IN a vibrant display of urban renewal and international cultural exchange, two new “pocket parks” have officially opened in the heart of Shenzhen. The Italian Friendship Park and the Canadian Friendship Park transform previously overlooked urban corners in Futian District into small, exquisite, and exotic green spaces for the public to enjoy.

An Italian renaissance garden

Nestled between the east gate of the Shenzhen Children’s Amusement Park and the St. Anthony’s Church, the Italian Friendship Park is a 2,500-square-meter green space co-designed by Chinese and Italian teams. The park is a masterful display of authentic Italian terraced garden aesthetics, featuring a strict symmetrical axis that unfurls from a bird’s-eye view, complemented by white marble tiered fountains.

Visitors can stroll up the rising steps and encounter six white marble statues of historical luminaries who bridged Chinese and Western cultures. The figures include Marco Polo, Matteo Ricci, Xu Guangqi, Lyu Tongliu, Fu Lei, and Giuseppe Castiglione (Lang Shining), inviting passersby to reflect on the enduring legacy of cultural exchange. The park is built on the friendship between Futian and Italy’s Puglia region, established through a cooperation memorandum in 2018.

Address: Green space between the East Gate of Shenzhen Children’s Amusement Park and St. Anthony’s Church

Metro: Line 7 to Nonglin Station (农林站), Exit D; then walk approximately 700 meters

A Canadian-inspired woodland fairytale

The Canadian Friendship Park draws its inspiration from Oakville, Canada, a city known as the “Oak City” and a sister city of Futian. The 800-square-meter park is designed around the theme of “green, tranquility, prosperity, and harmony.”

The park’s highlight is a charming maple leaf pergola connecting to two adorable wooden “oak tree houses,” creating a whimsical “fairytale world” for children. A unique feature wall is built from rough-hewn stone, a nod to the Rocky Mountains, and is engraved with the words “Rocky Mountains” and a maple leaf logo, embedding a touch of North American wilderness into the urban landscape.

Address: Intersection of Jingtian West Road and Lianhua Road

Metro: Line 2 or 9 to Jingtian Station (景田站), Exit F; then walk 500 meters(Tang Li)