At the end of 2004, southern China’s biggest Special Economic Zone, Shenzhen, became the sixth city in the country to have a metro system. In eight years, this underground network has expanded from serving just the core city centre to reaching areas that were once faraway suburbs. In time for the 2011 Summer Universiade games, the Luobao Line completed its extension to the airport, and by the end of 2013, Futian Station, where the Shekou and Longgang lines interchange, will be connected by high-speed rail to Wuhan.
Already, many areas have flourished because of the metro’s expansion; take a look at the map below for some of the newest highlight attractions made accessible through its main stations.
OCT Station (Luobao Line)
This area is where several major international hotels are located, including the InterContinental. From here, you can take a short cab ride (about five to 10 minutes) to OCT Bay (or “Huanle Haian” in Chinese), a newly developed outdoor entertainment hub. The main “Revel Avenue” (Kuang Huan Da Dao) starts at one end with a giant silver “egg” and a music fountain in ever-changing psychedelic colours. As you stroll the strip, you pass low-rise buildings in all shapes and forms lining both sides. A plethora of restaurants and bars are located in these, ranging from Korean and Italian dining spots to nightspots such as CJW (Cigar Jazz Wine, http://sz.cjwchina.com) and Ü Klub (http://e.weibo.com/uklub). On the night we visited, the latter featured a live band consisting of musicians from Taiwan, Hong Kong and the US. The fried chicken wings with fries, spicy beef shank and a martini cost RMB205 (US$33). Nightclubs here open from around 5pm to 1.30am daily.
Dafen Station (Longgang Line)
Leave this northeastern station from Exit A, take the stairs down on your right, and keep walking until you pass Walmart on your left – then you will see the entrance to Dafen Village. This place has long been famous for the artists and painters who sold superb replicas of classical Masters, paintings at reasonable prices. Some small framed pieces are sold for as little as RMB25 (US$4), but you can also commission a giant, mural-size oil painting from shops like Ya Yuan Gallery (Shop 76 on the first main street you see as you enter the village;pictured below) for around RMB30,000 (US$4,790). Today there is just as much original work produced, and more established artists have set up here, such as Huang Feng Rong, whose shop 1+1=3 (http://cnpaintingart.com) sells a pop art Mona Lisa (1.5 x 1.5 metres; pictured above) for RMB6,000 (US$957). Shops are generally open from around 9.30am to 8pm.
Grand Theater Station (Shekou Line and Luobao Line)
As well as the performing arts venue that gives the station its name, this is also where you get off for the new K11 mall and the city’s landmark KK100 tower, in which The St Regis is located. Other than being one of the city’s newest choices of accommodation, the hotel also features a host of food and beverage outlets locals love to patronise, including the St Regis Bar on the 96th floor (where the lobby is also located) and Malt bar on the 100th floor. Needless to say, the commanding view is the big draw of both venues.
Sea World Station (Shekou Line)
A development by the China Merchants Group, this area is going through a major transformation. The docked cruise liner that used to house a mall is being converted into a hotel, but Sea World Square in front of it already sports a new look, with buildings given façades that aim to make them look European (pictured above). Perhaps the theme park-like ambience isn’t for everyone, but there is a good line-up of restaurants here ranging from Mexican to Irish. Long-time favourite The Terrace (www.theterrace.com.cn, open 11am-2am) at one end features a lovely elevated outdoor terrace as well as live music performances on some evenings. The area is very close to Shekou, which is traditionally an expatriate area, so the crowd tends to be very international.
Shuiwan Station (Shekou Line)
Get out from Exit D, cross the street and turn right for a short walk to the former Sanyo factory area that has become NH E-Cool artistic hub (6 Xinghua Lu). Another development by the China Merchants Group, this area has successfully attracted a number of local design brands to set up offices and studios, including Comme l’un (www.commelun.com). Although the label’s official shop is in Luohu (Unit 1209, Bao Feng Building, 3014 Chun Feng Lu), its creative director and founder Dong welcomes regulars who turn up at the studio in Room 315, Building 6 to buy samples at discounted prices. At street level, boutiques and cafés have begun to open, but some of the best places remain hidden. On the top floor of Building 1, The Top (www.thetoprestaurant-lounge.com) offers very decent and reasonably priced Italian fare. Our thin-crust pizza with mozzarella, fresh tomato and arugula cost RMB75 (US$12), while the clams cooked in white wine and garlic sauce was only RMB55 (US$9). There is also a lovely outdoor seating area.
