstore chains. Each outlet is an architectural masterpiece in its own right, and the Shenzhen branch – which opened in 2021 – is no exception. With an interior designed by the award-winning Shanghai-based firm X+Living, the space is dominated by a surreally spiraling bookcase. Its floor is subtly mirrored, giving the impression of an endless labyrinth of literature upon stepping inside the store.
Those visiting Shenzhen with kids will find its Zhongshuge especially enchanting, as it has a dedicated children’s reading area.
Go birding around Shenzhen Bay Park
‘Tis the season to go birding, with millions of migratory avians opting to spend the winter months in Shenzhen. The city is located on the East Asian-Australasia Flyway, which sees most of its traffic from November to March. Locals know Shenzhen Bay Park is the premium place to spy visiting Eurasian spoonbills, grey herons, great and little egrets, pied avocets, red-billed gulls and more.
The lush greenspace covers more than 100 hectares of former tidal flats between Nanshan and Futian districts. Footpaths and cycling lanes wend their way through the park, with plenty of room for relaxing and enjoying the view. No motor vehicles are allowed here, making for a uniquely peaceful experience within bustling Shenzhen.
The park’s adjacent mangrove forest – the only nature reserve of its kind in an urban area of China – is another bird haven worth exploring. It’s a vital part of Shenzhen’s ecosystem, harbouring approximately 200 bird species, including the at-risk Dalmatian pelican and black-faced spoonbill.
