Shenzhen Bay Park

It’s hard to imagine many other cities having the gumption to construct a gorgeous, 13-kilometre-long coastal park that knits together two city districts and provides recreation space for thousands of residents. Shenzhen Bay park has palm-shaded bike lanes, jogging and walking paths and inspiring sea views along its length. Best of all, it’s a viable way to get from one side of the city to the other.

Sea World Culture and Arts Center

It makes a lot of sense that China’s first dedicated museum of design touched down in Shenzhen. Creativity energy crackles around the city, captured in the thought-provoking installations on display in the stunning gallery spaces designed by Japanese architect Fumihiko Maki. A partnership deal with London’s esteemed V&A Museum is further proof of this venue’s legitimate design credentials.

Window of the World

In Shenzhen’s early days, what every up-and-coming city needed was theme parks. Welcome Window of the World, a way to travel the globe without really traveling. The mini monuments, from Stonehenge to the Taj Mahal, are endearing and endlessly photogenic. In a city perpetually enthralled with the new, Window of the World is a soothing return to a more innocent age, when the world beyond China’s borders seemed far away.