Shenzhen is one of China’s lesser known cities but it is one the wealthiest. In recent times the city has attracted more locals seeking employment and increasing numbers of business travellers, investors and migrant workers from overseas. It also serves as a transport hub for other parts of the country, which is pushing up the demand for Shenzhen hotel properties. Shenzhen sits on the eastern bank of the Pearl River Delta, in the southern portion of the Guangdong Province.
Just over thirty five years ago Shenzhen was nothing more than a small fishing village called Baoan County. Though there are few historical sites, the city has several hidden gems like the Somerset Grandview Shenzhen and a number of unique theme parks. They are designed to be entertaining and educational at the same time. ‘Happy Valley’ Shenzen’s largest theme park is located on the scenic coast. ‘Splendid China’ and ‘China Folk Culture Villages’ chronicle China’s long and illustrious history and explore the local culture. ‘Window of the World’ teaches visitors about the world. OCT East, Dameisha & Xiaomeisha Scenic Area, Meridian View Center, Minsk World and Overseas Chinese Town East are few other theme parks.
Art is another big part of Shenzen. The OCT-LOFT is a large complex displaying contemporary art. He Xiangning Art Gallery houses a permanent collection of Japanese style, Chinese water paintings. Dafen Village is a cluster of six hundred or so studios with attached store fronts. They produce copies of Rembrandt, Renoir and Picasso at production line speeds. You will also find the odd original piece along with various art supplies. Guanlan, a three hundred year old village showcasing Hakka architecture, is home to workshops and galleries of printmaking artists. A historic site worth visiting is, Dapeng Fortress, one of the main battlegrounds from the nineteenth century Opium Wars.
Pushpitha Wijesinghe is an experienced independent freelance writer. He specializes in providing a wide variety of content and articles related to the travel hospitality industry.
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