Art village
Previously a little-known destination, Dafen Village in Shenzhen has risen to be the world’s largest mass-producer of oil paintings over the past 20 years. Now 8,000 artists churn out more than five million painting each year, and Dafen has garnered international fame from this.
The village is actually a few blocks of medium-density developments with art on display in every possible walkway, hallway, stairway, alleyway and road. The area is a car-free zone and incentive groups can easily spend a few hours wandering safely through the shops and stalls here.
www.cndafen.com, Tel: +86 755 8473 2633
Modern style
Built in former factory buildings, OCT-Loft is a complex that is home to Shenzhen’s most cutting-edge contemporary art centre, galleries, art studios and bars. It opened in 2007 after a US$4 million renovation project. Its core is the OCT Contemporary Art Terminal (OCAT), a former warehouse that is now an art centre. The area is a great option for incentive trips and good-quality art is available for purchase.
Tel: +86 755 2691 510
Ancient surprise
Xin’an Ancient Town, also known as Nantou Ancient Town, is one of Shenzhen’s largest historical sites, covering an area of 70,000 sqm. Its history can be traced back 1,700 years and its very existence seems at complete odds with the modern hi-tech cities and freeways that now cover the Pearl River Delta. During the early Ming Dynasty, Xin’an was a defensive castle housing 1,000 soldiers. Today, it is a noisy village that is home to 30,000 residents. The town is a protected site and full of artefacts – virtually everything is of historical value. To preserve the relics found in Xin’an, a museum was set-up in 2004. It now houses 3,000 historical items.
Tel: +86 755 2662 1170
Dining delights
Being a migrant city makes Shenzhen one of China’s great cities for eating. A wide variety of dishes are found on every street corner and restaurant. Laurel Restaurant in Luohu is popular, while Fenghuang Road is great for street food.
Information on these places and more can be found in the very handy book Exploring Shenzhen, produced by the Shenzhen Tourism Administration