Explore Shenzhen with just 800 RMB per person! 3 days and 2 nights to fully enjoy without any pitfalls

Who understands, family! Shenzhen is really more than just a "city of workers"😭 Here you’ll find seas as blue as abroad, quaint traditional villages, and 24-hour food streets… This guide breaks down attractions, food, and accommodations clearly, even uncovering local hidden gems. Hurry and save it!

🚇 Lazy traveler’s transport guide (save money and be efficient)

- Metro: Covers 90% of attractions! Use the “Shenzhen Tong” app to scan codes, daily cap at 20 RMB. Don’t miss the business class on Line 11 (Airport Line), 20 RMB for a “ground-level flight” with sea views🌊
- Bus: Take E11 to Dapeng Peninsula (Futian → Nanao, 10 RMB), saves over 100 RMB compared to taxi, but start early (last bus at 19:30)
- Taxi: Within the city, taxis cost 20-30 RMB to attractions; for Jiaochangwei/Yangmeikeng, carpooling is recommended (about 50 RMB per person)
- Self-drive: Weekend trips to Dapeng require a reservation! Apply in advance via the “Shenzhen Traffic Police” WeChat account, or face a 300 RMB fine plus points deduction

🗓️ 3-day, 2-night essential itinerary (follow this to not waste a minute)

🌞 Day 1: Urban hustle + night scene blast

09:30 “Lianhua Mountain Park” → Hike 30 minutes to the top, take photos of Futian CBD panorama in front of Deng Xiaoping statue (free! Less crowded in the morning)
11:00 “Civic Center” → Check in at the “Dapeng Soaring” building, snap Instagram-worthy shots at the library and concert hall (free, wear light-colored clothes)
12:30 Lunch at “Liancheng Xintiandi” → Recommended “Chen Pengpeng Goose Rice,” goose rice + lion-head goose braised meat, paired with iced lemon tea is amazing (35 RMB per person)
14:30 “Ping An Finance Center Sky100 Observation Deck” → 116 floors up for a bird’s eye view of Shenzhen and Hong Kong, only the brave stand on the glass floor! (Ticket 180 RMB, buy 1 day in advance on Trip.com to save 20 RMB)
17:00 “Happy Coast” → Take a boat ride to watch the sunset (60 RMB/person), when dark, lights turn on, feels like entering a fairy tale town
19:30 Dinner at “Yifang City” → Must order “Runyuan Four Seasons Coconut Chicken,” fresh coconut boiled Wenchang chicken, dipped in sand ginger sauce is unbelievably delicious (100 RMB per person, get a mobile queue number in advance to skip lines)

🌊 Day 2: Island and ancient city collision

08:00 Take E11 from Futian → Nanao Terminal (1.5h), carpool 10 RMB to “Yangmeikeng”
09:30 “Yangmeikeng Luzui Villa” → Walk 10 minutes on the boardwalk to “Mermaid Cave,” sea water is so blue it looks filtered, filming location of “The Mermaid” (free! Wear non-slip shoes, rocks are slippery)
12:00 “Nanao Seafood Market” → Pick your own seafood (shrimp 35 RMB/jin, crab 80 RMB/jin), nearby restaurants cook it for you (10 RMB per dish processing fee), about 60 RMB per person to eat until full
14:30 “Jiaochangwei” → Explore the colorful guesthouse village, rent an electric scooter to circle the coast (30 RMB/hour), the blue lighthouse around the corner is super photogenic
17:00 “Dapeng Fortress” → Free! Walk “East Gate Street” to see Ming and Qing dynasty city walls, the terrace of “Granary Coffee” offers panoramic views of the ancient city, order a lychee iced Americano (28 RMB) and relax all afternoon
19:00 “Shuitou Seafood Street” → Late-night snack “Grandma’s Fried Rice Noodles,” stir-fried over a wood fire with sea urchin, so fragrant you’ll lick the plate (25 RMB per person, look for the grandma stall with a bamboo hat)

🌉 Day 3: Arts and local vibes

09:00 “Sea World” → See the Minghua ship cruise, before 10 AM it’s empty, every photo looks like abroad (free, don’t miss the nearby Nuwa Mending the Sky statue)
11:00 “Nantou Ancient City” → Stroll “Baode Square” with its popular photo walls, climb “Xiaonanshan Park” for 10 minutes to the viewing platform, capture the ancient city and Qianhai Bridge in one frame (free, recommend “Yushi Ice Room” red bean shaved ice)
13:30 “OCT Creative Culture Park” → Old factory turned arts district, take vintage photos at “Old Paradise Bookstore,” graffiti walls at “OCT-LOFT” are perfect for street photography (free, creative shops average 50-100 RMB)
16:00 “Happy Harbor” → Ride the “Bay Area Light” Ferris wheel (150 RMB/person), choose sunset time (17:30-18:30) to see both the sunset and Shenzhen Bay Bridge lights
19:00 Dinner at “Yifang Tiandi” → Recommended “Jiejie Pot,” fresh bullfrog hot pot + preserved meat claypot rice, full of wok aroma (80 RMB per person, go early, lines start at 1 hour)

📸 Hidden photo spots revealed (locals’ secret)

1. Shenzhen Bay Park Metro Line 13 exit → A lonely reef, stand on it at low tide with water around your ankles, background is the Spring Bamboo Tower
2. Meilin Reservoir Greenway → Walk 20 minutes to “Big Brain Hill” viewing platform, shoot the city and reservoir clash, looks like a fairyland with morning mist
3. Yantian Seaside Boardwalk Beizijiao section → Abandoned lighthouse + blue-green sea, sunlight slants at 3 PM, photos look like the Mediterranean
4. Xiwang Mangrove Park → Evening shots of “plane + sunset + cross-sea bridge” in one frame, golden hour daily 18:00-18:30

🍜 Food hits and misses (no pitfalls!)

- Must-eats
✅ “Guangming Guesthouse” Guangming Pigeon: freshly fried, skin crispy and juicy, perfect with salt and pepper powder (38 RMB each, go early, sold out by 2 PM)
✅ “Shekou Market” Chaoshan licorice fruit: 20 RMB/jin, mango + starfruit + wax apple drizzled with plum sauce, sour and spicy refreshing, great for cleansing the palate
✅ “Xiangxi Village” Chicken Hot Pot: “Rongshutou Chicken Hot Pot” with perilla flavor, chicken so tender it falls off the bone, add fried tofu skin soaked in soup (60 RMB per person, open until 2 AM)
✅ “Gushu Village” Char Siu Rice Noodles: old brand “Huaji,” char siu with balanced fat and lean, slippery rice noodles, paired with iced milk tea (25 RMB/bowl, locals’ breakfast favorite)
- Avoid
❌ Restaurants inside Window of the World: expensive and bad, better bring your own bread and milk
❌ Seafood stalls at Dameisha: tourist traps, overpriced and poor quality

🏨 Accommodation options (for different budgets)

- Budget: “Guesthouses near Shenzhen University” 150-200 RMB/night, 5-minute walk to metro, snack street downstairs, good for students
- Best value: “Vienna Hotel Futian CBD” 300-400 RMB/night, 300 meters from metro, breakfast included, super convenient for Civic Center/Lianhua Mountain
- Light luxury: “Andaz Shenzhen Bay” 800+ RMB/night, floor-to-ceiling windows with Shenzhen Bay night view, 10-minute walk to Happy Harbor, perfect for couples

❗ Notes (avoid these pitfalls)

1. Don’t wear white shoes to Dapeng Peninsula/Yangmeikeng! Sand and rocks will dirty them, wear water shoes or crocs
2. Water is expensive in scenic spots (5-8 RMB/bottle), bring a foldable water cup, metro stations and malls have drinking fountains
3. Maximize sun protection in summer! UV is strong enough to cause peeling, sunglasses + sun hat + SPF50 + sunscreen are all musts
4. Arrive early on weekends at popular spots (like Jiaochangwei)! Traffic jams start after 10 AM and last over an hour

Babies, Shenzhen is truly addictive the more you explore! It has fast-paced prosperity and slow, cozy moments. Follow this guide and you’ll fall in love with this “mountain and sea city”~ Any questions, ask me in the comments, I’ll definitely reply👇