A UNESCO City of Design

Go on a virtual journey to discover 14 spectacular design landmarks in Shenzhen

"Just Shenzhen" Culture & Creative RouteShenzhen Foundation for International Exchange and Cooperation

Since the launch of Just Shenzhen's first route, we have been trying to dive into a series of specific topics that can further present Shenzhen as a fascinating city for everyone. And the first of those themes we have chosen to focus on is culture and creative industries.  

"Just Shenzhen" Culture & Creative RouteShenzhen Foundation for International Exchange and Cooperation

Besides its technological and economic development, Shenzhen has gradually begun to be known as a "Design City". This Discovery Route is designed to increase attention on Shenzhen's rapidly expanding "Culture and Creativity" landscape.

"Just Shenzhen" Culture & Creative Route - Sea World Culture and Arts CenterShenzhen Foundation for International Exchange and Cooperation

The First Stop: Sea World Culture and Arts Center

Sea World Culture and Arts Center, located in Shekou Sea World - an expatriate hub in Shenzhen, features several top-class exhibition halls for culture and arts and aims to be the next visionary site for the spreading of arts and culture globally.

"Just Shenzhen" Culture & Creative Route - G&G Creative ParkShenzhen Foundation for International Exchange and Cooperation

The Second Stop: G&G Creative Park

A design experiential and industrial creative center focusing on the exploration of new lifestyles, the G&G Creative Community is a creative destination and content incubator driven by a shared economy. The many new commercial arts initiatives the community has kickstarted. 

"Just Shenzhen" Culture & Creative Route - OCT Art and Design GalleryShenzhen Foundation for International Exchange and Cooperation

The Third Stop: OCT Art and Design Gallery

OCT Art and Design Gallery is the country's first design-themed art museum. Along with the He Xiangning Art Museum and the OCT Contemporary Art Terminal, it forms part of the "Art Triangle" in the Overseas Chinese Town. The museum also houses an Art Salon for art lovers.

"Just Shenzhen" Culture & Creative Route - Hexiangning Art MuseumShenzhen Foundation for International Exchange and Cooperation

The Forth Stop: Hexiangning Art Museum

Located in the Overseas Chinese Town, the museum first opened its doors on April 18, 1997. It is the first national art museum named after an individual. It is a prestigious institution in Chinese art, academia and for society at large.

"Just Shenzhen" Culture & Creative Route - Mixc WorldShenzhen Foundation for International Exchange and Cooperation

The Fifth Stop: Mixc World

Located in the Nanshan District, Mixc World integrates cafes, food and shopping into one, incorporating innovative, cultural and humanities-related, fashion, art, and social elements, offering an "all-new leisurely urban creative space".

"Just Shenzhen" Culture & Creative Route - Gaobei 16 Creative Park "Block Sixteen"Shenzhen Foundation for International Exchange and Cooperation

The Sixth Stop: Gaobei 16 Creative Park "Block Sixteen"

It is located at 16 Gaoxin North 6th Road, hence its name. The park explores and creates prototype street zones for lifestyles of the future, with a focus on the cultural, creative and technological industries. Arts and entertainment events are frequently held in the park.

"Just Shenzhen" Culture & Creative Route - OCT LOFTShenzhen Foundation for International Exchange and Cooperation

The Seventh Stop: OCT-LOFT

OCT-LOFT takes its name from the reconstruction of factory buildings. Combining creativity, design and art, the park is shaping up to be a landmark structure in Shenzhen and a new open community for cultural industries, serving as a hub for arts events and Shenzhen's hipsters.

"Just Shenzhen" Culture & Creative Route - Shenzhen Museum of Contemporary Art and Urban PlanningShenzhen Foundation for International Exchange and Cooperation

The Eighth Stop: MOCAPE

The Shenzhen Museum of Contemporary Art and Urban Planning (MOCAPE) was designed by "deconstructivism pioneer" Coop Himmelb(l)au. The museum functions both as a site of cultural exchange and architectural exhibition under the same surface.

"Just Shenzhen" Culture & Creative Route - Shum Yip UpperhillsShenzhen Foundation for International Exchange and Cooperation

The Ninth Stop: Shum Yip Upperhills

Located in the center of Futian District and surrounded by three major parks, Shum Yip Upperhills is a leader in the concept of "high-end quality living", focusing on creative design, product innovation and quality concepts. 

"Just Shenzhen" Culture & Creative Route - Guan Shanyue Art MuseumShenzhen Foundation for International Exchange and Cooperation

The Tenth Stop: Guan Shanyue Art Museum

The Museum is a national public welfare cultural organization named after the famous Chinese painter Guan Shanyue. As an important platform for international artistic dialogue and exchange, the museum has hosted close to 100 international art events and exhibitions.

"Just Shenzhen" Culture & Creative Route - Shenzhen Grand TheaterShenzhen Foundation for International Exchange and Cooperation

The Eleventh Stop: Shenzhen Grand Theater

Built in 1984, the Theater was the first construction in China that introduced a stage design shaped after the character "pin" and was built using advanced mechanical equipment from abroad. It has since become the progressive symbol for modern theater architecture in China.

"Just Shenzhen" Culture & Creative Route - Dafen Oil Painting VillageShenzhen Foundation for International Exchange and Cooperation

The Twelfth Stop: Dafen Oil Painting Village

The oil painting industry of Dafen Village traces its roots back to 1989. Today's Dafen Village is the biggest production and trading base for commercial oil painting in the country, and an important oil painting distribution center in the world.

"Just Shenzhen" Culture & Creative Route - Shangwei Art VillageShenzhen Foundation for International Exchange and Cooperation

The Thirteenth Stop: Shangwei Art Village

It was transformed from an old dilapidated and rubbish-filled village that was unsuitable for living into an ecological base for the arts that blends artistic reinvention with environmental management.

"Just Shenzhen" Culture & Creative Route - Guanlan Original Industry Base for PrintmakingShenzhen Foundation for International Exchange and Cooperation

The Fourteenth Stop: Guanlan Printmaking Base

Guanlan is the hometown of China's first-generation printmaking artist Chen Yanqiao. Converted from a 300-year-old Hakka village, the Base combines print art creation, printmaking, exhibition, collection, exchange, research, training and market development into one.

"Just Shenzhen" Culture & Creative Route - New Who Art VillageShenzhen Foundation for International Exchange and Cooperation

The Fifteenth Stop: New Who Art Village

It is a century-old Hakka village. In 2012, a group of artists started exploring the village as an artistic base for creative work, which evolved into the village today. Featuring museum, theater, etc., the village embraces artists, local residents and tourists.

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The story featured may in some cases have been created by an independent third party and may not always represent the views of the institutions, listed below, who have supplied the content.
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